Corowa product Marcus Fraser has confirmed next year will be his last, full-time, on the European Tour.
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“Yeah, I think so, I’ll really scale it back in 2019 and play a little bit in Asia and Australia,” he said.
“If I get in some events in Europe, it will be a very minimal schedule.”
Fraser’s wife Carlie and their children Archie, 8, and Lily, 6, are based in Australia.
The 39-year old travelled back from Europe five times this year.
“You certainly miss a big part of them growing up,” he said.
“You come home and they’re in their routine and I feel like when I come home, you almost interrupt their routine.
“Then you get into it and all of a sudden it’s time to go again.
“I’ve really struggled, even when I do come home for a little break, for three or four weeks, I feel like I’m always unsettled, where I feel like I should be going somewhere.
“Mentally, it gets a little tough like that, you’re never settled in one place.
I’ve really struggled, even when I do come home for a little break, for three or four weeks, I feel like I’m always unsettled, where I feel like I should be going somewhere.
- Marcus Fraser
“Hopefully, in the next few years, I can be a little bit more settled for everyone, moreso the kids.”
One of Australian sport’s nice guys, albeit not instantly recognisable to all but the hardened sports fans, Fraser is coming off a poor year, his 15th in Europe.
He grabbed a fifth place in the Italian Open in October, but it was a rare highlight.
“It was one of those years which was frustrating, it felt like it (good form) wasn’t far away and then some weeks it was a mile away,” he said.
“I didn’t feel like I did anything different.”
Fraser started the year with tennis elbow and while he would normally have a break over Christmas, the year has changed that thinking.
“I feel like I haven’t played well enough this year to warrant a proper break,” he said candidly.
“I’m getting a little bit older now and I feel like I’ve got to keep a club in my hands, so when I do get back into it full-time, I’ve got to make sure I’m ready to go.”
As part of that, Fraser elected to contest the Commercial Golf Resort pro-am for the first time.
And like so many before him, he was blown away by the course.
“Absolutely, these greens are as good as anywhere that we play,” he enthused of the quick surfaces.
“We played eight holes yesterday (Tuesday) in the ambrose and they’re close to perfect, it’s a great golf course.”
Fraser will again host his annual event early next month at his home club in Corowa, which he says is as good as he’s ever seen it.
The event is almost booked out with a move away from the sports night function of previous years.
A comedian is the star attraction this time, along with music, as Fraser looks to add variety after a similar setup during its formative years.