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The Australian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Australian
Ex-Rebels bikie Ryan Peake makes history at The Open Championship
Of all the ways Ryan Peake has gone from a tiny and crowded prison cell to golf's most historic tournament, who would have thought it would all rest on a British passport? Nearly a few hundred years on, Peake is the reverse convict: an Australian with a criminal record only being able to enter the United Kingdom for its treasured golfing heirloom because of citizenship he's held though his father, Mel. 'My dad was born in England,' Peake says. Whereabouts? 'England,' he laughs, clearly not having taken time to delve too much into the family history. 'I mean, that's the reason I'm here this week.' Ryan Peake talks with his caddie on the first tee during a practice round prior ahead of the Open Championship. Picture: Getty The Australian left-hander, who earlier this year opened up to News Corp about his journey from a former Rebels bikie who spent five years in prison for a serious assault to top golfer, is speaking in a plush suite on the grounds of Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland before his debut major. He's holding his own press conference away from official R&A briefings because there's been that much interest in his story. A collection of journalists from European publications have been fascinated by his tale, taking out their notebooks at any time to learn more about this interloper who's crashed golf's clean cut elite. But Peake walks through the crowds and there's barely a second glance from punters. Ryan Peake in his prison greens Ryan Peake joined the Rebels. Opinion is split in the ravenous Pommy press. Can we write about one of the most incredible sporting tales of the year? Will it glorify violence? Why is he so openly speaking about it when it would have just been easier to trot out the line it was in the past? 'I just like honesty,' Peake says. 'It's me. I guess I got out of the (Rebels) club from being honest as well. It's hard to kick someone that's honest, and it's just my view and it's my life. It's my story. I'm not essentially embarrassed about it. It's something that I've done. I've owned it.' How a Northern Irish crowd besotted with Rory McIlroy react to a heavily tattooed Australian with a dark past he's emerged from is anyone's guess. Peake has been paired with LIV Golf's Phil Mickelson for the opening two rounds of the Open. Picture: Getty The R&A clearly have a sense of humour, pairing Peake with LIV Golf disrupter Phil Mickelson for the opening two rounds. If walking onto the first tee of your first major playing alongside Phil is daunting, how about being crammed into a cold and concrete confinement for your crimes? Plucking up the courage to ask the Rebels if you can leave their chapter when you get out because you want to play golf? Figuring out how to actually do shopping again? Pay bills? Trying to hit a little white ball for the first time? 'It was pretty shit,' Peake says of the latter. 'I mean it went forward, but a lot's come since then.' But the reaction from his peers has been far more emphatic this week. Peake, 31, credits Min Woo Lee coach's Ritchie Smith for saving his golfing career when he rang him while he was inside. Lee has spent the majority of the week with Peake learning the nuances of this brutal and beautiful links golf course. Peake celebrates with the New Zealand Open trophy earlier this year. Picture: Getty On Tuesday (BST), Peake also spent time with his former Australian junior teammate Cameron Smith and veteran Marc Leishman in a practice round. 'People think it's just normal and he's just playing golf, but there must be something that he deals with every day,' Lee says. 'I guess he has this amazing story about him, but he still wants to play good golf. He thinks the story doesn't matter if he doesn't play good golf.' Says Smith: 'It's awesome. He's a great guy. He got himself into strife, but it's good to see him out here playing golf for one, but turning his life around is the main thing.' Where he is allowed to golf is still up in the air. Peake has now hired a manager, Matt Cutler, after his New Zealand Open win earlier this year garnered worldwide attention and helped him earn status on the lucrative DP World and Asian Tour. Cutler has applied for three visas so far, three successes. Ryan Peake celebrates his Sandbelt Invitational win. Photo: Paul Shire But bigger logistical hurdles await, particularly in the United States, the epicentre of professional golf, and more sensitive parts of Asia. 'We will help him as much as we can,' Asian Tour boss Cho Minn Thant says. 'There are no issues from a management perspective and I think all the players treat him as a fellow competitor. He's easy to get along with.' Of all the shattering tales he's already told of how his life once unravelled, the most jarring might have been when his mum told him she was relieved the day he stepped foot in prison. It was because she finally knew where he was each night. Peake's fiancée Lee and his parents will arrive at Royal Portrush to watch The Open, safe again in the knowledge he's made it to a place his talent deemed he should be – with the help of a little British passport. 'If I wanted to pull out this week because I didn't feel right or thought, 'this isn't for me', that wouldn't bother (my family) one bit,' Peake says. 'They would just want whatever I want, and they'd be happy with that.'
