Dimitrios Papadatos knows his manager, Braith Anasta, would have happily taken his place in the field at the Australian PGA Championship at RACV Royal Pines Resort.
Papadatos linked up with Anasta, the former NRL premiership winner who played for both New South Wales and Australia, prior to the Australian Open a fortnight ago.
A good golfer himself who once played in the NSW PGA Championship at Wollongong Golf Club, Anasta strode the fairways of RACV Royal Pines salivating at the prospect of Papadatos playing his way onto the European Tour.
Proving to have just as good a timing in player management as he did on the football field, Anasta signed Papadatos to his company SEARoo Sports prior to the Australian Open at The Lakes, where his second-place finish earned him a place in the field for next year’s Open at Royal Portrush in Ireland.
“I’m one hundred per cent certain he’ll be going. He’s very keen,” Papadatos said of Anasta’s likely trip to Ireland next July.
“We’ve been speaking to each other for months now, and obviously because of the position I was in, being close to getting a European Tour card, it was a tough decision which management group to go to and how it would benefit me for the future.
“But I’m very happy to sign with Braith. It’s been awesome so far.”
Sponsorship deals with the iconic Coogee Bay Hotel and Bank of Sydney have been secured on Anasta’s watch as Papadatos joined the likes of Aron Price, Matt Stieger and Kiwi Ben Campbell in the SEARoo stable.
“They’ve got a small group of players so it’s a lot easier to get in touch with them and have more communication, get a bit of advice when we need it,” explained Papadatos.
“Also, they’ve helped a lot with getting a few sponsors on board. They’ve got some good connections and that’s going to help us out for the next year or so.”
As for Anasta’s thoughts on his new stable star, “Dimi’s a bright, young talent whose marketability is quickly rising on he back of his friendly demeanour and athletic image. We’re really hopeful of getting a few exciting opportunities for him moving forward,” he told Australian Golf Digest at the Australian Open.
