Virtual qualifier Macpherson set to tee off at NSW Open

SYDNEY - Sydney professional Gavin Macpherson will tee off at the New South Wales Open this week, having qualified late last month without setting foot on a single blade of real grass.

The Glasgow-born former footballer earned his spot at the tournament and a cheque of A$10,000 ($6,498) by winning the inaugural NSW Virtual Open, which was played on a network of golf simulators.

"I play a fair bit of indoor golf," the 35-year-old told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"I'm a bit of a gear head, so I like to look at all numbers and data and stuff like that. Then I saw Golf NSW had come up with this pathway, and so I entered the qualifying and got into the final, and then it all paid off, thankfully."

Macpherson played semi-professional football for Scottish club Stirling Albion before moving to Australia a decade ago and now works at the exclusive Royal Sydney Golf Club.

It was his knowledge of another course in Sydney's eastern suburbs, however, that helped him win his ticket to this week's A$800,000 tournament.

"The course on the final was Bonnie Doon and I have played there a few times, so I know where I was going and stuff like that," he added.

"And I played quite a lot of sim golf when I've been practising, so I knew what spots to avoid and whatnot." REUTERS

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