The Victorian PGA Championship returns to the ever-challenging RACV Cape Schanck Resort for the second year running. And the wild weather predicted across the weekend has opened the door for a number of resilient stars.

The Mornington Peninsula is bordered by beautiful coastline that can bring with it some chaotic weather. We’re expected the challenging conditions to wreak havoc from Friday, so just about anything could happen by the end of play – and boy can’t this place dish it out when it wants to!

But dealing with such conditions part and parcel of pro life, so it’s fitting that TI has assembled a list of players who think they can handle just about anything to give them the best chance of taking out the Victorian PGA Championship.

MICHAEL SIM
Third place in Kalgoorlie and a win at the WA Open are hard to ignore. Simmy isn’t the longest hitter on Tour, but around Cape Schanck it doesn’t matter. If he can hit it straight when the winds are blowing, you’re pretty much set. If he can do that again this week, TI thinks this guy is a chance. He just needs to avoid putting the schanck in Cape Schanck.

BEN CAMPBELL
Ben has been MIA on the Aussie Tour since the NZ Open in March to give himself a chance on the Asian Tour. A return to Aus might be just what the doctor ordered. The talented Kiwi should feel right at home on a course that is just as picturesque as his home layout of Millbrook Resort. If his track record on Aussie soil is anything to go by, he’s going to be hard to stop.

MARCUS FRASER
This part-timer had to be on my list when making this week’s selections. A solid debut in Kalgoorlie while battling jetlag boosted him up the rankings. But with ample time recalibrate, he’s capable at being at the business end when the whips are cracking. Experience and golf smarts will come in handy for Frase when the winds get up from Friday.

TERRY PILKADARIS
RACV Cape Schanck Resort can be an unforgiving beast and there’s no one better to tame the conditions than Mr Tour Tip Tuesdays himself. With all of those tips in his bag he’s sure to put on a showing at the Vic PGA. And if all else fails at least he’s got his Instagram influencer career to fall back on.

JAMES MARCHESANI
There won’t be anyone out at RACV Cape Schanck Resort this week that knows the layout better than this guy … except maybe his brother, Anthony. He lives a literal five minutes from the first tee and plays here every other day when he’s not in Asia, so TI thinks his strong course knowledge gives him a massive advantage. Keep an eye out for the locals cheering him on at the course from Thursday. TI’s heard his team has hired ‘Behavioural Awareness Officers’ to keep his unruly entourage in line.

To throw in a bit of a smokey pick, TI reckons New Zealand’s Mark Brown shouldn’t be discounted. He too has been absent from the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia recently, but don’t hold that against him. He could come from anywhere.