Australian golfer John Senden hopes he can sneak past those underestimating him and make a huge run towards what would be the biggest win of his career.
Amongst golf’s elite at the World Golf Championship Match Play Championship in Tucson, Arizona this week Senden isn’t getting much fanfare.
The pundits keep circling the obvious names like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter but the Queenslander’s support is as sparse as some sections of the desert course.
But perhaps they underestimate Senden at their peril as the crisp ball-striker’s game has the ability to frustrate opponents into mistakes.
Just ask Englishman Simon Dyson and fellow Queenslander Jason Day as Senden trounced both last year before he fell in a close third round match to Sang-Moon Bae.
Senden, now 45th in the world, takes on world No.24 American Bo Van Pelt in the opening round and is considered a big outsider by most.
But not by those in his inner circle, nor the man himself who says he’s benefitted from last year’s experience.
“We’ve done some great work in practice over the last few days to tighten up my ball-striking and now I’m feeling fresh and confident,” he said.
“At the moment I am happy to be the underdog and perhaps underrated but Bo is playing well and I expect a tough match.”
Senden is also looking to boost his selection hopes for the International team for this year’s President’s Cup, to be held at Muirfield Village in Ohio in September, knowing a big week would not only strengthen his chances of making the team automatically, but show he could be a real asset.
If he can get by Van Pelt he could face Poulter in the second round before a possible match-up with another fellow Queenslander, Adam Scott.