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Australia’s only Masters champion has urged debutant Min Woo Lee to ignore the ghosts of Augusta National and create his own slice of history when the tournament begins on Thursday.
Playing in his first Masters by virtue of his ranking inside the top 50 in the world at the end of 2021, Lee will be the first Aussie out in the opening round at Augusta, teeing off with Americans Hudson Swafford and Cameron Young at 10.55pm AEST.
He will be followed by Australia’s leading hope Cameron Smith at 12.23am with 2013 champion Adam Scott drawn with newly-anointed world No.1 Scottie Scheffler and Tony Finau.
One of three Australians on debut this week, Lee has been absorbing every ounce of Masters magic since arriving at the property including a Monday practice round with a countryman who knows what it takes to succeed.
Scott was tied for ninth on debut himself in 2002 yet it wasn’t until 2011 that he supplanted that as his best finish at The Masters, tied for second behind South African Charl Schwartzel.
So while history suggests that first-timers rarely win, Scott didn’t want to hold Lee back from contending.
“I told him I showed up here, didn’t know anything, and finished ninth. It’s not that hard. Just go out and play golf,” Scott said.
“I get it is an overwhelming experience being here. (Monday) is the first kind of day of Masters week, and Min’s played a couple times already.
“He’s got the next three days to kind of get comfortable, and that’s all I can really tell him to do.
“I don’t know his game, so that’s about it. He’s just got to figure a way to get comfortable for Thursday.
“I’d be surprised if he’s not the most nervous he’s ever been on the tee on Thursday.”
After Scott and Lee’s Monday round, three other Aussies beat the weather by playing the back nine together on Tuesday morning.
Top five at both Scott’s 2013 triumph and last year’s win by Hideki Matsuyama, Marc Leishman has long been considered an Aussie well-suited to Augusta and played with close mate Cam Smith and debutant Cam Davis before the storms hit.
This year also marks seven years since Leisman missed The Masters to be by the bedside of his wife Audrey as she battled a life-threatening illness, that experience helping to quell the nerves others may feel each April.
“It did bring things into perspective, and I think that helps with the nervous factor,” Leishman explained.
“If you do play well, it’s awesome. If you don’t play well, it’s not like you’re going to be shot at the end of the day or anything. It’s just golf, but it’s obviously a golf tournament that I really want to win.
“I think I’ve always had a pretty good perspective, and I think when you go through something like that, it makes it better possibly.”
Although all eyes are this week on The Masters Whitney Hillier is among the eight Aussies taking part in the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup in Thailand.
The first of consecutive tournaments co-sanctioned between the Asian Tour and Ladies European Tour, the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup will see 60 Asian Tour players, 60 LET players and 24 invites all competing for a share of the $750,000 prize pool.
Three Aussies are also trying to play their way onto the PGA TOUR Canada season at Q School in California, Queensland’s Lawry Flynn 1-over through his first nine holes to be the best placed in a tie for 39th.
Round 1 tee times AEST
The Masters
Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia
Round 1
10.55pm Min Woo Lee, Hudson Swafford, Cameron Young
12.23am Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau, Paul Casey
12.56am Adam Scott, Scottie Scheffler, Tony Finau
1.40am Cameron Davis, Bernhard Langer, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
2.24am Lucas Herbert, Patrick Reed, Seamus Power
2.57am Marc Leishman, Webb Simpson, Sungjae Im
Round 2
10.22pm Cameron Davis, Bernhard Langer, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
11.06pm Lucas Herbert, Patrick Reed, Seamus Power
11.39pm Marc Leishman, Webb Simpson, Sungjae Im
2.02am Min Woo Lee, Hudson Swafford, Cameron Young
3.30am Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau, Paul Casey
4.03am Adam Scott, Scottie Scheffler, Tony Finau
Defending champion: Hideki Matsuyama
Past Aussie winners: Adam Scott (2013)
Top Aussie prediction: Cameron Smith
TV schedule: Live from 5am on Fox Sports 503, 9Gem and 9Now Friday, Saturday, Sunday; Live from 4am on Fox Sports 503, 9Gem and 9Now Monday.
Asian Tour and Ladies European Tour
Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup
Siam Country Club (Waterside Cse), Thailand
9.40am Josh Younger, Arpichaya Yubol, Olivia Mehaffey
9.51am Whitney Hillier, Kyongjun Moon, Witchayapat Sinsrang
10.13am Travis Smyth, Natipong Srithong, Pasqualle Coffa
10.35am* Scott Hend, Pavit Tangkamolprasert, Johanna Gustavsson
11.41am Jake Higginbottom, Florentyna Parker, Phannarai Meesom-Us
2.30pm* Todd Sinnott, Wassawan Sangkapong, Kim Metraux
3.36pm Andrew Dodt, Ajeetesh Sandhu, Liz Young
3.58pm* Daniel Fox, Ben Leong, Parinda Phokan
Defending champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Top Aussie prediction: Andrew Dodt
PGA TOUR Canada
Q-School USA West 2
Soboba Springs GC, San Jacinto, California
Round 1 scores
T39 Lawry Flynn (1-over thru 9)
T64 Grant Booth (75)
104 Jeong In Park (84)
A more diverse and qualified workforce servicing the six key pillars of the Australian golf industry will be the driving motivation of the PGA Golf Learning Hub that opened officially at Sandhurst on Wednesday.
