By Adam Pengilly
Wander around the fairways of The Australian Golf Club and there are two prototypes: the lean late teen or early twentysomething giants; and then there are the old-school hardened professionals, close to the ground and carrying a midriff most RSL regulars would be proud of.
Steven Bowditch fits somewhere in between. Or at least is desperate to ensure he stays somewhere in between.
"I just wasn't feeling good," the 32-year-old said of an early season health kick, which has seen him drop 13 kilograms since his last Australian Open appearance.
"The amount of travelling I did, I wasn't feeling great and I just felt like I needed to start looking after myself a little better. With all these young guys coming out - they're bigger, faster and stronger and unfortunately I'm starting to get a bit older - you've got to hang on for a little bit longer."
In good nick: Steven Bowditch has made a concerted effort to improve his fitness and the results are showing.Credit: Getty Images
He is hanging on. In fact he is more than just hanging on. The world No.71 - fresh from another winning season on the US PGA Tour, this time the AT&T Byron Nelson - will reflect on the 2015 calendar year as his best yet after being one of two captain's picks for the Internationals President's Cup side.
"It was an unbelievable experience and to be there with such a great guy and Hall Of Famer in Nick Price - to be led by him - and to have some good mates like Scotty [Adam Scott], Jason [Day] and Leish [Marc Leishman] ... to spend a bit of time with them and play alongside them was an experience I'll always remember," Bowditch said. "I just hope I can do it again."
That and a possible Olympic Games berth, which Bowditch said he would "grab with both hands" if he can squeeze his way into Australia's contingent.
Of more immediate importance is arresting an end-of-season slide that saw the Queenslander miss the cut at the Australian Masters last week after an opening round 77.
Paired with 2011 Australian Open champion Greg Chalmers and Europe's incoming Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke, Bowditch will look to turn the tide in the opening round of the national championship on Thursday.
"I haven't got my best stuff with me at the moment, but a bit of work the last few days and hopefully [on Thursday] I might find something," he said. "I just want to go out and play golf and come Sunday I might have a chance.
"The course is in great shape and we know the breeze is going to get up tomorrow, but it looks perfect. We couldn't ask for a better venue or better conditions."