Golf: Perks primed for wind game at NZ Open

Craig Perks admits that contending with gusty westerlies over the past fortnight has been good practice for the New Zealand Open at Paraparaumu this week.

The Manawatu and US PGA Tour professional has been playing practice rounds at the Rangitikei and Manawatu courses.

"I don't remember it blowing this hard, but I'm glad it has been blowing up here," said Perks. "I've been able to work on some of my control shots."

He said the conditions made for excellent preparation, but admits: "We very rarely play in that much wind in the US, especially in the south."

Perks, Australian Craig Parry and Tiger Woods are the only US PGA Tour professionals in the field for the $1 million Open. Woods is contesting the Mercedes Championship at Kapalua in Maui, Hawaii. It's usually windy there, too.

Perks finds putting difficult when it's windy. But he mastered the Paraparaumu greens two years ago when he was runner-up in the open to Michael Campbell.

"In the wind it's always tough to judge your speed," Perks said.

His wife and two children returned to Louisiana at the weekend just as his caddy, Terry Travis, arrived from the United States. Perks went fishing, which he does each week on the PGA Tour, and caught two trout in the Manawatu River near the Manawatu Gorge.

Perks is glad he will have his regular caddie with him. "It's a business and he's part of my team. It also means we can both go straight to the Bob Hope [Classic] afterwards."

Perks is feeling rusty but was glad to have spent much of his time with family over a hectic Christmas. "We don't get to do that at all. Now it's time to get into gear."

He'd like his game to be in better shape, and hopes he'll peak later in the year on the US Tour.

Rangitikei and Hokowhitu were in good shape, but he says it's a shame practice facilities on New Zealand courses didn't match them. Practice areas hadn't seemed to have changed since he was a youngster playing at Hokowhitu. He believed top players such as Tim Wilkinson would benefit from playing on United States' practice areas.

"On the courses in the US, the practice facilities are incredible; two to three chipping greens with bunkers."

Perks is adjusting to his new TaylorMade clubs. He has used a TaylorMade driver for 18 months. He's found he can flight the ball better with his forged blade irons and will be using them in competition for the first time at the open.

He plays alongside Greg Turner in the transtasman clash at Paraparaumu today.

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