Hend hoping to make the most of Australian PGA Championship shot

Scott Hend shouldn’t be playing the Australian PGA Championship at Brisbane’s Royal Queensland course this week.

But he is, courtesy of an invite from the Australian PGA to tee up alongside world No.3 Cam Smith and other top-ranked Australians Adam Scott and Marc Leishman in the $2 million tournament.

“Thanks to the good spirit and the kind generosity of the Australian PGA to give me an invite I am playing here this week,” Hend said.

“I don’t really have a category in Australia, so their generosity in giving me an invite is appreciated and it is a privilege to be playing.”

Hend said organisers had assembled a great field for the PGA, including a player who, in his opinion, is close to the best in the world.

Ireland’s Rory McIlroy holds that title at the moment, but Hend believes Brisbane’s Cam Smith is challenging him.

“I think Cam is one of the best players in the world, if not the best,” he told BettingSite.com.au.

“He played awesome last year and we’ve also got Adam (Scott) here and Marc (Leishman) here, what more do we want?”

Hend said he would do his best this week to knock over the superstars in the field.

“I always give myself a chance every time I tee it up,” he said.

“People keep telling me I am washed up, but I don’t believe what they say.

“I like to prove people wrong and I still love playing golf.”

Hend talks openly about his prostate battles last December in the hope men will go and get their prostate checked regularly.

“It’s been a tough year to be honest,” the 49-year-old Townsville professional said before a practice round at Royal Queensland on Monday.

“It was reported I had cancer, but I didn’t.

“I had an enlarged prostate and had to have a procedure done last year.

“I came back way too early. I should have taken seven months off.

“It sets you back, I had some issues, I got infections.

“I tried to play but the medication gave me vertigo (dizzy sensations).

“It’s not just the physical toll it takes. Mentally I was in a bad place.

“I tried to play through and it ingrained some bad habits in my game and some bad thought processes.

“I’m still battling my way to fix it up.

“Golf, like life, isn’t about being physically ready but also mentally ready.”

Despite the rough time, Hend never thought about quitting.

“I never chuck anything in,” he said.

“Physically I was in a really bad place and mentally it was really tough.

“This is an everyday problem men don’t want to talk about, so self-care, and check-ups are so important.

“I can’t stress the importance, get checked out.”

To lift the Joe Kirkwood Cup aloft on Sunday afternoon would be the dream end to a very difficult 12 months for Hend.

“It’s great to be back home, I was feeling homesick after three years overseas and it’s just wonderful the PGA has extended me an invite,” said the 16-time winner around the world.

“It would be awesome to be in the final group on Sunday, with Cam, Adam, or Marc.

“If I managed to lift the trophy I think I missed my flight to Asia on Monday because I think I’d be a bit hungover on Bundys.”

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