Eight-year-old Queenstown golfer Noah Novacek may be small in stature, but the power behind his swing has him heading for Australia today to represent New Zealand.

The tiny Tiger Woods wannabe has been selected to play in the New Zealand Under-8 Golf Team on the US Kids’ Tour.

He flies out today with Dunedin 7-year- old Kairangi Koni, to compete in the trans-Tasman challenge in Sydney – the only Kiwi Under-8s. Kairangi’s little sister Anahera, 6, will also compete.

Temperatures plummeted during a southerly storm last Sunday, but proud Dad, Shane Wairau, said Noah insisted on finishing his Kelvin Heights game. “It was his best score ever and it was freezing,” Wairau said. “I asked him if he wanted to go home, but he said, ‘I don’t want to be a quitter’.”

The determined youngster shot 104 to take third place– his best ever score at Kelvin Heights, where he plays off a 27 or 28 handicap.

He’s now playing off a 23 handicap at the Frankton course where he rocks up to practise for two hours every day after school. Noah then plays a round every day with his Dad during the longer daylight hours.

He sports a mean swing and can drive the ball about 140-metres off the tee, while the average adult male golfer would hit it about 210 metres.

Noah is quite matter of fact about his aim: “I want to be the number one golfer in the world,” he says. “I want to play in the US Masters. If I had a chance to I’d play golf all day every day.”

It’s that passion and drive that will take Noah to the top.

His coach Ackzel Donaldson said Noah has a natural talent, a keen eye and listens well. “In my opinion he’s a very talented kid and can play any sport he puts his mind to.”

He’s not bad on skis either. Noah’s quite at home dropping through the ‘double black diamond’ chutes with his Dad in the ‘expert only’ terrain at the Remarkables Ski Area.

However, Wairau has relegated himself to caddy on the fairway now, after what he said were some embarrassing defeats playing with Noah.

“I was sick of being humiliated. I pretty much gave up,” he grinned. “I took him for a round and he started to get the lead on me, so I put my clubs away and said I’d carry his. He just hits shots that are so good for someone so little.”

Father and son did play together in the Stotty Memorial Cup at Millbrook recently though and placed second equal with Noah once again knocking out the adult competition.

For Noah that’s what it’s all about: “I feel happy when I’m playing and I like spending time with my Dad, ’cause I like being with him.”