There are many things that get veteran Aussie tour pro Scott Hend riled up. Here’s a shortlist of topics to avoid next time you meet him.
I like to shoot videos with fellow tour pros to find out what really grinds their gears. I call it ‘Headless With Hendy’. You can find them on my Twitter page (@hendygolf). But what gets Hendy headless, you ask? Well, that depends on which day of the week it is.
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Lack of etiquette is a big no-no in my book. For example, after some guys have had their shot, they continue to talk and go about getting things out of their bag while you are trying to hit. The other bad one is when someone who is marking your card putts out then disappears to the next tee without having the courtesy to watch their playing partners finish out.
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You’d be surprised how many pro golfers simply don’t know the rules or don’t abide by them. Dubious drops are a common faux pas I witness on tour. It seems some guys just can’t or don’t want to admit where a ball has crossed into a penalty area, or they search outside the area then, after their allotted three minutes is up, they say, “Well, it must have gone in the penalty area, I’ll drop here.” No! If you search outside the area it’s a lost ball and back to your original spot you played from.
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‘The game is in trouble due to LIV Golf’ is the worst thing I’ve seen, read or heard in golf for a very long time. What a joke this propaganda machine infiltrating our sport has become. You can rest assured that golf as a game is safe because it’s in the hands of the amateurs, not pros. It seems most involved in the bashing of LIV Golf are in some way vested in other tours and stand to make a loss if LIV succeeds. They’re such a hypocritical bunch.
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I’ve been cautioned about being outspoken, yet it’s never worried me. I tell it how it is. Although golf isn’t in the pros’ hands, people watch us closely and I think it’s important to speak out on issues such as the technology in clubs and balls. I also think the way courses are being designed is a topic we should freely speak out on.
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Professional golf is changing for the better in my opinion. The PGA Tour has had way too much say in the game and it’s damaged other pro tours like ours (PGA Tour of Australasia). I’m hopeful Australia benefits from LIV Golf, I really do, yet I couldn’t tell you 100 percent if it will or not. We got left out to dry by the PGA Tour and we seem to get forgotten in the world of golf. Yet some of that is our own doing from past decisions.
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The current divide in the men’s pro ranks will continue to be a war waged in the court rooms. I see it ending up going the same way as Super League and World Series Cricket did in Australia. [LIV Golf and the PGA Tour] will have to come back together and work things out eventually.
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I was asked the other day: if Greg Norman and Rory McIlroy stepped into a boxing ring, whose corner would I be in? That’s a tough one as I see both sides of the argument, yet I’d probably favour Greg. One thing I definitely know: I wouldn’t have much advice to offer.
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There’s actually not a lot of chatter about golf’s split on the Asian Tour. Most guys support LIV as it gives the tour opportunities to grow. There are many very good players on the Asian Tour, they just need the opportunity to break through. LIV Golf via the International Series is a great way for them to do this and be exposed to more great players from around the world. I’m a firm believer that competition breeds champions.
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Would I sign with LIV? I’d be crazy not to at the age I am and at this stage of my career. My response to the inevitable political questions that would come my way is simple: 1) If our governments are still dealing with said places (Saudi Arabia), why can’t we also do the same as we pay our taxes? 2) Who are we to impose our moral values on other places? Aren’t everyone’s morals different? What’s to say yours are the be all and end all? And, 3) countries have evolved over time. Hasn’t yours?
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I’d like to see the Australian Open go back to men and women having separate weeks. I’d play the tournament if they were separated. Two cuts for a national open [like in the 2022 event] is ridiculous. A combined field isn’t the way I see it in the future. I’m saddened yet fully aware that I may never play an Aussie Open again but I’ll stick with my views on that event. I have plenty of support from other players who also think the same yet won’t speak up due to the criticism they would receive. This isn’t tennis and to compare the two is just ludicrous.
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How did I handle being branded a ‘sexist elitist’ after choosing to miss December’s joint Aussie Open? That response sums up everything that’s wrong with society. People will be people. Most of those giving me s–t about my decision and reasons don’t know how a golf tournament actually works. So, I treated them the same as I usually treat critics: I brushed them off. They have an opinion, which they are entitled to have. It’s not their fault they have absolutely no clue what they are talking about.
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If I could run Australian golf for a day, what would I do? I wouldn’t put my hand up for the job. I’m happy doing what I’m doing, thanks. I love playing on the Asian Tour. I love Hong Kong. I love the food, I love the city and the people are just fantastic. I also enjoy other places in Asia due to the culture and food. I just find it so interesting and that happiness, for me, transfers onto the golf course most weeks.
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The Official World Golf Ranking is redundant in my eyes. There are much smarter people than me that should be able to work it out, but it just seems like the ones who are there doing it now aren’t that smart. Some of the player rankings of late make it seem a little corrupt. In my opinion – and I know I’m not alone here – Cam Smith is the best player in the world. That is up for discussion, sure, yet 2022 was an amazing year for my fellow Queenslander and he certainly produced the goods. You can’t argue with that. He won the big-ticket events and should be rewarded with maximum OWGR points, not penalised for playing the LIV tour.
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I still have lots of good golf left in me, but I know it’s going to be tough to get on the PGA Tour Champions. Don’t worry, I don’t think anyone on that tour is going to be nervous about me turning 50 later this year (in August). It’s a tough school full of incredible players. Look at Steve Alker’s amazing 2022 season; I can only wish to do half as good as him if I make it. Either way, I’m going to have fun trying.
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The hardest part of being a tour pro? Being away from home. I had a grandparent pass recently and I feel like I didn’t spend nearly enough time with her. Obviously COVID hasn’t helped that either, but making time for family will always be the biggest challenge for pro golfers who have to venture overseas.
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One thing you didn’t know about Scott Hend? I’m an exotic bird fancier. True story. My daughter presently has a Green Conure (parakeet) and I have in the past had hundreds of parrots. I just don’t have the time to have them anymore. I enjoy seeing them on the golf course and around the place.
I find them relaxing and fun.
