Brad Kennedy Nearing 30-Years In The Pro Ranks And Still As Determined.

2 years ago by Comments Off on Brad Kennedy Nearing 30-Years In The Pro Ranks And Still As Determined.

For more than a decade Brad Kennedy has plied his trade on the Japan Tour.

It may surprise people the now 47-year-old has won 15-times in his career and with three of those in Japan, and the latest being the 2018 Shigeo Nagashima Invitational Sega Sammy Cup.

I guess it’s fair to say this quietly-spoken Queenslander has gone about his golf without fanfare or regular news of his endeavors in Japan, which is in stark contrast to his Aussie compatriots competing on the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour.

It’s why it was great to catch up with Kennedy at this week’s Saudi International and his first showing in the now flagship Asian Tour event.

This year marks 28-years since Kennedy turned professional and also some 25-years since he began competing on the Australian Tour, and is also a 22nd-year teeing-up on the Asian Tour while it will also be a 12th season competing in Japan.

Australia’s Brad Kennedy wins a second New Zealand Golf Open (The 101st hosting of the event) in 2020.  Photo: John Cowpland / www.photosport.nz

“I come into a new season still feeling like I am learning a lot while my game is still getting better and better, and the more that I put myself in position”, he said.

“That’s just because I am practicing more and more now while I am training a lot differently now.  So, I am just not focused on practice now. I am doing all sorts of stuff.

“I’m turning 48 this year but then it’s still nice to be here, and playing in these big events like the Saudi International at an age I am now.  You never know when your opportunities will cease, so I am just trying to stay positive in terms of the starts I’ve got”.

The worldwide Covid pandemic not only saw a 21-month ‘without any play’ disruption for the Asian Tour but also badly affected the Japan Tour, as well.

“The pandemic was an issue for us getting to Japan last year, and also getting about while it just felt very different last year as you couldn’t do what you ere normally use to, like going out for dinner and always being mindful of where you were you went or what you did.

“The first part of the season last year, we had not been vaccinated but then after being vaccinated knowing that if you were tested positive you were sidelined for two weeks.

“It was a very daunting experience knowing how I have traveled back-and-forward from Australia to Japan but then be faced with lockdowns and so on.

“Then you start spending too much time at the golf course or you’re then at the hotel that, more than often are very small, so you found yourself with too much time on your hands trying to kill time”.

Kennedy is returning to Australia this week for Thursday’s starting Vic Open, and remarkably where the top three place-getters will earn a place into July’s 150th Open Championship.

“The Vic Open is going to be exciting to be traveling to and three spots into The Open only adds a new dimension to the event”, he said.

“I’ll play a couple of other events back home and then head back to Japan.  Even though it is nearly 30-years since I turned pro, I am still excited as ever heading into a new season, and also heading back to Japan.

“I still have a few boxes I wish to tick on the Japan Tour before I finish-up, and also improve my World Ranking (Currently World No. 282 as at February 1st).

“It was good also to see the Australasian Tour trying to get back to some normality, as the Tour’s been hit hard by the pandemic with no Australian Open now for two years running now.

“So, it’s nice to have come over here to Saudi Arabia and then going back home this coming week.”

Kennedy and his family did live in Japan until 2015 when they sold their house and now reside at Hope Island, and with his two daughters aged 15 and 10.

“It’s extra special for me being able to now travel home and see the girls as they are growing up fast, and that’s another reason why I want to pull back a little bit on my playing schedule to watch them develop.

“My golf has always been important to me but not that important”.

Brad Kennedy Profile

Born – 18th June, 1974 (Sydney)

Age – 47

Lives – Hope Island, Queensland

Victories – 15 (3 Japan Tour, I Asian Tour, 6 Australian Tour, 5 others)

Order of Merit winner – 2020/21 Australasian Tour



Comments are closed.