Cleary: Giving it a Nudgee. The players who brought “It” at Queensland PGA

Phoenix Campbell, back-to-back champion of the Queensland PGA – he wins again they’ll crown him King of Nudgee – appears to possess that extra, indefinable something that champions have – the capacity to bring their best stuff when the moment calls.

Or at least to bring a decent golf score when under the pump, and things aren’t flush.

It’s the ability to stay cool, to dispel extraneous thoughts, and to just “play” the game of golf.

For the purposes of this gibber-jabber, let’s call it “It”.

Campbell’s work over the closing holes at Nudgee wasn’t perfect. He dropped shots down the stretch, for it was challenging golf. Nudgee’s bulbous greens were hard and fast with a Himalayas feel.

The course proper looked open on the telly, sort of “inland links” style. And with the wind up, the tournament on the line, Nudgee proved a worthy Queensland PGA championship venue, and produced a worthy champion.

✅ Wire-to-wire
✅ Title defence
✅ Amateur & Pro #QldPGA pic.twitter.com/MzUEVEHKmj

— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) November 3, 2024

Does the man who ran second in the play-off in Nudgee, Jak Baker, have It? Perhaps he does – his long-iron into the 18th hole in the first play-off hole stuck to four feet – and this after Campbell had nearly slam-dunked his.

Both produced birdies, both were genuine Wow moments.

Baker’s second one went into the bunker where he found bad luck that begat a Sherman Tank. And that was all she wrote. And we’ll have to find out what Baker can bring next time, and all the other next times.

But, as Eddie Murphy said of Mr T, “it don’t look he can’t fight”.

Cameron Smith ran T3, three shots out of the play-off. But there is no question he has It. He proved it in 2022, if it ever needed proving, with his brilliant, nerve-less work with the short stick on 17 and 18 at the Old Course at St Andrews.

That stuff was ridiculous.

The man’s form, of late, you could call it “patchy”, maybe, such is the expectation of those who ascend into golf’s top pantheon. 

But it was great to see Smith on the box, among his people, his Queenslanders, strolling along behind him like he was in a popular final pair of the Nudgee GC club championship.   

A double-bogey stuffed his charge at the hot kids. But 8-under in the wind is not the worst preparation for Royal Queensland, much less Murray Downs.

Billy Dowling, 19, an amateur as Campbell was last year, went out with 66-69 but came home with 75-74. Yet he showed enough that it’s clear that It could well be in him, as it is for so many of the new breed today, it’s like they come from fresh out of a sports psychatrist’s couch.

Or maybe they just don’t think. Or maybe – get this – they’re just playing golf, and having fun.

After a two-hole playoff, Phoenix Campbell is the 2024 #QldPGA champion! 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/BggJj0QFfs

— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) November 3, 2024

I watched Dowling last year in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championships at Royal Melbourne when, after one round, he was T2.

Nothing special? The kids are good? Consider this: he was a late call-up into the Aussie team. He was 18 and played out of Surfers Paradise. 

There were gusting winds and spitting rain. 

And this: Billy Dowling had never been to Melbourne in his life much less played Sandbelt golf, much less the great jewel of Australia, RM.

And he shoots 68 first time? This is not normal behaviour.

But yes, we’ll have to wait and see if Dowling has It. But see above re: Mr T.

Leader that day was Kazuma Kobori, if ever someone has It, it’s that guy. He could putt for New Zealand, and did. He wanders the course in a fugue of good cheer, like golf is a game – Yes, I know! – and that the whole thing’s a joke that only he’s in on.

He would win our tour’s Order of Merit and ascension to the DP World Tour. If he can compete and win in that realm, despite hitting the ball no longer than the plus-six marker at Gin Gin GC, the Kiwis may have their next Micky Campbell.

Short game king 👑#QldPGA pic.twitter.com/Wvf7TK58PR

— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) November 3, 2024

Another man whom I would posit has It, is the winner of that Asia-Pac tourney at RM, Jasper Stubbs. When it mattered then, with Kobori and China’s Wenyi Deng bringing the big stuff, Stubbs just rolled his rock, soft hands, implacable eyes – a winner.

He had It. He brought It. 

He ended up even-par and T15 here in Nudgee. But watch this space re: J.Stubbs.

And watch this space, too, Elvis Smylie, who continues to put himself up there, who ran fifth, a shot behind Smith. The man is clearly among the elite, at least of our lovable pseudo-development tour.

For mine, he has It, in spades.

Could be I’m full of it. Shovels of the stuff.

*

Finally, a bouquet for the “look” of the Queensland PGA. As it has been for the WA PGA in Kalgoorlie and the Players Series events in Willunga, the Challenger tour feels closer to the game’s grassroots than the impersonal, behind-the-gilded-ropes feel of the Big Shows.

You turn up to these Australasian Tour events, you’re likely a golfer, and appreciate how good these players are. You’re not there because of someone’s “fame”.

And thus you know when to stand still and shut up. You’re on the fairways, standing respectfully apart.

It works. More of it, please.