STUCK IN THE ROUGH
VIRUS PANDEMIC LEAVES ‘DIGGER’ STRANDED IN EUROPE
A BATTLER Aussie golf pro will remain trapped in Europe unless he and his fiancee can raise an extra $10,000 for his return flight home to the Gold Coast.
Deyen “Digger” Lawson received special exemption to travel to Austria to play on the European Tour this month on the basis it was “in Australia’s best interests” for him to compete.
Two weeks later Australian border restrictions tightened to allow just 50 passengers per inbound flight.
Lawson said these restrictions have allowed first-class and business-class passengers to return home while those with economy tickets are stuck in limbo, paying for their own accommodation as expenses soar.
The 29-year-old said the ordeal had left him physically and mentally beaten.
“I would never have left to go and play and represent Australia if I knew this would happen,” Lawson said.
“After countless hours with the help of PGA of Australia and all their contacts, the only options were to wait three-anda-half weeks in Austria (paying for accommodation) with the most likely outcome being bumped off that flight too, or to upgrade my flight one way for $9000 on top of the $2500 that I’ve already paid.
“Now myself and (fiancee) Ali are left having to take $11,500 off our mortgage to pay for my one-way ticket.”
Lawson was informed his return flight on July 20 had been delayed by three weeks just hours after storming home with seven birdies in eight holes to lead round two of the Euram Bank Open at seven under-par.
Instead of celebrating, he spent the night worrying about how he might afford his return flight home.
“I was feeling good about my game but was then left on the phone all night trying to figure out how I was going to get back,” Lawson said.
“Prior to leaving Australia I got the tick of approval from both Australian and Austrian governments to play two tournaments on the European Tour in Austria.
“I had a return ticket confirmed. To be told that it was in Australia’s best interest to have me represent Australia on the European Tour and have approval to go and return home safely, then be denied access back in when (I had) already purchased the return flight well before the law had changed, really isn’t fair at all.”
Lawson has appealed for public help to sponsor his escape from a European nightmare.