Relaxed Ben up for Open tilt

TORQUAY golfer Ben Eccles says he will not be intimidated by a star-filled field at the Australian Open, starting tomorrow.

Instead Eccles, who will be joined by locals Deyen Lawson, Jack Murdoch and Jack Wilson at The Australian Golf Club, will take a relaxed approach to the $1.5 million championship.

He hopes that mindset will help him produce his best in a field featuring Australian stars Adam Scott, Cam Smith and Marc Leishman, as well as internationals Paul Casey and Abraham Ancer, and major champions Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen and Ernie Els. “It’s great playing in an Australian Open. It’s my fourth now, so it’s not the first time I’ve played against guys like that,” Eccles said.

“Expectation-wise, I’m going to go into it with no expectations and try to have a good week.

“I will just embrace it and just try to have a fun week. The field is so strong that you just have to enjoy it.

“Otherwise if you put too much pressure on yourself, you approach it differently to how you approach a normal event.

“I’m just going to play my normal golf. It’s got me into the event, so I’m just going to go for it.”

Eccles finished last week’s NSW Open with a final-round low 65, giving him momentum going into this week’s event.

And a big performance at The Australian could be crucial as he chases a tour card abroad for 2020.

Eccles, who was eightunder through 12 in that final round, said it was the best he had played in a long time.

“It all came together, which was awesome. To do it in the final round and to sneak into the top 10 was great,” he said.

“The last time (I remember playing that well) was when I had a 65 in Denmark.

“I’ve really held myself back this year with so much pressure and my expectations have been super high, so it was nice to really get it going.”

Eccles will not be overawed if he does play in front of big crowds this week, after featuring in the group in front of Jordan Spieth in 2017.

The rising star said it was a surreal experience to tee off in front of so many people.

“That first tee shot was the most nervous I’ve ever been. But it’s awesome,” he said.