The golfing world stood up and took notice when 22-year-old James Nitties led the 2004 Cadbury Schweppes PGA Championship at Coolum at the half way point.
He finished that tournament second, two shots behind fellow Australian Peter Lonard. Just a few weeks later, and less than four months after turning pro, Nitties finds himself in wonderland, just a few shots off the lead at the Heineken Open in Melbourne.
One of the more colourful characters on the tour, Nitties says if he was not playing golf he would be travelling and partying on the world poker tour. In fact his profile quotes his likes as: poker, pool, going out and girls.
After an impressive round of 68 on day one, and 67 in day two, Nitties was upbeat and when questioned if his likes helped him on the golf course he replied in typical fashion.
"Different things work for different people. I don't need to be thinking about golf 100% of the time because you just put more pressure on yourself," he said. "I don't know about the girls. I do like them, but girls don't go for golfers these days. They go for footy players.
"I do play a bit of poker. I have played in a couple of tournaments. That is something I like to do away from golf. It keeps my mind sharp for the game as well. Everything in my profile is true. If I had to explain it, you need a good balance to be a good sportsman."
As relaxed as he seems he knows that he has to prove himself to book a spot as a regular on the US or European tour.
"I do not feel that I can take it for granted and just sit for the rest of the year. I wanted to come out here and prove to myself that I can actually play with these guys. I would like to be on tour by next year and not going through the whole year thinking, I have to play here, and hopefully if I can do well, get into this event."
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