Paul Sheehan is set to relaunch his tour golf career at age 37 when he tees up in the $100,000 Victorian PGA Championship on Thursday.
A winner on the Australasian tour, Japan tour and US secondary tour, Sheehan stopped playing the game in October after struggling badly in Japan.
“I was just hitting my head against a brick wall and I felt like every time I would go out on the golf course it would put me in a worse downward spiral,” said Sheehan.
“I just couldn’t concentrate on the golf course, the harder I worked the worse it seemed to get.
“It was really hard for me to pull away but I just couldn’t hit another shot.”
However, being away from the tour also proved challenging, and watching Adam Scott go head-to-head with Rory McIlroy for the national title may have helped prompt his return as he got back to work with his coach.
“When you do step away from golf and you think there can be new chapters in life it can be quite daunting. There was certainly a lot of fear factor,” said Sheehan.
“It was around the last day of the Australian Open, a tournament that I have played for 14 years, that a switch flicked and I realised that I want to get back.
“I am really keen practising again and I want to do more with my career. I feel the desire is back to where it should be.
“It’s going to be a good test this week with all the emotions that come with competitive golf.
“I wouldn’t say my game is there just yet but it’s a whole lot closer than where it was.”
Without a current tour card, Sheehan got into the Victorian PGA at Heritage Golf and Country Club on a invitation and knows he faces Monday qualifying like any rookie unless he’s successful early in his comeback.
“I have set myself some high goals and I hope that I can fulfil those but I need to be patient,” said Sheehan.
“Basically the main goal for the year is to get myself back established on the PGA Tour of Australasia and not relying on invitations. I also want to get back playing in Japan.
“There are going to be some minor hiccups along the way but it’s really about trying to get to those two goals by the end of the year.”
