MIKE Harwood says winning the Australian PGA, famously stopping Greg Norman’s winning run of nine events, was a huge part of his career.
“It always will be, as I’m sure it will be the same for the person who wins (the 2025 BMW PGA Championship at Royal Queensland) later this month,” Harwood said.
“It will play a big role in setting up someone’s career and perhaps launch them onto the international stage.
“But I don’t think our young guys in Australia are committed enough to getting onto overseas tours. I think they’ve given up and just don’t have the $20,000 to go overseas and get on the US Tour.
“That’s where Australian sponsors have got it wrong. They only want to know you once you have made it and while you are playing well. In the US, sponsors are queuing up to help young players as they come out of college.
“Golf is a big enough roller coaster without having financial uncertainty to cope with as well,” Harwood added.
A former Australian PGA champion, Mike Harwood was also runner-up to Ian Baker Finch at the Open Championship in 1991.
Harwood, now 67, is excited about the game on the world stage. He was immersed in the Ryder Cup and loves Rory McIlroy. He doesn’t enjoy the crowds, and he won’t be at Royal Melbourne but will be riveted to the television to watch Rory at the Australian Open.
“I’ll see more on TV I reckon. The crowds will be that big you’ll need a milk crate to stand on the catch a glimpse of Rory.
“He totally has the wow factor like Norman. His ball striking is unique.
“Look at when he’s playing in America, they come from everywhere because of the talent he’s got like Greg and Seve Ballesteros. The fans know Rory is something special and they want to watch him,” Harwood said.
The game has come a long way, he says, from the day he pocketed $36,000 for winning the Australian PGA Championship at Castle Hill in 1986.
“I was playing pretty well. But on the 54th hole on Saturday, I missed an 18-inch uphill putt.”
He walked off the course and said to his late parents, Geoff and Audrey, “I am totally exhausted.”
On the way home to his folks’ place at Currajong they stopped at the Richmond Hotel.
“The pub was as rough as guts, but I had 10 beers, went home and slept like a baby. I came out the next day and shot 64.”
“I was always a grinder,” Harwood says, hastening to add he was never in the Shark’s class.
He says the same of his runner-up finish to his great friend Ian Baker-Finch at Royal Birkdale in The Open in 1991.
“Finchy shot 29 on the front nine on the final day. That put him about six in front. I was never going to catch him although I did get within one on the 17th hole.”
His other big career victory was the British PGA at Wentworth in 1990 holding out reigning US Masters champion Nick Faldo.
Harwood made a good living from the game in Europe and played about a dozen British Opens but only a handful of US Opens and PGAs.
“I was proud of my record in the Open, only missing a few cuts, but majors were so bloody hard to get into.”
Mike Harwood took down Greg Norman to win the Australian PGA Championship in 1986.
In the twilight of his career Harwood, with his wife Donna as caddy, played seniors in Europe “until Covid killed that off.”
“But it was a great way to have a world tour with Donna. You are paying your way and seeing the world from a different perspective. The first time I was there it was all golf, golf, golf. It was great to be able to do it together.”
These days, he plays regularly at Southern Golf Club where he is helping to manage the club’s pennant teams.
He also “still knocks it around in a few pro-ams,” although he’s sidelined after breaking his ankle after innocuously tripping on a footpath going for a leisurely walk after a pro-am round in Kiama.
“I can’t complain though,” he says. “Golf and life have been very, very good to me.”
