The 42-year-old becomes just the 151st player to reach the feat and the sixth Australian, joining Steve Elkington, Stuart Appleby, Jim Ferrier, Robert Allenby and Bruce Crampton.

"You don't start the game joining the PGA Tour thinking, man, I want to get to 500 starts or whatever it is, you know, you just think about just playing the next event; this is the event I'm in, and I'm trying to win," Baddeley said.

Baddeley has PGA Tour wins to accompany his four international victories – including back-to-back Australian Open titles in 1999 and 2000. Upon reflecting on his career, Baddeley thinks he has 'underachieved' on the course by his own standards and firmly believes his best days are still ahead of him.

"I would say I feel like I've underachieved, definitely with what I expected, you know, the goals that I have set," he said.

"I feel like I've got a lot of my best years ahead of me; I feel like where my game is at, the simplicity of it is only going to get better."

"I love the game of golf, you know, it's something that I can't say I've really lost a passion for."– Aaron Baddeley.

The two-time Australian Open champion has been through his struggles on the course, as most players who have played the game professionally for nearly 25 years tend to encounter. But he looked to have turned a corner during the 2022-23 PGA Tour season with five top-25 finishes to accompany his three top-10s, giving him plenty of confidence heading into the new season.

Despite the highs and lows of his career, Baddeley has never lost his passion and love for the game, which continues to drive him to improve.

"I love the game of golf, you know, it's something that I can't say I've really lost a passion for. I feel like, now, even being 42, it's never difficult for me to go out and practice and to grind and try and get better," he said.

"It's pretty easy to keep the fire stoked, wanting to get better."

Baddeley will look to add to his collection of Australian Open titles when the event heads to The Australian and The Lakes in Sydney in late November. Announcing his plans to appear at the flagship event for the first time since 2016.

"I'm planning to come down and play the Australian Open; I'm excited to get back, and it's nice that it's in December, so it's past some of the fall events here."

"I'm excited to be coming back and playing."