NEWCASTLE professional Cal O'Reilly has welcomed a move by the Australasian PGA to a summer schedule and believes it will help attract the country's biggest stars to compete at home.
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COVID-19 has halted tournament golf worldwide, forcing the postponement of a number of events on the Australasian calendar.
On Sunday, it was announced that the tour would extend into next year and conclude in March, providing a full calendar of events and opening the door for a return to the wrap-around schedule of the 1990s.
As it stood, the Australasian Tour was played over a calendar year, with a long break during the winter months.
From this summer, the tour will start in October and culminate with the crowning of the order of merit winner in March. Q School will be shifted from late December to April.
The change creates a defined season, which is easier for fans to follow and opens the door for new events early in the year.
"It think it is a big positive," O'Reilly said. "It's my belief we should have always had a wrap-around schedule. It condenses the season and keeps it relevant. There is talk they are hoping to get some of the bigger players back to compete for the order of merit crown. Fingers crossed that happens. Anything that can make our events stronger and more attractive, the better. We want to be a high profile sport."
O'Reilly said his 2018 campaign was an example of the pitfalls of a tour being held over a calendar year.
"I started the year brilliant and had a couple of good results [in Perth and New Zealand]," he said. "Then when we came back for the second half of the season, I missed the cut at the NSW Open and Aussie Open. I look back at 2018 and think I played bad.
"It is never easy to perform over six months, but with a wrap-around schedule, you can see the finish line."
O'Reilly, who is currently 68th on the order of merit, is supposed to be playing on the Japan Challenge Tour but has been "off work" since COVID-19 brought golf to a standstill three months ago.
The Northern Territory PGA is set for August 23.
"Depending on the [COVID-19] situation, they may not want players travelling from interstate for it," O'Reilly said.
"Japan is still the priority but I can't see me being allowed to travel to Japan this year. It's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's brutal. There are people who have been hit harder than me but it still sucks."
** Officials are planning for the Jack Newton International Junior Classic to go ahead, starting September 29, but it will be bereft of overseas teams.
Last year the classic, which is played at Cypress Lakes and Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, attracted players from 10 countries.
However, border restrictions due to COVID-19 is almost certain to limit the 72-hole championship tournament to Australian players.
"The plan is for the tournament to proceed but under a different format," Jack Newton Junior Golf (JNJG) territory manager Mark Ingrey said.
"It might allow us to relax the handicap limit and give a few more locals experience at a four-round golf."
JNJG hope to resume its playing calendar with the Greg Chalmers Junior Masters at Shelly Beach on August 1.
In the meantime, JNJG will host free reactivation days at Aqua Golf Hunter Valley this Saturday and Newcastle Practice Centre on May 21.
Professionals will be on hand fo give kids 15 minute mini-lessons.
Registration is essential to ensure social distancing measures are maintained.
"It's a chance for kids to get a few tips and get back in the swing of things," Ingrey said.
