A fun-filled week of action featuring some of golf’s biggest names and most colourful characters, promises to make this year’s Australian PGA Championship at RACV Royal Pines an occasion to remember.
The big guns include former world No.1 Adam Scott who returns home from December 1 to 4 to have a tilt at his second crown after winning in 2013 when the Gold Coast wrestled the tournament away from the Sunshine Coast.
The Gold Coast will take centre stage when play is telecast at home and around the world thanks to endorsement by the European Tour.
Scott, who missed last year’s tournament after playing in the first two editions at the multi-million dollars re-designed Royal Pines, will be joined by some of the game’s most charismatic and colourful characters.
England’s Ian Poulter, a player known for his colourful dress sense and outrageous hair styles, will make his first trip to the Gold Coast.
With a willingness to engage spectators, Poulter has won 12 tournaments in European and been ranked No.5 in the world.
Joining him will be big hitting Canadian Jamie Sadlowski – a two-time winner of golf’s long drive competition with distances over 406 meters – almost 120m longer than American JB Holmes, who led the averages in the US this year.
Sadlowski is certain to be popular with fans with his ability to drive par-4 holes, of which the fourth and seventh holes at Royal Pines measure 405m, making eagles achievable – something no-one else was able to do during last year’s championship.
Other big names include world No.48 Marc Leishman who, along with world No.6 Scott, is representing Australia at the World Cup in Melbourne.
Nathan Holman, whose 2015 PGA win opened the door to a successful year in Europe, will be joined by Olympians Scott Hend and Marcus Fraser, both who had strong years on the European Tour.
Gregarious young American Harold Varner III, runner-up in a play-off at last year, was a hit with Gold Coast fans.
He returns a more experienced player having completed his rookie season on the US PGA Tour.
This year’s tournament will feature an array of entertainment, on and off the course, but it will be the Soniq Million Dollar party hole, the Par-3 16th, where the event can be expected to come alive.
While players will be aiming to ace their way to a big pay day, fans will have opportunity to celebrate in the sun with great food, music and entertainment.
PGA of Australia chief executive Brian Thorburn said this year’s festival of golf would include a Kids Day, Greg Norman Medal dinner and Summer Soiree.
“We will be creating a festival of golf and believe a player like Poulter, with his engaging personality, will complement this nicely,” Thorburn says.
“Ian is not just a great character but an exceptional player. Australian golf fans love watching talented players with personality and we are sure he will be a big hit on the Gold Coast.”
2016 has been a challenging year for the Englishman who has struggled with a foot injury. However, during his last trip to Australia, Poulter went head-to-head with Scott at the 2013 Australian Masters, eventually finishing runner-up.
A selection of home-grown entertainment, led by Australian singer-songwriter Shannon Noll, will spice-up the week – offering spectators and the public a true carnival atmosphere.
“There will be something for everyone with this year’s tournament taking on an exciting new direction with great food, entertainment and of course, golf,” Thorburn says.
The tournament village will come to life from 5pm every evening with food, beverages and live music.
Scott, Australia’s only US Masters winner and the holder of 26 titles in the US and Europe, said he has always enjoyed playing in Australia and especially the PGA Championship which he won in 2013.
“The support I receive from Australian golf fans always makes for a special week, especially when I am playing in my hometown, the Gold Coast,” he says.
“The European Tour is where I first started my professional career so it’s great to see a co-sanctioning with tournaments in Australia.”
Scott said he had a great start to 2016 winning two events in a row, and having a couple of second place finishes before that.
“The expectations naturally go up after that and you think you’re going to storm through, and have a career year, but that didn’t quite happen,” he says.
“I played really well but I think my short game let me down a little – I racked up a lot of top-5s and top-10s but I would have liked to contend a little better in the Majors.” Ranked No.6 in the world, Scott did not miss a cut all year.
The $1.5 million Australian PGA Championship will also offer a huge opportunity for home-grown players, but it is not just the young guys eyeing off a European Tour card for two years which comes with winning the event.
Related Articles
A golfers paradise - 24 golf courses in the city
Lifestyle »
$10 million RACV golf course redevelopment is put to the test
Sport »
New golf and tennis academy to breed champions
Sport »
Master the menu from Videre Restaurant (recipe guide)
Lifestyle »
With no status on the US PGA Tour in 2017, Robert Allenby said the opportunity to compete in European is one he is taking seriously.
He launched his career in Europe, notching up four victories between 1992 and 1994, before heading to the US where he has won four times.
“I am already thinking about playing some tournaments over there – it is just a matter of summing it all up and seeing where I am at and what is best going forward,” Allenby says.
At home Allenby has won 13 titles, including the Australian PGA Championship four times and will be aiming for a record-equalling fifth win, to tie with one of the legends of the game – Kel Nagle.
“I know what the record is and I definitely want to do it before my time is up,” Allenby added.
Allenby holds the distinction of being the only man to win Australian golf’s triple-crown winning the Open, PGA and Masters titles in 2005.
While Allenby will be doing his best to win he would also like to see one of the young players on Tour walk away with the win and a ticket to Europe.
“For the Australian Tour to co-sanction with the European Tour is a really good thing for the young guys who need somewhere to play throughout the year,” he says.
Holman reaped the reward this year and others will have the opportunity to do the same next year by winning at Royal Pines.
Jamie Sadlowski
Nathan Holman 2015 PGA Champion
Adam Blyth
One such player is West Australian amateur Curtis Luck – the winner of this year’s US Amateur title which earned him a start at next year’s US Masters at Augusta.
Luck will play alongside Scott at the PGA Championship after a sensational year which included a win as part of Australia’s Eisenhower Trophy team – world amateur golf’s most prized possession. It had been 20 years since Australia last won the event.
Luck tied for 11 that the Australian Open in Sydney this year and will be joined at Royal Pines by other contenders including Ashley Hall and Cameron Smith who were beaten in a play-off by American Jordan Spieth.
Queensland Tourism Minister Kate Jones said having players like Scott playing on the Gold Coast was a major coup for the event.
“Hosting the Australian PGA Championship reinforces Queensland’s international reputation as a world class sporting events destination,” Jones says.
“The Championship is part of Queensland’s vibrant major events calendar which showcases the state to the world, drawing visitors and supporting jobs for local communities.”
Entertainment schedule
Shannon Noll, Tournament Village
Saturday December 3, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Chris Hutchison, Summer Soiree
Wednesday November 30, 3pm – 5pm
Kirkwood Club Marquee
Thursday December 1 – Sunday December 4, from 12.30pm
Trace Duo, Greg Norman Medal Dinner
Tuesday November 29, 5:30pm – 6:30pm / 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Rebecca Kneen Duo, Tournament Village
Friday December 2, 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Andre-T, SONIQ Million Dollar Hole – Lexus Marquee
Thursday December 1, 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Friday December 2, 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Saturday December 3, 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Sunday December 4, 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Kirkwood Club Marquee
Saturday December 3, 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Kate Greer, SONIQ Million Dollar Hole – Lexus Marquee
Thursday December 1, 11:30am – 5:00pm
Friday December 2, 11:30am – 5:00pm
Saturday December 3, 11:30am – 5:00pm
Tournament Village
Sunday December 4, 4:00pm – 6:30pm
The post Golf’s big guns return to the Gold Coast appeared first on More Gold Coast.