It's not every day that Indigenous people are represented on the golf course at the elite level - but that will all change tomorrow when Scott Gardiner hits the fairways.
After almost a decade of trying, the golfer picked up a prestigious PGA Tour card, and will now compete for the Australian Open.
“I've enjoyed every golf tour that I've played but obviously the PGA Tour is a bigger stage,” he told NITV News. “To get the chance to play against the best guys that everybody watches each week… will be great.”
Gardiner becomes the first Aboriginal person to play on the PGA Tour and he hopes that his presence on the course may inspire others to take up the game seriously and have a swing.
“There's so many talented sports people amongst the Aboriginal people…we're all capable.”
Competing at the Australian Open will also give Scott the chance to renew his friendly rivalry with big name stars: Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Englishman Justin Rose.
“We all turned pro around the same time,” he says. “I've enjoyed watching those guys have their success on the Tour and it would be nice to be alongside them.”
Gardiner will tee off in the Australian Open just after lunchtime tomorrow alongside Chinese golfer Xin Jun Zhang and fellow New South Welshman Brendan Jones.
