Coming from all over for a shot

ADAM Scott’s former shortgame coach and a brain tumour survivor are among the Gold Coast connections hoping to secure a shot at the Australian PGA Championship.

Sanctuary Cove Golf Club professional Matthew Ballard (pictured) was the man who fine tuned Scott’s work around the green leading into last year’s PGA Championship and now he wants to replace him in the field.

Ballard, 41, will play in the PGA Championship qualifier at either Sanctuary Cove or Wynnum Golf Club on Monday while former Palm Meadows, Parkwood and Gold Coast Country Club pro Christopher McCourt, 47, is also seeking a second straight entry into the tournament.

McCourt missed the cut after finishing at nine-over par after the second round at Royal Pines last year.

Ballard was a tour player for 14 years before he opted to become a coach full-time at the end of 2015.

The Burleigh resident was among the final groups of the 2013 event and if he secures one of three entries to the PGA Championship up for grabs, he will go up against top clients Adam Bland and Sam Brazel.

“It’s one round of golf with a chance to play the PGA so I’d be silly not to try,” Ballard said.

“I still know how to play a bit of golf.

“It would be nice to play it in my backyard but I’m lucky I wear two hats now. I’m glad it’s not my complete livelihood anymore and I’m not relying on trying to qualify.

“It takes the pressure off because it’s cut throat for most of the guys.”

McCourt, who works out of Keperra Country Golf

Club in Brisbane’s north, had a brain aneurysm in 2014 and was given a 50-50 chance of surviving by doctors.

McCourt had given up golf 12 years before his aneurysm in a career that included seven Australian PGA Championship showings.

The closest he came to the title was making the cut for the weekend.

McCourt gets MRI scans every six months to ensure the benign tumour doesn’t change and said he was ready to return to the top level again.

“It would be good to make it and while you want to get in, you need to be playing well too,” McCourt said.

“I’ll be a lot better prepared this time after playing some golf in the lead up.”

Both Ballard and McCourt played at the PGA Professionals Championship on Hamilton Island this week where a spot for the PGA Championship was up for grabs. McCourt finished tied 14th at 12-over par while Ballard was tied 16th at 14-over.