Daily Mail
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Former Aussie bikie Ryan Peake vows he will return to the British Open after redemption story for the ages
Ryan Peake cut a frustrated figure after bowing out of his maiden British Open, but the Australian golfer whose redemption story captivated Royal Portrush reckons his great adventure on the links has persuaded him he belongs among the game's elite. Peake, the former biker gang member who served jail time for an assault but rebuilt his life through his golfing prowess, had too much to do to make the weekend's action after his first-round 77, despite improving with a two-over 73 on Friday. 'Dry and miserable,' sighed the 32-year-old, when asked how he felt after escaping the rain. 'Obviously, it's been a great build-up. I feel we've done the right prep, the venue's been fantastic, the crowds great. 'The hospitality, treatment side, everyone goes above and beyond to do everything for you. So in that aspect, everything's been great. Just the golf was disappointing. 'I'll reflect on the experience later down the track, but it was disappointing not playing the weekend.' Peake enjoyed playing alongside his fellow left-hander Phil Mickelson for two rounds, with the six-time major champion qualifying for the weekend again at 55. 'Playing with Phil obviously was great. I was trying to play my game as well, but he was friendly, he was chatting,' reflected the man from Perth. 'It's not like I've played this week and think that's the best player I'm ever going to play with or it's the biggest event I'm ever going to play with. 'I'm not exactly here this week to try and embrace it all as the coolest moment of my life, because I believe I belong here. 'I'm going to keep trying to do it again, and I believe I've got the game to do it. Just this week, I didn't have it, and it's just a little bit disappointing.' But as he reflected on how far he's come since imprisonment, Peake had every reason to feel proud. 'It was never on the cards (playing in a major). I don't want to come across too miserable and then be sitting here like beating myself up, but for the next little while I'm allowed to be disappointed with the performance that I've done. 'It's just something else to grow from, I guess. 'It sucks that it's gone this way, but obviously I'm honoured to have had the privilege to do it. 'Maybe next time will be better.' Peake is determined to build on his first major experience, which he grabbed following his epic win at the New Zealand Open in March. 'I've got a busy schedule now,' he said. 'I'm about to head home back to Perth. 'I've got about three or four weeks off, and then I'll go over my calendar. 'I've got about 13 events on the back end of Asia that we have to finish this season. 'So I'll discuss what events I'm going to play and then build into Europe for the end of the year.
Perth Now
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
'I belong here': Open newbie Peake vows he'll be back
Ryan Peake cut a frustrated figure after bowing out of his maiden British Open, but the Australian golfer whose redemption story captivated Royal Portrush reckons his great adventure on the links has persuaded him he belongs among the game's elite. Peake, the former biker gang member who served jail time for an assault but rebuilt his life through his golfing prowess, had too much to do to make the weekend's action after his first-round 77, despite improving with a two-over 73 on Friday. "Dry and miserable," sighed the 32-year-old, when asked how he felt after escaping the rain. "Obviously, it's been a great build-up. I feel we've done the right prep, the venue's been fantastic, the crowds great. The hospitality, treatment side, everyone goes above and beyond to do everything for you. So in that aspect, everything's been great. Just the golf was disappointing. "I'll reflect on the experience later down the track, but it was disappointing not playing the weekend." Peake had enjoyed playing alongside his fellow left-hander Phil Mickelson for two rounds, with the six-time major champion qualifying for the weekend again at 55. "Playing with Phil obviously was great. I was trying to play my game as well, but he was friendly, he was chatting," reflected the man from Perth. "It's not like I've played this week and think that's the best player I'm ever going to play with or it's the biggest event I'm ever going to play with. I'm not exactly here this week to try and embrace it all as the coolest moment of my life, because I believe I belong here. "I'm going to keep trying to do it again, and I believe I've got the game to do it. Just this week, I didn't have it, and it's just a little bit disappointing." But as he reflected on how far he's come since imprisonment, Peake had good reason to feel proud. . "It was never on the cards (playing in a major). I don't want to come across too miserable and then be sitting here like beating myself up, but for the next little while I'm allowed to be disappointed with the performance that I've done. It's just something else to grow from, I guess. "It sucks that it's gone this way, but obviously I'm honoured to have had the privilege to do it. Maybe next time will be better." Peake is determined to build on his first major experience, which he grabbed with his fairytale win in the New Zealand Open in March. "I've got a busy schedule now," he said. "I'm about to head home back to Perth. I've got about three or four weeks off, and then I'll go over my calendar. "I've got about 13 events on the back end of Asia that we have to finish this season. So I'll discuss what events I'm going to play and then build into Europe for the end of the year. "I've got lots to look forward to, but I've got a little bit of work to do after this week as well."
