Ryan Peake's journey to The Open at Royal Portrush represents one of golf's most extraordinary redemption stories.
The 32-year-old Australian secured his place through victory at the New Zealand Open, but his path to this moment has been anything but conventional.
In 2014, Peake was sentenced to five years in prison for a violent assault that left a rival with a fractured skull and fractured arms.
The former motorcycle gang member served part of his sentence in Hakea, one of Australia's toughest jails.
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|Ryan Peake's journey to The Open at Royal Portrush represents one of golf's most extraordinary redemption stories
Now, more than a decade after abandoning golf to join The Rebels motorcycle group, Peake has returned to professional sport.
His presence at The Open marks a remarkable transformation from convicted criminal to championship competitor.
The assault occurred after threats were exchanged between rival gang members.
"He was a person that was living my lifestyle," Peake explained. "He was doing some bad things, we had knowledge then he made some pretty heinous threats."
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|Ryan Peake previously spent five years in prison
What began as an intended confrontation escalated dramatically.
"We were generally just going there for a chat. He was probably going to get a couple of punches, that's it," Peake said.
"It just happened to be the threats he threatened us with were true. He was armed and it escalated from there."
One of Peake's associates carried a baseball bat during the incident. The victim sustained severe injuries including a fractured skull and fractured arms.
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When police arrived to make the arrest, Peake immediately surrendered. His willingness to accept responsibility for his actions would become a defining characteristic of his journey forward.
His time in Hakea prison proved particularly challenging.
"It was bad," he admitted. "They're just way too overpopulated. And I think the whole justice system, essentially, yeah, you've done a crime. You go to jail. I don't argue with that."
Peake described the harsh reality of overcrowding, with three people crammed into cells designed for one.
"By putting people in, I guess, places like that, where it's disgusting, you're treated unfairly, it's overpopulated, three people in a cell where there's only meant to be one, it's disgusting," he added.
"That's not necessarily rehabilitating you. That's making you more p****d off. And you're probably going to come out an angry person as well because you've just been treated like c**p."
Despite the conditions, Peake maintained perspective.
"If you don't like the accommodation, don't book the reservation. I booked that one for myself," he said.
Golf eventually provided Peake with a path forward. He needed permission from The Rebels' leadership to pursue the sport seriously, as tournament commitments would prevent him from participating in long national rides.
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After receiving approval, Peake picked up a club for the first time in six years. The initial results were poor - he described his first shot as "s**t" - but he persevered.
His determination paid off with victory at the New Zealand Open, securing his place at Royal Portrush.
He travelled on a British passport obtained through his father, as his Australian criminal record would have complicated visa applications.
"I'm not trying to be a role model or be someone's superhero," Peake said. "I've earned being here."