Austen Truslow [main picture] says “investing in himself” and building a strong team around him last year have led to the huge improvement in his game.

It culminated with a breakthrough win at the Quinovic NZ PGA Championship last weekend on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia – perfect preparation for the 105th New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort, which commences on Thursday.

“I’d say, I’ve definitely figured out how to match mature knowledge of how to play the game with good physical ability to play the game,” said the American, ahead of this week’s event – which is joint-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia.

“Then I have a good team, and I invested more in myself last year with a physical trainer, mentorship, coaching, full time caddy, great girlfriend, like, just a good team around me.”

That team is comprehensive and at its core are six people: Mike Bender, coach, Mike Shannon, putting coach, Leighton Peaver, physical trainer, Nick O’Hern, mentor, and Julian Hood, his caddie. He is also keen to point out his girlfriend, Caroline Hall, has also been a great influence.

Truslow recorded his best finish on the Asian Tour last year in Morocco. Picture by Steve Bardens/Asian Tour.

Added the 30-year-old: “I’d say those are the major players right now.”

He overcame strong winds to record an impressive three-stroke win at the NZ PGA Championship, played at Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club – where winds gusted up to 60km/h.

“It was a huge goal to get a win this year. I mean, I had the goal, obviously my whole career, but I felt like I was better prepared this year to do it than I ever have been,” he explained.

“I just knew how to keep getting myself in good positions to win. And fortunately, held the 36-hole lead and kept it on Saturday. And to finish it off gave me a lot of confidence.”

Truslow turned professional in 2015 and initially played on the Korn Ferry Tour. He turned his attention to Asia in 2019 and made an immediate impact by winning the Asian Tour Qualifying School for the 2019 season.

He lost his card that year but regained it at the 2024 School. He finished 52^nd on the Order of Merit that year but raised his game last year, finishing 27^th – helped by six top 25 finishes. At the International Series Morocco a sixth-place finish gave him a best finish on the Asian Tour to date.

The American also recorded a top 10 at the Philippine Golf Championship earlier this month – the season-opening event on the Asian Tour.

Truslow after winning the 2019 Asian Tour Qualifying School. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Of those early struggles to find his feet in the professional game he says: “Yeah, it’s very frustrating. You know, you question whether you want to continue doing it. You know, I’ve always kind of told myself, if I hadn’t gotten to where I wanted to be by 28 or 29 I’d move on to a different career.

“And, so, there’s definitely been a lot of times where I’ve questioned whether I wanted to continue playing. So, to get a win and see the progress happen, it’s very validating and kind of reassures me that I’m on the right path.”