NICK Flanagan has never been short of motivation.
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Now the former USA PGA tour member and US Amateur Champion has even more drive to succeed.
Flanagan's wife Corrine gave birth to their first child, daughter Scottie, in San Antonio on January 21.
To say it has changed Flanagan's world is an understatement.
"I have never experienced anything like it," the proud father said. "It was so humbling. My wife is an extremely strong women. It was a quite the ride. Corrine was in labour for 31 hours before she got the epidural. Then another nine hours after that. Everyone is peachy as now, but it was a rough 48 hours."
Flanagan flew into Melbourne on Sunday ahead of the $1.6m Vic Open starting at 13th Beach Links golf Course on Thursday.
His preparation begins each day with a FaceTime call home.
"This morning Scottie was sound asleep after a feed," he said. "There will be that every morning. I little extra motivation. My mum is in Texas visiting with my wife, which is a huge help.
"I am excited to be playing again. I enjoyed the month off and everything with the baby has been a hell of a ride. A lot of fun, not a lot of sleep. Every parent knows that feeling."
Flanagan, 35, is coming off a top-five finish at the Australian PGA Championships at the Gold Coast in late December.
He went head to head with Adam Scott on the final day and eventually finished three shots behind the US Masters winner, but laughed off suggestion that Scottie was named after the Queenslander.
"All the Scotts I know have claimed it," he said laughing. "We already had the name picked. We both really liked Scottie. It is a cute, gender neutral name. Talking to Scotty (Adam Scott) all day in the PGA was giving me a reminder that I was about to have a kid."
Flanagan's break from golf for the birth allowed him to treat an on-going wrist injury.
"I had a cortisone shot put in my wrist the day after we had Scottie," Flanagan revealed. "It's feeling good at the moment, but I really haven't had a chance to test it yet. This is the fourth injection I have had. The first three were before my surgery in 2014. I had an MRI and an X-Ray when I was back home in Texas. It didn't show up any soft tissue damage or anything like that. Just the onset of arthritis which was always going to be the case. I will see how this shot goes for the next month. I will play a limited schedule, this one and the New Zealand Open, then reassess where I am at."
Flanagan, despite a short preparation, will take plenty of confidence into the Vic Open. He finished tied for 10th last year, highlighted by a 10-under 62 in the first round. He was 13th at 13th Beach in 2018.
"I really like the golf course," Flanagan said. "It is always pretty challenging with the wind. It looks like we will get that again this week. Two years in a row I have had really competitive weeks and decent finishes.
"The game feels where it needs to be. I have done all the prep that I usually do as far as chipping and putting. Sometimes you can get over prepared for the first event. I'm definitely refreshed which is a positive."
Although focused on the next two tournaments, Flanagan hopes to continue to develop his game.
"Last year was a huge confidence builder for me," he said. "But I have played the game long enough to know that one good week doesn't mean you are back. One bad week doesn't mean you are gone. The expectations this week will be pretty standard. It's the first week back and I will just get out there and try to get in the groove.
"My goals have definitely gone up for this year. I really want to try hard to perform in the European events and see if I can somehow catch on to something there and eventually get on that tour. I have been headed more towards that in the past six months. I am working pretty hard to get into events in Europe, whether it be main or challenger tour. Unfortunately, I couldn't take up my exemption in the next event after finishing top five in the Aussie PGA. The South African Open was the same week as the baby was due. I'm hoping maybe one of the tournament organisers might be nice enough to understand that and give me start."
* Flanagan is among six Hunter golfers teeing up at 13th Beach this week. Blake Windred is in his first event since signing with Modest Gold Management group, which is owned by former One Direction music superstar Niall Horan. Andrew Dodt, Dylan Perry, Aaron Townsend and Cal O'Reilly are also competing in the end, which is co-sanctioned with the European Tour.
* James Nitties carded rounds of 69,65 to be at 10 under and tied for second at the 36-hole $25,000 Traralgon Pro-Am last week. He will tee up in the Portarlington Pro-am on Tuesday.
* Branxton's Corey Lamb was the best placed of the Hunter contingent in the Avondale Medal. Lamb carded rounds of 70,73,66,72 to be tied for 17th. Jacob Dundas (Toronto) made the cut but finished way back in 64th. Luke Ferrier (Merewether), Josh Fuller (The Vintage), Jake Riley (Toronto) and Bryce Pickin (Charlestown) missed the cut.