David Micheluzzi spoke of his pride after hitting the opening tee shot of the 2025 DP World Tour campaign and declared it as something he "won't ever forget".
The 28-year-old won the 2022–23 PGA TOUR of Australasia Order of Merit to earn his playing rights on the DP World Tour last season and proved he can compete at this level after recording four top ten finishes, including a second at the BMW International Open in July.
He made his Rolex Series debut in the opening event of the DP World Tour Play-Offs in Abu Dhabi earlier this month, where he finished in a tie for 37th.
Micheluzzi is among the sizeable Australian contingent to tee up at the BMW Australian PGA Championship, but he was the chosen one to hit the opening shot of the new season in Brisbane.
"It was an honour to hit the opening tee shot," he admitted. "It was really cool to do it in your home country. When I was asked, I was quick to say yes. It’s something that I won’t ever forget.
"Coming through the pathway to the DP World Tour, it has given me a full-time job, which has been fun. You get to see different parts of the world and play with some really good players, it’s been fun.
"I can’t thank the PGA of Australia enough for what they have done for me.
"I would love to make it to the DP World Tour Championship this season. My goal was to do that last season but I was very happy to make it to Abu Dhabi, especially with the start I got off to.
"It wasn't particularly flash, probably just a bit of nerves. But to make Dubai and potentially try to get one of those ten PGA TOUR cards would be the goal."
Micheluzzi endured a roller coaster opening day at Royal Queensland Golf Club, which was hit by driving rain throughout Thursday's round, to card seven birdies and three bogeys and sit two shots of overnight leader Elvis Smylie at four under par.
"I holed a lot of putts, but I also missed a lot of short putts," he added. "I think I missed about five inside six feet.
"So it could have been a very low one, but at the same time I made a great par save on the tenth, which was our first hole and made a birdie on the next as well. And yeah, just kind of went with that.
"Missed a few short ones in the middle of the round, but overall pretty happy with the start of the season as well and yeah, it's just nice to be back on home soil.
"The course is holding up really good, seriously. The amount of rain we've had since Saturday is just an absolute joke. Credit to all the ground staff.
"Yesterday I was speaking to one of the boys who was on the ground staff and I'm just like, we can't thank you enough because I don't know how long they were out here last night and also this morning, but saw one of them put a photo on his Instagram story of this bunker that was just fully flooded.
"To get it in this shape is just a massive, massive credit to them."
