Golf: Layoff has Perks perked up for Open

Instead of being burned out, United States-based professional Craig Perks is back home fresh to play in the New Zealand Open.

He and his family are spending Christmas and New Year in Palmerston North, refreshed after Perks was able to bypass the gruelling PGA Tour qualifying school for a change.

In 1999, after playing the Nike Tour, he trooped off to "Q School" and then had only 10 days off. Last year it was the same slog: 28 tournaments in his rookie year on the PGA Tour, then Q school and a break for 10 days until the tour started again.

This time it was different - he finished 113th on the tour and that was enough to retain his card. His last event ended on November 5 and he promptly put away his clubs.

"I didn't miss it and I didn't think about golf," he said.

"I always struggle at the start of the tour on the west coast, but I have never really been fresh; I've been worn out."

This time he has been working out in gyms for seven weeks, but did not start hitting golf balls again until the beginning of the month.

"This year I'm refreshed and excited to play."

His first tournament will be the New Zealand Open starting on January 10.

Perks likes the Paraparaumu Beach course where he was runner-up to Michael Campbell in last year's playoff.

Perks is taking the Open so seriously that his regular tour caddy, Terry Travis from Missouri, is flying in to carry his bag.

Perks said Tiger Woods' presence at Paraparaumu would ensure an "incredible event" for the New Zealand public.

Perks noted he had finished ahead of Woods just once in 42 events, when he was sixth at the Disney Classic in Orlando, Florida, in October.

"Obviously he is No 1 in the world for a reason. He's had all the course knowledge in the States; this time we'll flip the coin on him.

"Let's say if I play as well as I can and he doesn't have his A game, he can be beaten.

"He had a lot of non-finishes outside the top 10 this year. But if he plays his A game, he's basically unbeatable."

- NZPA

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