Geoff Ogilvy didn’t look out of place, but there was something unusual about seeing the former US Open winner standing under the clubhouse oak tree at Augusta National – in a good way.
The 41-year-old looked relaxed; he was finally attending the Masters without the stress of playing. He hadn’t set foot on the hallowed turf since 2015 and he missed it. Ogilvy was dressed primarily in golf attire, but with a pair of sneakers. No spikes. He was also sporting an Augusta National Golf Club logo hat.
However, his body language suggested he was not quite sure what to do. Standing in one spot at Augusta was certainly a new feeling for the Victorian. As a winner of eight US PGA Tour titles – with a Major and three World Golf Championships among that haul – Ogilvy was accustomed to walking from A to B with clear intent during Masters week. He was there to win the Masters and not much else mattered.
Australian Golf Digest walked up to the past rival of Tiger Woods, shook his hand and began the catch-up. We talked about many things, including why there were only four Australians in the Masters field for the second consecutive year: “It’s one of those things,” Ogilvy explained. “I don’t know if you can read too much into it; Australian golf has a lot of talent coming through, it seems. There are a lot of 18 to 21-year-olds who are only a few years from being here at Augusta.”
We also asked Ogilvy where he is at with his playing career and how the move back to Australia has panned out. There is also a Presidents Cup on the horizon, in his backyard (literally) of Royal Melbourne Golf Club. When the biennial teams event kicks off at Royal Melbourne in December, Ogilvy will be an assistant captain for the second time, having performed well as an assistant at the 2017 Cup in New Jersey.
Australian Golf Digest: I imagine coming to the Masters and the US in general relates to the Ogilvy Clayton Cocking Mead (OCCM) design firm?
Ogilvy: Well, yes, OCCM is a big part of my visit. But I’m also accepting the ASAP Sports/Jim Murray Award (for co-operation with media) at the Golf Writers Association of America during their annual awards night. Also, it’s to network, I guess. Everybody – every mover and shaker in the golf world – is here this week, standing under this tree. And then, it’s the Masters. I get a ticket every year because I won a Major – we are honorary invitees forever. The last time I played was 2015. It’s kind of weird… but nice… to go and walk the course. To see it from the perspective of how every fan who has ever told me about it sees it.
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AGD: How permanent is the move back to Australia? Any plans to come back to the US and continue playing?
The move back to Australia is permanent – at least at this point. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. The intention is for the move to be permanent. I think my full-time touring career is over. You know, playing 25 to 30 events per year is not possible anymore. I’m not going to be doing that.
This year, I am basically not playing at all – and I want it that way. I need to get away from it for a bit. What the schedule looks like after that, I don’t know. Hopefully that will fire me up. I have enough status on the PGA Tour and could pinch the odd invite here and there to rustle up a pretty decent schedule either in the US or in Europe. But I have no idea what that will look like just yet.
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AGD: When did you realise you needed a break from competitive golf?
When I didn’t want to be away from home. The golf I never got sick of, even though I was not playing well, but leaving Monday morning was horrendous. I couldn’t do it. I needed a break. I needed to play dad for a while: do the school drop-offs, go to sporting events. That’s more important than any golf you can play. I wasn’t playing well for a while so I was a little bit jaded.
So, I’m taking a full year off to be a dad. I will play every now and again, and I already have played a handful of events, such as the New Zealand and Victorian Opens, as well as the Perth Super 6.
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AGD: When can we expect to see something of a comeback from Geoff Ogilvy?
Towards the end of the year, I might fire up and play a few Australian events. If that gets the juices flowing, maybe I will play a few events early in next year’s FedEx Cup schedule. Then, if I get off to a good start, I’ll make a decision on how much to play in 2020. But first things first: I need to recharge the whole system and headspace… see how it goes.
AGD: Can Tiger Woods win more Majors?
He knows how to play the Major venues this year. The challenge isn’t knowing how to play them, it’s whether he is ready to win more of these again. And clearly he was at the Masters. The last Major he played in before the Masters he looked very ready to win, right? That was the old Tiger.
‘The last Major he played in before the Masters he looked very ready to win, right? That was the old Tiger.’ – Geoff Ogilvy
He played great all last year, but it was really the PGA that was like, ‘Wow, Tiger is back in town.’ I mean, he’d be one of the best chances in the field (at Bethpage and Pebble) wouldn’t he? When he gets in the mix, that’s a big name on any leaderboard. He has that effect. He has the crowds completely back on his side – not that he ever didn’t have them on his side – but the hysteria is back and that makes a big difference.
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AGD: Is Tiger’s putting an issue?
Putting is 100 per cent a matter of avoiding scar tissue for as long as you can. Earlier in the year, there were some question marks in the media and from fans about his short putting. But we’re saying this about a guy who has holed more important putts than anyone, ever. I think he can still hole putts when he needs to. Holing putts on Sunday is really difficult on the US PGA Tour and he’s done that more than anyone. He has a history of holing just about every putt he really needed to.
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AGD: How much are you looking forward to being an assistant captain again at the Presidents Cup, but this time under Ernie Els at Royal Melbourne?
It will be pretty special, won’t it? I don’t know if Presidents Cups get much better than when they are held at Royal Melbourne. The 1998 Cup was the first Presidents Cup I ever attended, when I was only on the fringes of being a pro golfer. I’ve got great memories watching that week and, obviously, it was the only time the International team has won.
‘I don’t know if Presidents Cups get much better than when they are held at Royal Melbourne.’ – Geoff Ogilvy
Melbourne fans are probably the best sports fans in the world. I won a US Open in the New York area and New York fans are incredible, but Melbourne fans stand out. Then you have Royal Melbourne, one of the greatest courses in the world. It’s all there. Playing in the Presidents Cup is a highlight of my career. It is a special week to share the team room and the unique atmosphere with the players of the International team. Ernie represents everything the International team and the Presidents Cup stand for as our captain. His Hall of Fame career speaks for itself as one of the best to ever play our game. He has been an incredible teammate off the course. It will be an honour to be one of his assistants.
