By Peter Owen
TIM Hart knows that his swashbuckling, go-for-broke style of playing golf is ideally suited to the pro-am series, where most events are played over 18 holes, and none over more than 54 holes.
He’s been phenomenally successful in those events, claiming more than 45 pro-ams throughout the country, and establishing himself as the hardest man to beat on the national circuit.
But that’s not enough for the Tamworth-born and Brisbane-based golfer, who is frustrated at his inability to take his game to a higher level, and is determined to do whatever it takes to make it to one of the major tours.
He’s always set his sights on playing in the United States, where he believes his game – based on long drives and precision short irons – would be particularly well suited. He had a crack last year, failing by just a single stroke to make the final qualifying stage for the Korn Ferry Tour.
He’s probably not going back this year, preferring to concentrate on the Australasian PGA Tour, which provides multiple opportunities for the talented 34-year-old to claim his first 72-hole victory.
The closest he’s come so far is runner-up in last year’s Northern Territory PGA and runner-up in the 2016 Queensland PGA – modest returns for a man whose pro-am success shows that he is a golfer of rare talent.
In late June, for example, he shot 14-under-par to win the Emerald Pro-Am and clinch his fourth straight Mining Towns Series honours. In that event he shot a second-round 10-under 60, which included a rare albatross two on the 525m par-5 sixth hole.
In the Mining Towns Series, contested over six events in Central Queensland, Hart blitzed the field, scoring 57-under-par to win the series title by 13 strokes.
That 60, by the way, isn’t the best score he’s had in competition. He shot 59 while winning the Moranbah Pro-Am in 2019 – an event he’s virtually made his own, winning it four times in a row.
Hart’s headed the National Pro-Am Order of Merit in 2019, 2021 and 2022, was runner-up in 2020 and is again in the mix for this year’s honour.
“I have a very aggressive game that suits pro-ams,” he said. “I’m very comfortable in those events and I play well in them.
“But I haven’t managed to get the job done in four-round tournaments.”
Hart doesn’t believe he needs to change the way he plays – just the way he faces the unique challenges presented in 72-hole events. He needs to become more comfortable with a form of play that remains uncomfortable. And he has to get his body right.
He has been battling shoulder injuries for nearly a year. At times the pain has been so bad he has had to pull out of some events.
“It’s to do with the nerves in my shoulder,” he said. “It causes me to lose posture and it’s then very difficult to be consistent.”
Hart plans to take a break from the pro-am tour, hit the gym, work with his strength coach and give himself the time needed to heal his body and regain full fitness.
He is looking forward to competing in the 72-hole Northern Territory PGA at Palmerston in late August, and then campaigning on the Australasian Tour, which begins in Western Australia in October.
“I’ll be playing a lot more four-round events,” he said. “Success is all about playing well at the right time. “I’m very optimistic that if I do the work it will happen.”
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