Beneath all the layers of competitiveness, perfection, hard work and strength, perseverance shines through. That is the beauty of sport. You do not need to be the best at what you do. You just need to not give up. Ryan Peake embodies this in golf. And now he is given his just rewards.

Ryan Peake‘s life has been a series of ups and downs. He started his career as a promising junior golfer, playing with the likes of Cameron Smith. However, he quit playing golf in his late teens and joined the outlawed motorcycle gang in Australia, called the Rebels. The Rebels were deemed a criminal organisation by the Australian government.

And it was not long before trouble found him. Peake was convicted for assault at the age of 21 and sentenced to five years in prison. While he spent his prime golfing years locked up, famous coach Ritchie Smith got in touch with Peake in a bid to get him to start golfing again. He did not immediately heed the call, as he worked in the mines initially before deciding to follow up on Smith’s suggestion, with a bit more focus.

That suggestion turned out to be a life-changing milestone. Peake was scheduled to play at the Milbrook Resort but arrived late due to a delay regarding clearance for his visa. But once he was there, he never looked back. His 8-foot putt for par on the 72nd hole of the week might not have been impressive for any normal golfing fan, but its reverberations could stand the test of time. The putt clinched a 1-stroke lead for Peake, who celebrated vociferously, letting his emotions out.

“I always knew I could do it but it was just a matter of when I was going to do it. Along with my family and my team, everyone believed and most of all I believed as well,” Peake said post-game.

Peake further added that he just wants to get on the course and get with the business at hand. “This is what I do. I want to be here and just play golf. The story is what it is, but I’m just out here playing golf. It’s one hell of a story, one hell of a moment.”

The victory at the 104th New Zealand Open means that Peake has qualified for the Open Championship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club. He will get a chance to compete for the same title, his former golf buddy Cameron Smith won in 2022.

Peake’s road to the New Zealand Open victory

Peake had been an active participant in the 2024-25 PGA Tour of Australasia. He had come into this season after two victories, Wembley Pro-Am and Dunsborough Lakes Pro-Am, both in May 2024. His PGA Tour of Australasia started testily with a 49th position finish at the season-opening PNG Open.

He showed great signs of improvement as the season went ahead, recording 4 top 10 finishes including a previous season-high 5th placed finish at the Gippsland Super 6. He also had a 6th placed finish at the Webex Player Series in Sydney, the event right before the New Zealand Open.

It was indeed a long time coming for the Australian Golfer who will pocket nearly 300,000 Australian dollars as prize money. More than the money, it will be the chance to compete at the highest level of golf come July. A stage that was once meant for him is back in his grasp. Can he impress the world at the upcoming Open Championship?