James Nitties’ love affair with Perth is set to continue after announcing he will return to the fairways of Mount Lawley Golf Club for the Nexus Risk TSA Group WA Open later this month.
The 35-year-old enters the tournament as a former winner of the event, having lifted the Roy Paxton Bowl a decade ago in 2008.
Western Australia has proved a happy hunting ground for the one-time Web.com Tour winner after finishing second to Kiradech Aphibarnrat at the ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth in February. Despite the narrow defeat, Nitties has gone from strength-to-strength to sit fourth on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.
The closing months of 2018 will become crucial for Nitties as he attempts to climb the Order of Merit, with the WA Open the perfect platform for the New South Welshman.
“It’s the best position I have ever been in holding an ‘Aussie’ card at this point of the year,” Nitties told the Golf Australia Inside the Ropes Podcast.
“Previously I was always chasing (money) at the end of the year.”
“I haven’t gone to Web.com Q-School this year; we’ve got four events in a row coming up in Australia (including the WA Open).
The former Vic PGA champion sees the last three events in Australia as pivotal to his cause; however a win for Nitties in WA could see him jump as high as second in the rankings.
“To compete on the Aussie Order of Merit you really have to compete in the last 3 big events of the year, he said.”
“You don’t want to get to the end of the year and miss out on a world golf event by $50.”
Nitties will return to Perth with mixed emotions from Lake Karrinyup, citing the emotional toil the event initially placed on him having finished agonisingly short of a European Tour Card.
“Playing well at Perth opened a lot of doors for me, he claimed.”
“I wish Aphibarnrat could have taken the check and given me the European Tour status but it was an emotional event.”
“I was so close to have a place to play for the year.”
“As much as I do put pressure on myself I am in a great position at the moment, and would rather be here than not.”
