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with Matt“ Duck Man” Austin
There aren’ t many figures in world sport so closely linked to their equipment as Peter Senior is to his famous broomstick putter and broad-brimmed hat. Add to that the iconic moustache he sported throughout the’ 80s and’ 90s, and you’ ve got one of golf’ s most recognisable characters. I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Peter about his remarkable career, and he did not disappoint.
Peter began his golfing journey in Queensland, turning professional in 1978. Looking back, he admits turning pro so young wasn’ t ideal. He left school at 16 and turned professional at 19, not really knowing where his career would take him, what tour he should pursue, or even how good he truly was. But things soon shifted.
When Wayne Grady became the
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first Queenslander to turn professional without completing the traditional three-year apprenticeship, it opened the door for other amateurs to go straight into the professional ranks.“ It was groundbreaking,” Peter said.
Growing up, his inspirations were Greg Norman, Bob Shearer and Stuart Ginn, pioneers for Australian golf on both the US and European tours. In those days, Australian and South African players had no choice but to compete overseas if they wanted a full tournament schedule, as the local tours simply weren’ t large enough. Peter would know, across his career, he collected 35 professional wins around the world.
This year, Peter returned to Richmond Golf Club to compete in the Sharp EIT Solutions PGA Seniors Championship, a tournament he has twice finished runnerup in and twice won, including victories in 2009 and 2019. He has a genuine affection for the Richmond course.
“ The tight fairways bring precision driving and putting into play,” Peter said.“ It gives me a red-hot chance at a third title.”
Peter also spoke candidly about the financial landscape in modern golf. Today, an Australian golfer has to play internationally to build a career.
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Australia currently hosts just two major tournaments offering more than $ 1 million to the winner, the Australian Open and Australian PGA.
Other events offer $ 200,000- $ 400,000, solid money but dwarfed by the US PGA Tour’ s astronomical prizemoney.
“ The Tour Championship winner in the US earned $ 10 million this year, plus bonuses,” Peter noted.
“ There are events paying $ 10-20 million, with first prizes of $ 4-5 million.”
Incredibly, Jack Nicklaus, with 18 majors and 80 wins, earned just $ 3 million across his entire playing career.
The sport itself has evolved dramatically.“ Golf has become a science,” Peter said, with modern players dialling in launch angles and spin rates while maintaining strict fitness, nutrition and mental-health regimes.“ They travel with a physio, dietician, mental coach, everyone. Back in the’ 70s,’ 80s and’ 90s, it was just your caddy … maybe your wife.”
Among his many achievements, Peter ranks his 1989 Australian Open victory at Kingston Heath as his greatest. The field read like a who’ s who of world golf; Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Greg Norman, Bernhard Langer, Mark Calcavecchia and Curtis Strange, and he won by an extraordinary seven shots. He fondly recalls winning the Canon Challenge at Terry Hills in 1996 after a replay of the 18th hole against Peter Lonard, adding to victories in 1994 and 1997.
But his most cherished memory came at the 2012 Australian Open at The Lakes,
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Peter Senior.
where his son Mitchell caddied for him, after six years together on the US Tour. The weather was dreadful, but the moment unforgettable.
“ To have my son with me … that was something special.”
Asked how he hopes to be remembered, Peter Senior keeps it simple: as a good player and a good person. A legacy any golfer, or any parent, would be proud of.
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