Greg Norman for the round of the day and move into contention. In the third round, Cahill continued to play well with a 70 (−2) to move into solo third, four back of leader Ginn. However, he shot a final round 77 to fall out of contention. The following week the played the Victorian Open. Cahill opened with rounds of 77 to quickly fall well back. The next week the played the Australian Masters. Cahill opened with rounds of 73 and 78 to put him well back right off the bat. In October, he began play at the New South Wales Open; he failed to break par and finished outside the top 25. In November, he played the Australian PGA Championship. Cahill shot consecutive rounds of 77 in the middle of the tournament and finished outside the top 50. During this era, Cahill did not earn a cheque greater than A$1,200. Cahill later stated that he did not "practice enough" leading to weak play. He later said, "For about three years I wasn't practising and was drinking too much. I just had no ambition to do anything in golf." Early in the 1980–81 season, however, Cahill stated that his play was "beginning to come back." He had recently taken advice from "old confidant" Kevin Hartley. Hartley advised him to model the practice habits of Ben Hogan which Cahill took to heart. In November, Cahill played the Victorian PGA Championship at Rosebud Country Club. In the first round, Cahill scored four birdies on the front nine on the way to a 67 (−4) and a one stroke lead. He set the course record. Cahill led for most of the remainder of the tournament. However, he faltered during Sunday's final nine though still finished solo second, one behind. Three months later, in February 1981, Cahill finished fourth at the South Australian Open. Much later in the year, in August, Cahill won the two-round Barham Open by one over Ian Stanley and Terry Gilmore. It was his first win in three years. In October, he played the Queensland Open and recorded a top five. The following week he played the Victorian PGA Championship again. At the pro-am, despite playing in "cold blustery conditions," Cahill shot 69 to match the course record and win the warm-up. Late in the month, he began play at the New South Wales Open. He closed with three under-par