After COVID forced the cancellation of the Australian PGA Championship in 2020 and the postponment of the 2021 edition into the new year, the tournament finally began yesterday. For one player, though, the long-awaited week ended rather quickly. And in truly bizarre fashion.
Former Australian Army soldier Damien Jordan withdrew during the first round after cutting his hand. And if that’s not weird enough, apparently, the injury was sustained when he tried to move a stake at Royal Queensland Golf Club. Yep, a stake.
The Australian Associated Press reported Jordan’s WD, confirming it was due to “slicing his hand trying to move a stake on the course”.
Jordan is currently 1,715th in the Official World Golf Ranking. He achieved a career-best of No.530 in 2017, the same year he won the Victorian PGA Championship.
“I didn’t even know I’d cut myself until after the next shot,” Jordan told Australian Golf Digest, confirming he sustained the injury trying to move a star picket.
“Anywhere else on my hand and I would have been able to play on, but the cut is right where I grip the club through the soft part of my hand.
“Doctors have glued it back together in the hope I can play next week. It’s such a waste as there are no other events this size this year, but such is life. I was playing well, too, which makes it a bitter pill to swallow.”
This week’s event is being run in conjunction with the maiden Australian WPGA Championship. After day one, 20-year-old Louis Dobbelaar has a one-shot edge in the men’s competition, while Su Oh leads the women’s event.
PHOTO: Mark Metcalfe
