People from Sipoo Matias Honkala and Alex Hietala made a turning point in their sports career less than four years ago: both decided to switch from amateur golfers to professionals.
The decision was easy. Amateur golf had nothing more to offer the duo.
“The amateur era had been seen. It was the right time to turn professional,” says 25-year-old Honkala.
Although the decision was easy, the professional career has been difficult so far. Neither of them has yet been able to play on the main European tour (DP World Tour), which was their first goal.
However, the big dream is on the professional tour of the United States on the PGA Tour, on which Sami Välimäki plays as the first Finn.
In November 2020, Hietala told that he dreams of one day winning The Masters and being able to wear the winner’s green jacket at Augusta.
Matias Honkala and Alex Hietala at the 3rd tee of the Karppi field in Nevas, which offers a view of the Sipol landscape.
A dream is by no means buried, but it needs to be worked on in the lower-level series, for example in Europe’s second-tier Challenge Tour, whose next competition starts on Thursday in Cadiz, Spain.
Cadiz will see a rare invasion of five Finnish players, when also Kim Koivu, Oliver Lindell and Tapio Pulkanen are involved.
In his professional career, Honkala has currently earned just under 56,000 euros on the Challenge Tour. In the Nordic League, he played 36,748 points, which produced the same amount of euros.
In the Nordic League, he was the eighth best, while the first five received a direct right to play for this season’s Challenge Tour.
“As far as I’m concerned, my career has been a bit on the positive side. You should get at least one win on the Challenge Tour. That would be essential. If you played even moderately, you could keep your place on the tour,” says Honkala
Hietala’s earnings have fallen far below Honkala’s level.
“Every year there have been more expenses than income. Reality is pretty harsh, even if you try to think positively about it. There is always a place to look in the mirror. Takes it hard when the career is not progressing”, 26-year-old Hietala continues.
In May, Hietalan managed to win the Finnish Tour season opener in Hirsala. The win was a prize check for 2,650 euros.
With an accurate economy, Hirsala’s prize can be used to figure out the competition costs of two or three Challenge Tours.
For his main job, Hietala plays on the Pro Golf Tour, which is the third level tour in terms of category. He rarely gets a place in second level competitions.
“International victory is unattainable. That is a clear goal for this season,” says Hietala.
Honkala finished 23rd in his previous race in May in the Challenge Tour race played in Seville. It brought 2,500 euros. Tapio Pulkanen was tied for second place in the same race and already paid 24,300 euros.
Finns the fees are small if you compare them with the world’s top.
For example, the recent winner of the PGA Championship Xander Schauffele earned 3.3 million dollars from the race, of which his caddy received a ten percent bonus, i.e. 330,000 dollars, more than 300,000 euros.
“The player’s clubs are happy to carry the price for that,” Hietala laughs,
The normal basic salary of a caddy for the competition period is around 1,000–1,500 euros. Honkala and Hietala play abroad without a caddy.
Money is tight when you have to pay the registration fee, travel and housing on the race trips. You often have to rent a car to get to the golf course.
“Motivation doesn’t stop playing, that’s enough, but money is a different matter. It’s hard to get support from companies,” says Honkala.
Many athletes earn their living by promoting various products on social media. Honkala and Hietala reject the idea.
“We should probably be more visible on social media, but it’s time-consuming. Companies put athletes in parallel with social media influencers,” says Hietala.
“I don’t even have anything to advertise on social media when there are no sponsors. I get the rackets and playing clothes,” says Honkala.
The golfer thanks Honkala Mikko Korhonen The 59 Fund from the 10,000 euro grant he received. The fund operates under the Golf Promotion Foundation. Both companies, associations and private individuals can donate funds to the fund.
Honkala and Hietala don’t want to complain, but their example shows how difficult it is to get along in a sport like professional golf and reach your place among thousands of top players.
Getting on the main European tour would make life and everyday life easier. The DP World Tour pays players a base salary of 150,000 euros, which covers expenses.
On the US PGA tour, the basic income is half a million dollars, but there the expenses are also high.
Sami Välimäki is downthat a season on the American professional tour costs as much as a private house in Pirkanmaa.
Between competitions, Honkala enjoys his beloved hobby of fishing. In the waters of Sipo, perch and pike, sometimes also sea trout, catch lures.
“You should catch a big fish, just like in golf,” Honkala says and hits the ball from 294 meters directly onto the green.
Alex Hietala gives the ball a ride.
Matias Honkala’s style sample. He hits the ball straight 294 meters to the green.
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