MyGolfers officially open the Emirates Australian Open

23 Nov 2017

Media Release:

While the eyes of the world will be on Jordan Spieth and Jason Day at the Emirates Australian Open this week, two junior golfers captured the hearts of spectators at The Australian Golf Club early this morning.

Isaac Riches (5) and Ruby Kavanagh (9) led out the field this morning as honorary starters from the 1^st and 10^th tees. The pair earned the privilege thanks to their support for the growth of MyGolf, Australia’s national introductory junior program.

A pint sized golfing dynamo, Isaac sent his tee shot long and straight down the first fairway, leaving many in the gallery envious of his picture perfect swing.

While many kids his age may have been overawed by the occasion, Isaac seemed perfectly calm as he flushed his shot.

“I was a bit nervous, but my coach Andrew kept me calm and it went straight down the middle,” said a beaming Isaac.

Not to be outdone, Ruby smoked her tee shot down the 10^th hole to loud applause from the lucky fans gathering to watch Jason Day just 20 minutes later.

Teeing off the first hole after Isaac were PGA Tour winner Nathan Green, four-time European Tour winner Stephen Leaney and former WA Open champion Daniel Fox.

Ruby had two Fiji International champions for company – Steven Jeffress and Jason Norris – along with 2014 WA PGA champion Ryan Lynch.

This morning topped off a fantastic week at the Emirates Australian Open for Isaac and Ruby.

They’ve been enjoying the time of their lives, having already taken on MyGolf ambassador and World Number 12 Jason Day in a nearest-the-pin challenge on Tuesday, which Isaac won!

Seeing MyGolf ambassador Jason Day back in Australia for the Emirates Australian Open has been another boost for the MyGolf program, which is growing in stature every day thanks to the contributions of PGA Professionals and community instructors around the country.

During his Tuesday clinic with 40 MyGolfers aged between 5-12, Jason was keen to emphasise the importance of having fun and making friends – two principles of the MyGolf program – talking effusively about the lifelong friendships he’s made through golf, such as the one with caddie Luke Reardon.

“Programs like MyGolf have definitely helped to bring new kids that probably had never even thought about playing golf, just to pick up a club and see how it goes,” said Day.

“Doing the clinic yesterday was great. They were asking all sorts of questions. One kid asked me if my ball ever landed in duck poo and I said yes, most likely.”

“It’s just great to see the kids so enthusiastic about being out there on the golf course, being outside and playing, because we need a lot of junior golfers, we need that next generation.”

14,000 participants are expected to come through Australia’s MyGolf centres in 2017-18 and a further 25,000 kids are expected to get a taste of golf through the MyGolf Schools program.