Editor's Note: This story originally appeared as part of a wider feature on https://www.randa.org/en/
Wayne Perske rubbed shoulders with the world’s best when he played in The Open in 2006 as an aspiring professional. Now the Australian has overcome severe back injuries and is playing alongside leading golfers with a disability in The G4D Open.
The 49-year-old’s journey to Woburn is remarkable having won as a professional on the Japan Golf Tour in 2006 and then qualified to take his place in The Open at Royal Liverpool via the Mizuno Open.
While Tiger Woods lifted the Claret Jug after an impressive display on the fast-running Hoylake links, Perske – who was born with the degenerative spine disease scoliosis – missed the cut and then endured years of struggle with back surgeries and challenges in his private life.
“Looking back to 2006, it was my best season,” recalls Perske, who won the inaugural Scottish Open for Golfers with a Disability earlier this month.
“I played most of my career in Japan. It was lush and green as it could possibly be in July and then I came across to Hoylake and it was so dry when I was expecting wind and rain coming in sideways! I was in the middle of my best form and also awaiting the birth of my son so there was a lot going on."
“The Open was an amazing experience. I played some practice rounds with Pádraig Harrington, who was in stellar form, Bernhard Langer and Geoff Ogilvy, who had just won the US Open.
"I also played with Adam Scott, like Geoff a mate of mine, so that was pretty cool. I remember Tiger holing a shot and the ground shook from the noise, he was incredible that week.
“Pádraig then came to play in Japan in 2009, he had won a couple of majors and was top five in the world, and we pretty much bumped into each other in a locker room. He was like ‘Wayne, how it’s going?’ It nearly floored me having only met him a few years before. It was cool.”
However, his back injury was taking its toll and it would be a year later in 2010 when he called time on his professional career. Four spinal fusion operations have since led to 12 screws inserted in his lower back. Perske was told he would never play golf again.
He continued, “It got to the point where I was struggling with a lot of things. Having a young family and being away for 30 plus weeks a year was tough. When you are from Australia, it’s quite hard as you generally have to go overseas to try and progress your career. So I went to Japan but I was struggling with injuries and pretty extreme back pain.
“From my mid-20s, it started to get really bad and I just didn’t tell as many people as I should have, to the point where I was taking so much anti-inflammatory and pain medication that I couldn’t digest any food and the lining of my stomach had rotted away. I was passing blood every time I went to the toilet and I lost so much weight. I only knew golf since the age of 12 and I was actually playing quite well. But I wasn’t in a great mental space and made some poor choices and that basically made the call for me that professional golf was done in 2010."
The journey has continued to the present day with Perske deemed eligible to compete again in All Abilities tournaments in 2024. Playing off a Handicap Index of +1.5 out of Pacific Golf Club in Brisbane, his ascent up the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) has been rapid. He won in his first event in Australia and currently sits fifth in the gross standings.
“After being told by surgeons that I would not play golf ever again, I feel very fortunate to be able to compete on the G4D Tour and in All Abilities events in Australia,” he said.
“When my injuries and conditions took it away from me, I struggled to find my passion. All abilities golf has reignited my passion not only for the game but for my life.”
Perske is also working in the disability space. He is Director of Golf at Wellness Australia Golf, helping people living with disabilities and passing on his life learnings.
“I was low personally but that hard journey to where I am now, helping golfers with disabilities, has given me a new life challenge,” he adds
“Giving them lessons, providing opportunities and trying to help turn golf into a more inclusive sport is my motivation.
“Golf couldn’t be a better sport for people with a disability, even for those who’ve had catastrophic injuries. It brings them back with a purpose. Even for me, my wife, Vanessa, says the spark is back in my eye.”
And what of his chances at The G4D Open, alongside 80 players from across the world from different impairment groups?
“I’m looking forward to it,” he replies. “I’ve been speaking to Lachlan Wood, my countryman, who played last year and trying to learn from him. Being inside the ropes, playing in championships on really cool courses and getting the opportunity to go overseas couldn’t be better.”
Perske signed for a round of four-over-par 76 at Woburn on Wednesday and sits eight shots adrift of first-round leader and World Number One Kipp Popert.
