Eccles turns to earnings
TORQUAY golfer Ben Eccles is living off earnings made from his start to the year as he prepares to remain at home for the immediate future during the coronavirus pandemic.
Eccles’ most recent event was the Malaysia Open earlier this month, following a strong showing at the New Zealand Open when he was outright second through the first two rounds before finishing tied 18th.
He said he would make ends meet from the money made from the NZ Open and February’s Vic Open.
“I’ve got no sponsorship coming in either,” Eccles said.
“There is absolutely zero cashflow at the moment.”
Eccles said he could not receive an income without playing — and there is no timeline on when the circuit will resume.
“I’ve got no way at the moment to make any cash,” he said.
“Even coaching-wise, there are very limited options and they’re keeping it very restrictive on the guys who are already coaching.”
Eccles is coming off a difficult 12 months, narrowly missing a host of cuts last year and returning to Australian PGA Tour Q-school for the Vic Open.
But he secured his immediate future last month when he gained his Asian Tour card for the next year.
“Because the travel costs, they’re down to zero, I don’t have that many outgoings,” he said.
“It’s not great that I’m not getting anything in but at the same time, I’m not really spending anything.
“I know there are some guys across the board that are not as lucky.
“I’ve made a little bit at the start of this year, which should keep me going for a while.”
Eccles said he was trying to keep perspective while others in the world face job cuts and have their lives turned upside down from COVID-19.
“Every type of industry, you name it, people have been affected,” he said.
“Luckily, we are in a position where we can travel and play golf for a living but when that does come back, we’ll try and make the most of that.
“There are definitely worse (off) people and people who have been affected by this a lot worse than I have.”