After the journey Jasper Stubbs undertook to make his professional debut at this week’s CKB WA PGA Championship, you’d forgive him for not smiling from ear-to-ear on Wednesday after a practice round in the heat.
However, powered by the “nervous excitement” of playing his first Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia event with money on the line, the former amateur star detailed his trip from last weekend’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Japan to Kalgoorlie with a laugh.
“Started in Gotemba, which is about two-and-a-half hours south-west of Tokyo,” Stubbs said ahead of his 7:25 tee-time this morning alongside Cameron John and Louis Dobbelaar.
“Then the drive to the airport began, 10-hour flight down to Melbourne at 8:30, overnight, landed at 8:30 in the morning in Melbourne.
“Got into Perth at 1:30pm and then I had five-and-a-half hours there before I got to leave to come here to Kal last night and got in at 7pm.
“So it’s more than a day of travel. But yeah, it’s worth it to be back here again at the WA PGA.”
Asked whether the long journey had taken a toll before he chases status on his home tour via tournament invites, Stubbs was upbeat and headed for more practice in the West Australian sun after 14 holes to start the day.
“I’m a pretty good plane sleeper, so I slept like a baby on there, so I’m not too physically exhausted, but the body held up and I’ve sort of done everything I can last night and this morning to get it ready for the next few days,” he said.
Playing the WA PGA for a second time after a share of 50th in 2023, the Victorian spoke of the anticipation of entering the next stage of a career after his time as an amateur where he claimed the Asia-Pacific Amateur at Royal Melbourne and teed it up at the Masters and The Open.
“It’s a little bit sort of like a nervous excitement. It’s a big step,” the 22-year-old said when asked of potential butterflies.
“I have played a lot of professional events, but not with a card on the line or potentially money on the line yet. So it’s sort of going to be different in that respect. But yeah, I’ve played a lot of these events before and I feel pretty at home out here with a lot of these guys.”
Another player who feels right at home, especially this week, is defending champion Ben Eccles, who Stubbs might do well to chat with about the transition from amateur to professional.
Claiming the NSW Open as an amateur in 2015, Eccles waited eight years before he won again with an emotional victory last year.
“A little bit of a different scenario. He obviously had a lot more success than I did,” the ever-modest Eccles said when asked if he had advice for his fellow Victorian.
“I think looking back when I first turned, I sort of thought it was going to be pretty easy and I thought things were always going to be sort of on the up when I turned pro, and that’s definitely not the case.
“So my advice would just be, just take it in as it comes and just keep trying to get better each year and make smart decisions as well.”
Eccles’ words similar in sentiment to the approach to this week that Stubbs has laid out with his team.
“Not really too much of a goal setter of I have to finish in the top 10 to feel like I’ve had a good week,” Stubbs said.
“I’m more just little targets based, little things that I’m doing with my coach and my team back home that we set, little wins that aren’t necessarily a win of the golf tournament that I can feel like I’ve accomplished something here this week.
“On the golf course, just you’ve got to just play as best I can and I know my good golf is really good, so a win isn’t out of the question for me, I don’t think.”
The CKB WA PGA presented by TX Civil & Logistics is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