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ryan Peake, story of British Open, gets Phil Mickelson's autograph after round
A former imprisoned bike-gang member played alongside one of the game's all-time greats Thursday at The Open Championship. It wasn't the score Ryan Peake wanted, and he admitted he felt "flat" after posting an opening 77, but it was improbable experience for the Aussie. As chronicled by Golf Channel ahead of the 153rd Open, Peake spent five years in a maximum security prison in Western Australia because of assault when he was part of the Rebels bike gang. Once a top junior player, he returned to the game upon his release and qualified for Royal Portrush by winning this year's New Zealand Open. Thursday, he played alongside Phil Mickelson, a World Golf Hall of Fame member and 2013 Open champion, who shot 1-under 70. Peake had eight bogeys and two birdies in his 6-over performance. "I know everyone is going to look at it and say you take the experience in and stuff like that, but obviously very disappointed with the round. Not what I want. So pretty flat at the moment. Was pretty flat out there as well. I just got beat up out there," Peake said. "I felt like I did a couple things all right and kind of didn't get rewarded for them. But I was like Father Christmas out there; I was just handing out presents to the golf course. I just kept throwing them away, and it was just very frustrating." Peake did, however, take advantage of his opportunity to play with the 55-year-old legend, getting a golf ball and a signed glove from Lefty. "His caddie gave away golf balls as we were walking off the tee, and I yelled out, 'What about me,' and he had a laugh, thought I was being sarcastic, and he said, 'Are you serious,' and I said, 'No, I'm deadly serious.' I said, 'Can you sign a glove as well?'" said Peake, who added that the two talked casually during the round. "He's your hero growing up. My own boy is out here this week and he loves him as well. I'm not going to ask him (for an autograph) on the first tee, but I'll ask him after the round."
News.com.au
18-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Beauty of Open Championship venue belies beastly test for world's best golfers requiring the focus of ordained monk
Is it possible something so beastly can also be so beautiful? One second the television cameras are panning across a stunning coastline, where the sun is almost eternal in high summer, the next it's showing dozens of fans combing through horrid shrubbery with such desperation like they're looking for a lost contact lens. Needn't matter, it was only the ball of Brooks Koepka they couldn't recover. But there's one part of this course which intrigues: Calamity Corner. Augusta can have its not-a-blade-of-grass-out-of-place Amen Corner, but the real prayers this week will be at the 16th hole at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. Normal everyday golfers would stand on the tee and shake at the knees; a 205-metre par-three, with a staggering ravine to the right, ready to swallow up the hopes and dreams of many a claret jug contender. Ludvig Aberg hit it so far down he took four clubs with him to the bottom to assess his weapon of choice. By the time he got there in his first round, Ryan Peake's The Open campaign was in chaos. A golf round is nothing compared to the chaos which engulfed his earlier life – bikie, five years in prison for serious assault, trying to stay on the right side of his cellmates – but it was a different chaos nonetheless. Finally, he found calm. Whack! 'When you're seven-over, not much worse can happen,' Peake shrugs. 'So, it was easy to get up there and pull the trigger.' He hit the ball to within two feet. Tap-in birdie. Calmness. Maybe not as calm as an ordained monk. Thailand's Sadom Kaewkanjana is a name only golf sickos would know. Two years ago, he took a break from the sport to train as a Buddhist monk. He came back and qualified for The Open by winning in Korea, shot three-under 68 at Royal Portrush to start this event – one shot off the lead – and then explained how putting the clubs down helped train his mind. He birdied 16. 'It's made me (have) a lot of focus,' the world No.262 said. 'Forget everything outside, just live in the present. So, I really enjoy being a monk.' At the opposite end of the leaderboard was Australian Peake. Not many would have predicted he would make the cut, but who would have thought he would ever be here after spending so long in the lock-up? He was frustrated when he came off the course with a six-over 77 … and a signed glove from playing partner Phil Mickelson. 'His caddie gave away golf balls as we were walking off the tee, and I yelled out, 'what about me?' And he had a laugh,' Peake says. 'He thought I was being sarcastic, and he said, 'are you serious?' I said, 'no, I'm deadly serious. Can you sign a glove as well?' He's your hero growing up. My own boy is out here this week and he loves him as well.' In this part of the world, everyone's first, second and third hero is obvious: Rory McIlroy. Phil who? The last time McIlroy teed off in The Open at Royal Portrush six years ago, he looked at a fairway which was lined with thousands of devotees. The first hole has out of bounds left and right. To a golfer even as skilled as McIlroy, it would have been easier to split the G on a local Guinness than keep his first ball somewhere in play. He went beyond the white stakes, signed for a quadruple bogey, sucked every ounce of air out of the electric gallery, and missed the cut by just one after a second round surge. This time, it was bogey. Better. Don't mind he straight pulled a three-foot tiddler for par. It was a big improvement on the form guide … and classic McIlroy. You're captivated with him, but never confident. He's ride or die, thrilling and infuriating, vulnerable and venerable, provocative and pragmatic. Most of all, he's Northern Ireland's. His dad, Gerry, made a surprise appearance on the practice range this week, almost sneaking up behind his son to spook him. Rory turned around and gave him a hug, not once, not twice, but a few times. His smile hasn't been broader all week. A pastor now lives in the McIlroy family home in Holywood, just outside Belfast. He worries about keeping the outdoor putting green built for a young Rory in good condition to honour McIlroy's legacy, even though he barely plays himself. As expected, McIlroy got hot after the opening hole and the huge crowds snaked their way over the swales and down the slopes to follow him. Almost as expected, then he went ice cold, dropping three shots in four holes. He eventually finished with a one-under 71, three shots shy of the lead on a congested leaderboard. 'I feel the support of an entire country out there, which is a wonderful position to be in,' McIlroy says. 'But at the same time, you don't want to let them down. So, there's that little bit of added pressure.' There's a monk who can maybe help with that.
