Journeyman Australian pro Steven Jeffress is praying for wind and is determined to make the most of his big chance at the lucrative World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship.
The 39-year-old has the chance to make all his dreams come true in one outing at the elite $A11.83 million no-cut event where he gets a start thanks to his second-place finish on the Australasian Tour Order of Merit.
Should he pull off a victory in the 74-man field, which includes all the top-50 golfers in the world, Jeffress would be immediately exempt on the US PGA Tour, pocket just over $A2 million and gain starts in the Masters and PGA Championship among other perks.
The New South Welshman qualified for the British Open in 2013 where he missed the cut but this start is clearly the next biggest of his career.
While he had a breakthrough by winning the new Fiji International last year, the World Golf Championships event is a long way from his last start in Toowoomba for the Queensland PGA Championship a few weeks ago where the world No.524 tied for 11th and netted $2160.
Even coming last this week at Trump Doral in Miami earns a player $A53,685, but Jeffress is aiming much higher.
“Let’s not lie, it’s not a normal tournament for me, it is a massive step up,” Jeffress told AAP.
“Deep down my goal is to win but in saying that a top 10 would be great.
“I am trying not to get that far ahead though…and if we get through the first second and third rounds and I’m doing well then great.
“When I won in Fiji it was staying in the moment that got it done.”
One of the other keys to Jeffress’ win in Fiji last year was his ability to play in high winds.
Doral is known for windy conditions and the Blue Monster course becomes a brute when it blows so while plenty will be wishing for calm, Jeffress wants the gusts to come hard.
“I have always played good in wind on tough tracks, that’s been my thing,” Jeffress said.
“The last day in Fiji it was howling. From 100 metres, where you usually hit a little wedge, I was hitting six irons.
“If you go to a course where 26-under will win I can shoot that and have done in the past but I am more chance if four-under wins because I’m a grinder, that’s what I do.
“I love the wind. I grew up in the wind at Port Macquarie where it is blowy each day.”