The relocation of PGA administrative staff to the Australian Golf Centre in Melbourne has paved the way for an expansion of the PGA’s educational infrastructure already in place at the Sandhurst Club alongside its two championship golf courses.
To operate in conjunction with the existing PGA Membership Pathway Program, Accreditation and Continuing Education Program and the PGA’s Registered Training Organisation – the PGA International Golf Institute, the PGA Golf Learning Hub will serve to provide the entry point to a career in golf as well as a place where the existing workforce can advance their skills and education.
A world-first golf industry education hub, the facility will not only provide additional training opportunities to the more than 25,000 people currently employed throughout Australian golf but provide a clear pathway to anyone wishing to pursue a career in golf.
The six primary pillars that will be catered for are:
• Small Business
• Management
• Coaching
• Turf-grass management
• Tourism and events
• Hospitality
Officially opened by PGA of Australia Chair Rodger Davis and Cr. Nathan Conroy – Mayor Frankston City Council (pictured), the PGA Learning Hub will also aim to raise the profile of under-represented groups within the golf workforce for a more complete and inclusive industry where everyone feels welcome to participate at every level.
“When developing the concept of the PGA Golf Learning Hub, we were determined that the Hub should service all six of the primary workforce pillars of the industry and we are proud that will become a reality,” said Geoff Stewart, PGA General Manager, Membership and Education.
“We believe this is a world-first, with all six of the primary pillars of the industry provided with training and education opportunities via one facility.
“As a sport and recreation, golf has grown significantly over the past few years and the PGA Golf Learning Hub will play a key role in servicing this growth with a well-trained workforce.”
The PGA Learning Hub includes a collaboration with Holmesglen Institute in assisting with the delivery of training to some of the industry’s six workforce pillars.
The project would also not have been possible without financial support from the Victorian Government and the Frankston City Council.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula said the Victorian Government’s investment would support the growth of jobs in the state.
“The Hub will be a real asset for the game and will establish Victoria as a key destination for people seeking world-class education and training in the golf industry,” Mr Pakula said.
“Golf is a major employer in Victoria and initiatives like this will ensure the next generation comes through well trained and ready to hit the ground running.”
By offering industry-specific training and qualifications the PGA Learning Hub will not only become a central point for Australians seeking a career in golf but also a major drawcard for international students throughout Asia and the South Pacific.
With 110 years of history including 17 as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), the PGA of Australia is ideally positioned to deliver every aspect of golf education and training at the one facility at Sandhurst.
The PGA is currently the only RTO in Australia with golf-specific qualifications (Diploma of Golf Management and Diploma of Sport – Golf Professional) and has a proven ability to work on training and education projects with other golf industry stakeholders.
In the near future, the Hub also plans to provide secondary school students will the opportunity to complete entry-level qualifications across the six pillars of the golf industry whilst completing their school education, before moving into core programs guided by their individual career aspirations.
“Our Association (the PGA) has a strong and proud history in golf industry training and education and we are fortunate that we are in a position to take the lead in the implementation of the PGA Golf Learning Hub,” said Stewart.
“It’s great to see the PGA Golf Learning Hub move from concept to implementation today – we look forward to the positive impact it will have on our industry for many years to come.”
For further information on the learning opportunities available through the PGA Learning Hub click here.
Harrison Crowe shot a second, straight 64 at Concord today to put himself in a share of the lead with Victorian pro Blake Collyer at the Golf Challenge NSW Open, with a groundbreaking victory in sight for the St Michael’s amateur.
The 20-year-old completed another “pretty cruisy” bogey-free round when his birdie putt from 20 feet down the hill at the par-four ninth hole today trickled down and just missed the hole, leaving him a tap-in for a seven-under round that takes him to 14-under overall, tied with Collyer. The Melburnian had earlier blazed a stunning 62 in the benign conditions, Concord again being picked apart by the top players with no wind to protect it.
Four players – Deyen Lawson, Dimi Papadatos, Jarryd Felton and Jordan Zunic – are at 12-under par and two shots back having all shot 66 today.
Crowe has come through the Golf NSW elite programs and won prolifically, including the most recent state amateur title, so he is no shrinking violet. Asked if he was thinking in the back of his mind about a win, he said: “Absolutely. It’s at the front of the mind, not the back of the mind. I came out here this week not to just make the cut or a top-10. I wanted to win. I’ve put myself in a position to do that and I’ve just got to take it as it comes and keep playing the same golf I’ve been playing.”
Only two amateurs have won the NSW Open this century – Rick Kulacz in 2006 and Ben Eccles in 2015.
