Beating the black dog

A young Steven Bowditch was a breath of fresh air to amateur golf when he confidently burst onto the scene playing for the Queensland State Team.

Here was a physically mature young kid with all the natural attributes to become one of the world's top players. He had a bold personality without being obnoxious and was one of the best strikers of the golf ball to emerge perhaps since another young confident Queenslander, Greg Norman. Bowditch won a string of amateur events highlighted by the 2001 Australian Stroke Play Championship in Melbourne in 2001 and was a member of the Queensland team in the Interstate Series the same year.

The kid from the Sunshine Coast had many sporting strings to his bow and was a talented all rounder. He was second in the state junior (under 19) 100 metres and fifth at the national titles. He also played rugby union in a Queensland schoolboys' representative team as an inside and outside centre. “But I was a terrible tackler,” he confided. Queensland Golf Union officials were both flattered and delighted when he chose golf over other sports and enjoyed the fruits of his talent before a professional career eventually beckoned in 2003.

The dreaded Black Dog can bite anyone on the arse. It doesn't play favourites.

Yet it seems to creep up on an inordinate number of elite sports people. That being the case, it gripped Bowditch so strongly at one stage that at his lowest ebb, he tried to take his own life. He had been on a bender during which time he passed out for two days after downing a bottle of scotch. On awakening, he jumped fully-clad into a backyard swimming pool and tried to end it all.

Victory in Texas

Bowditch's battle with the Black Dog had been well-chronicled but surfaced again when he broke through for his maiden win on the PGA Tour in the Texas Open. In a way, it overshadowed the enormity of his golfing achievement, which ever so slightly seemed to be grating on Bowditch by the time he finished a long round of media interviews during the week. “To be honest I am grateful I have had depression. It is part of my life and has made me the person I am today. If I had not gone through it, I don't think I would be here talking to you guys today. “[However] as far as depression goes, it's personal and private and that's where I want to leave it. The last three, four, five years, I have been good. I have a wonderful wife and amazing family.”

Much has been made about the self-centred nature of golf and golfers. Yet at the back of the 18th green in Texas three fellow Australian professionals – John Senden, Aaron Baddeley and Scott Gardiner - held their collective breath as Bowditch needed every one of the three shots he had up his sleeve for victory. The trio erupted with delight when he did it. “We're a pretty tight group, the Australians on the PGA Tour,” Bowditch said. “The boys were really happy for me.” Another good mate, New Zealand professional Phil Tataurangi, told a local Texan radio station Bowditch became so withdrawn at the height of his illness he did not want to converse with anyone, even deliberately seeking an isolated spot away from the throng on the practice fairway.

Backing him in

Simon Butterly, PGA Tour Australasia's Simon general manager (Tournament Division) said Bowditch's breakthrough win on the US Tour was “bigger than a golf story.”

“It's captivated everyone. Everybody has embraced the victory” said Butterly. “He (Bowditch) always been a man's man, a strong personality and people really like him. Nothing ever really seems to faze him on the golf course,” Butterly said “He's always been great to be around.” Butterly remembers the tournament in Adelaide – The Jacob's Creek Open – where Bowditch approached the doctor on tour for help. “He was referred to the appropriate medical people and has not looked back since.”

Augusta bound

The win in Texas vaulted Bowditch from No.339 in the world into the field at Augusta this week alongside fellow Australians defending champion Adam Scott, John Senden, Jason Day, Marc Leishman and WA amateur Oliver Goss. His dad, Barry, a truck driver on the Sunshine Coast, mother Robyn, a mail sorter, and carpenter brother, Adam, will join Bowditch at Augusta. The first thing he did after winning in Texas was to ring them to invite them to The Masters. His mother and father could not watch the triumph in Texas live on television. Robyn had to start her shift at the mail exchange at 4am and Barry had to jump behind the steering wheel of his truck not long afterwards.

For help or information visit beyondblue.org.au, or call Lifeline on 131 114.

THE WATCHMAN

6 minutes to midnight for… the full forwards who should be kicking goals, but keep coming up with points or out of bounds efforts. Timed set shots didn't stop columnist Matthew Lloyd from a 72.2% accuracy rate.

LOCAL HERO

The V8 Supercars are in North East Victoria's Winton racetrack this weekend - a venue that serves as the 'home' test track for 18 of the 25 drivers in the Championship. History shows that honours have been evenly shared in the 20 races over the past eight years. Since 2006 Queensland-based teams won 11 and the 'locals' claiming nine.

WHAT THEY SHOULD DO

… is re-think the definition of sexy. With quieter formula one cars at Albert Park the Australian Grand Prix CEO said "What was lacking was the sexiness and the appeal of the noise”. I mean, how sexy really is the former high-pitched, screeching, earth-shattering, hair-raising, mind-blowing noise that 'shook' the poor CEO's bones? I mean, F1 - and its noise - is not exactly a Beyonce or a Sean Connery is it? - JOAN LOGAN, South Melbourne

Email your contribution to: sundaysport@theage.com.au or twitter: @sundayagesport