He’s playing because, for the first time in years, he simply loves what he is doing.

“I’ve been working hard on it, but it’s been an unexpected start from where I was six months ago,” Ion tells Golf Australia Magazine.

“It’s all just been a bit of a surprise, really.”

That surprise has come in the form of a strong start to the season on the PGA Tour of Australasia. Showing consistency and a new sense of perspective. A runner-up finish at the PNG Open at Royal Port Moresby was the beginning, and Ion carried that strong form to Kalgoorlie last week, carding another top-10 finish.

But the road to this point has been anything but smooth.

Just last year, Ion completed his PGA traineeship, the program that helped him reset his life after drifting away from golf in his early twenties. “I was getting myself in trouble and staying very distracted from golf,” he admits.

“Finally, I gave myself a shot to actually get back and enjoy it. I made a couple of life choices that pulled me back in the right direction.”

Ion lines up a putt at the Heritage Classic. PHOTO: Golf Australia/PGA of Australia.

He found guidance from his coach, Brett Maxwell, at Virginia Golf Club, who saw something special. “He said, ‘You’ve got a lot of game, I want to get you out on tour one day,’” Ion recalls. Maxwell’s belief is ringing true.

Earlier this year, after a strong showing at Q-School where he missed out on status by the one shot, Ion’s progress almost unravelled. “Some stuff in my personal life happened. I made a couple of big mistakes and ended up seeing a therapist,” he says. “That’s when I found out I have severe anxiety.”

The condition hit hard on the golf course. “I couldn’t focus, couldn’t stop having anxiety attacks. I didn’t think I was actually going to be able to play properly,” he says.

“If I went overseas and was this anxious, I’d just have a meltdown. It took a solid couple of months before I could even complete a round of golf.”

Therapy helped him more than he could have imagined. “I thought about seeing a sports psych, but I needed to fix my mental health outside of golf first,” he says. “My therapist gave me tools — trying new hobbies, staying busy, just keeping myself in a positive mood. It sounds simple, but it’s made a huge difference.”

Ion’s openness about his struggles with anxiety is part of a growing willingness among athletes to talk about mental health — something he hopes becomes more normal.

“I think a lot of guys just need to start seeing someone,” he says.

“People don’t realise how much of a difference it can make, even if you don’t think you’re struggling. Just sitting down and talking can help you figure out what’s really going on.” He credits that honesty, both with his therapist and his mates on tour, for keeping him grounded. “If I’m having a bad day, or not sleeping well, I’ll tell them. They look after me, and it makes it easier being out here.”

His coping strategies are refreshingly simple. Walks around Brisbane. Flicking through record stores, or finding some hidden gold at a thrift store. Playing with mates with music playing, these are the sort of things that are guiding him. “Even if I was struggling in the morning, I’d go out, listen to music and play holes with my mates — and I’d be fine,” he says.

“The way back into golf was to enjoy it again and take the seriousness out before getting back into tournament mode.”

Now, the work is paying off. He’s added strength and mobility training, brought a physio into his team, and honed his swing with Maxwell’s guidance. “My body’s moving a lot better. I feel like I’m one of the longer players out here,” Ion says. “And my coach keeps reminding me I can do it — even when I’m the one doubting myself.”

He’s still learning every week, soaking in the experience of playing alongside seasoned names like Brett Rumford – who he is paired with for the opening two days at the WA Open this week.

“I’ll honestly just be watching Rumford’s short game,” he laughs. “That’s been the coolest part — learning and feeling like I belong out here.”

RIGHT: Ion en route to a runner-up finish at this year's PNG Open. PHOTO: Golf Australia/PGA of Australia.

Ion’s next test comes at this week at Mt Lawley. “It’s a great course,” he says after a couple of practice rounds. “It feels close to Melbourne golf, firm, fast, with those bunkers that make you think. It suits my driver or mini-driver pretty well. Around the greens will be key.”

And while the season’s early form has already given him some guaranteed status and comfort that he can plan his year without stress, Ion still isn’t one to peer into the crystal ball too much. Admitting he hasn’t set too many goals, he is just enjoying the ride. Although he does admit getting into the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne, would be pretty amazing. “That’s all I can think about since PNG,” he says.

“If I could play my way into Royal Melbourne, that’d be unbelievable.”

Ion’s outlook now is simple — and maybe a little instructive. “I just want to enjoy it,” he says. “If it’s my last season doing this, I want to have fun, see cool places, and not get caught up in whether I play well or not. I’m just enjoying the ride.”