Convicted ex-motorcycle gang member Ryan Peake has sensationally clinched his place in The Open Championship after winning the New Zealand Open – six years on from his prison release. The 31-year-old was sentenced to five years behind bars for a serious assault when he was 21.
Peake, who was part of an outlawed motorcycle gang called the Rebels in his native Australia, was released from prison in 2019, with his intention to change his life forever being sparked during his stint inside. Despite being a promising golfer in his youth, the Perth-born Peake quit the sport in order to join the gang, who are considered a criminal organisation by the Australian government. However, his journey towards a new life was set off when he was contacted in prison by coach Ritchie Smith, who urged him to return to golf upon his release. The advice from Smith was the genesis of his victory in Queenstown, which booked him his spot at Portrush in Northern Ireland from 17-20 July.
Just arriving at the tournament was a close shave for Peake, who almost missed the competition at the Millbrook Resort course after his entry into the Kiwi nation was delayed. It was due to the difficulty in gaining papers necessary to travel outside Australia given his criminal record.
Despite his status as a rookie on the Australasian Tour, that didn’t stop him from clinching the title and the £99,500 (AUS$201,600) prize money. After his one-shot victory over compatriot Jack Thompson, South African Ian Snyman and Japan’s Kazuki Higa, Peake was close to tears when celebrating the emotional triumph with his friends and family.
“I always knew I could do it, it was just a matter of time when I was going to do it,” the golfer said. Despite his arduous past, Peake admitted he retained faith that he’d reach this stage of the sport.
“It’s life-changing, I always knew I could do it, it was just a matter of time when I was going to do it. My coach, my family, my team, everyone believed. Most of all, I believed as well,” he continued.
“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. I think just by getting here, I’d kind of already won, because it was just like another monkey off the back, just getting another stamp on that passport for me.”
He’s certainly got another fight on his hands as he’ll need clearance to travel to Northern Ireland for the tournament because of his criminal past.
