Harry Higgs is known for being one of golf’s most loveable characters but this week he plans to strike a balance between being the fun guy and a serious contender in a field that includes major champions.
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Higgs and Joel Dahmen instantly became fan favourites as they whipped their shirts off and waved them around for the wild crowd at TPC Scottsdale’s world-renowned party hole at the Phoenix Open two years ago.
The pair were fined by the PGA Tour for their actions at what has become perhaps the rowdiest hole in golf, where Higgs only needed to make par to descend the stadium-like stands into chaos.
Tournament organisers are hoping that the American can bring his infectious energy to the Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane, starting Thursday, before heading to Melbourne for next week’s Australian Open.
But Higgs has come as more than just a showman.
He is using his time down under to help rebuild his career.
Joel Dahmen and Harry Higgs take off their shirts at the 16th hole during the final round of the 2022 WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. Picture: Mike Mulholland/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Higgs was relegated to the US’s secondary Korn Ferry Tour after a disappointing season last year that was more notable for his antics than his results.
The 32-year-old handled the demotion in the best way possible however, as he stepped out of the spotlight to recapture the form that led him to a tied fourth finish at the 2021 PGA Championship.
The world No. 161 won twice, made his way into the US Open field through the gruelling qualifying event, and finished inside the top 30 on the money list to earn himself a spot back on the PGA Tour.
Now, Higgs want to make sure he stays there for good. Taking on the likes of Cameron Smith, Jason Day and Min Woo Lee in the two most prominent events on Australia’s golf calendar will play a vital role in preparing him to do so.
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Part of his journey to be taken more seriously is a vow to never repeat the scenes of the Phoenix Open but this week Royal Queensland has a party hole of its own. Higgs admitted that he won’t completely rein in his boisterous ways.
It will just take an ace – which would secure the fans at the hole on the weekend a share of $1 million – to unleash them.
“A million-dollar hole-in-one, and then just a hole-in-one in general, I can’t say for sure that I would keep that promise that I would never ever do it (take off his shirt) again,” Higgs said with a laugh.
“It seems like they get plenty rowdy here. I’m very much looking forward to getting here on the tournament days and having a bit of fun with the folks.
“No matter how many people are here, there’ll be enough that you’ll feel some nerves and you’ll want to perform in front of them.
“That’s what we are … we’re entertainers and performers.
“You want to perform on a bigger stage, with more people around and have a bit of fun with the folks.”
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Higgs’ first visit to Australian shores has also been inspired by one of golf’s biggest names.
When Jordan Spieth learned that the Australian Open – which we won in 2014 and 2016 – would be played in Melbourne at famed Sandbelt courses Kingston Heath and Victoria, he told Higgs that the trip was a must.
“He (Spieth) was raving about it,” Higgs told the PGA of Australia. “He said Kingston Heath is in his top three (courses) of all time.
“Royal Melbourne is awesome with the history and everything, but he said if you had to pick for fun, and some of the shots you had to hit, that he had to give Kingston Heath the edge.
“From what I’ve heard, Royal Queensland is maybe similar to a Florida golf course. It wouldn’t be something that I have never totally seen before, but then the two on the Sandbelt could be a little tricky.”
Playing in foreign conditions will be a great test as well as being refreshing for Higgs.
So too will playing with little consequence.
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Of course, there is a slice of the $2 million prize purse up for grabs this week, but Higgs is relishing the chance to play without the burden of every shot impacting his future.
He teed it up at the PGA Tour’s World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico earlier this month – where he finished in a tie for 30th – and with his tour card already locked in for next year, he had a new pep in his step.
“Mexico was the first time in five years that I played a PGA Tour event where it really didn’t matter how I did,” Higgs said.
“I still hit plenty of bad shots, but my reaction to them was just kind of a shrug and a smile, and I felt like that helped me continue to get better throughout that week.
“That’s a good bit of learning, especially once I start up in January again, but to try to put it into practice here too.
“It’s nice to travel to a different part of the world, play a little different golf and just see how you stack up and certainly play against still some phenomenal golfers.
“There are good golfers everywhere in this world, and certainly plenty here.”
