Barron earns place in Golf Australia Rookie Squad

13th Feb 2024

Haydn Barron

Haydn Barron is a new addition to the latest Golf Australia Rookie Squad, which also features several other Western Australian golfers.

Along with NSW duo Jeffrey Guan and Harrison Crowe, Barron is one of three new additions to the squad of 12 players who will receive financial support and guidance from Golf Australia in the early phases of their careers as professionals.

At the age of 27, Barron is a comparative elder statesman of the squad, having had the first years of his pro career interrupted by the COVID pandemic.

However, having won the PGA Tour of Australasia’s Rookie of the Year Award in 2023, Barron went on to earn his DP World Tour playing rights at Q-School in December and has made a solid state to life on tour with a top-10 finish at last weekend’s Qatar Masters.

Golf Australia’s High Performance Director Tony Meyer said he was pleased to welcome Barron to the Rookie Squad.

“Haydn is a little older than the players we typically bring in as a first-year player, but we have to factor in that a couple of years of his development were lost to the pandemic travel restrictions, and he’s made good progress including earning his DP World Tour playing rights.

“The GA Rookie Squad is one of our most important initiatives because it’s a fact that some of the most difficult years for professional golfers occur early on, when the cost of travel and setting up a team can be bigger than your earnings.

“The Rookie Squad is about making sure they get through that period and making sure that they don’t feel alone out there in the world.”

The Rookie Squad includes some of the best young players from Australia and the world’s golf tours. As well as Barron, WA is represented by Kirsten Rudgeley, Connor McKinney and Hayden Hopewell.