Well-known PGA Tour players Adam Scott, Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith will not make it to see the Australian PGA Championship held in Brisbane, which was delayed in January.
But organizers are confident that Australians, who play every other circuit, including the PGA’s US feeders’ Korn Ferry Tour, can return freely as the local scene shows signs of life again.
Last year’s tournament and the last two men’s and women’s Australian Open were among the many events canceled due to COVID-19.
But the Royal Queensland Golf Course in Brisbane will host the PGA Championship alongside the first Australian WPGA Championship from January 13th to 16th.
Scottish Open winner Min Woo Lee and former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy were confirmed for the event, which was to replace the Gold Coast’s Royal Pines as the host course last year.
“I can’t wait to get home and play in front of Australian fans again,” said Lee.
“Winning my first professional event at the Vic Open last year gave me a lot of confidence and the crowd at Thirteenth Beach was just amazing.
“I have no doubt that given the difficulty in running tournaments over the past 18 months we will see huge galleries in Royal Queensland and the involvement of girls is another element that fans are sure to enjoy.”
PGA of Australia chairman Rogder Davis said the collaboration between Australia’s PGA men’s and women’s chiefs Gavin Kirkman and Karen Lunn has been vital to the rebirth of their calendar.
“We postponed it so we could get the guys from Japan and Europe and the guys from the Korn Ferry Tour back,” he said.
“The main US tourists won’t be here, but we are trying to do everything within reason (building a quality field) and it looks very positive.
“And I’m sure with the 24 girls out here playing in an incredible court, you’re going to get huge crowds (watching them).”
Australian Associated Press