Crowe is in no hurry to turn professional but his golf has been plainly of pro standard this week. Today he bombed the ball off the tee taking advantage of his length and missed just one green in regulation – the third, where he got up-and-down anyway. In amongst that he rolled in seven birdie putts but his best fist pump came at the 13th, where he holed a longish par-saver. “In the back of my mind, I was like ‘I’m bogey-free, I’m thinking I don’t want to three put here’. That’s a pretty bad thought to have. Just hit it, knock it in. It’s nice to see it drop.”
He will be in the final group tomorrow with Collyer, 25, who rollicked his way around in a tournament-low 62 with eight birdies and an eagle at the par-four fifth hole, when he jarred his wedge shot from 79 metres. “I was aiming a bit left of the flag, and it kind of came out going on the flag and it went once bounce and in for eagle,” he said.
Collyer was an excellent amateur and a Victorian Institute of Sport scholarship holder but in three years as a pro he has struggled; exacerbated by the pandemic which left him with nowhere to play momentarily. In 2020 it forced him to take a up a day job driving a food delivery truck, and the whole experience left him with a better perspective of how much he loves to play. This week he will try to log his first pro win, and by Sunday night he will be on a plane to India to play the Delhi Golf Club Open on the Asian Tour.
“Tournament golf is where you can make the most gains with your game because it’s under pressure, week-in, week-out,” he said. “That’s helped me massively, playing and competing, different courses each week and try to score as low as possible.’’
Four of those in the second group were among the nine first-round leaders, including Papadatos, who was given an early tee-off to make sure he could complete his best man duties at fellow-pro Lincoln Tighe’s wedding in Wollongong in the afternoon. Making light of a tricky week, New South Welshman Papadatos raced around in 66 to stay in the mix. “It’s a pretty exciting day and I’ve got a lot of things on my mind, so it was good to stay focused,” he said before racing off to suit up and drive down the highway along with two other players and his caddie who were invited to Tighe’s nuptials.
As for Crowe, he was headed off for a quiet night to prepare for a significant weekend in his golfing life. A while back, he won a made-for-television world championship conducted by the tournament’s title sponsor. This weekend, he plans on going a step farther.
“I think today just confirmed that I’m good enough to be here,” he said. “Obviously sleeping on top, tied for the lead last night, and kind of knowing that you’ve got to shoot a good round, and then going out there and doing it, is always a big confidence-booster. There’s two rounds left, so anything can happen. I’ve just got to keep doing exactly what I’ve been doing.”
Queenslander Aaron Pike has picked up three birdies in the space of five holes to move inside the top five of the leaderboard early in Round 2 of the TPS Hunter Valley at Cypress Lakes Golf and Country Club.
Local rules instituted for yesterday’s opening round remain in place for Saturday but once again players have been greeted by bright sunshine and a course that continues to improve by the hour.
The Cypress Lakes greens staff worked late yesterday to cut areas of the rough they had previously been unable to mow and the playing surfaces continue to firm up throughout the golf course.
Overnight leaders Momoka Kobori and Bryden Macpherson will tee off after midday at five-under par but Aaron Wilkin has been joined at four-under by Pike while Jordan Zunic has joined the group of six players at three-under after starting his second round with a birdie at the par-4 first.
The 2020 NT PGA champion, Pike has finished inside the top 15 in three of his past four starts and has carried that form forward to Cypress Lakes, posting 68 on Friday and cashing in on the still conditions early on day two.
Entry is free for spectators and television coverage starts at 2.30pm AEDT on Fox Sports 503, Kayo Freebies and Sky Sport in New Zealand.
Brendan Jones has made a stunning start to his return to competitive golf, tied with Jed Morgan at the top of the leaderboard at TPS Sydney.
Despite the heavy rain and flooding being experienced throughout Sydney, first groups were able to tee off in relatively clear skies, the Bonnie Doon layout presenting in wonderful condition given the rain it has received.
There was a 90-minute rain delay at 9.45am as the rain briefly intensified but the morning groups got through their opening rounds with Morgan and Jones on top at 3-under 68.
They were joined by Victorian Cameron John and Coffs Harbour’s Amelia Mehmet-Grohn as the afternoon groups got their tournament underway, Mehmet-Grohn making birdie at the par-4 10th and then eagle at the par-4 12th.
North Coast Open champion Kade McBride went one better at 12, holing out for a hole-in-one with a 3-wood from 292 metres to make early progress in his opening round.
A 15-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, Jones has played next to no golf since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak and only quit his landscaping job last Thursday in preparation for a return to tournament golf.
Jones had three birdies and a lone bogey in his round of 68 as he tunes up for a return to the Japan Golf Tour.
“I generally play my best fresh and can’t get much fresher than what I am,” said Jones, whose preparation consisted of a trip with 11 mates to play Cape Wickham and Ocean Dunes.
“I know I’m still good enough. Yes the course isn’t overly difficult the way it is. Yes, it’s hard to go low because trying to get the ball close to the pins but this golf course is fairly generous.
“I’ve got a new set of clubs and probably the best attitude I’ve had for a long time.
“I don’t mean to sound big-headed but it felt like I did it really easily.
“My tee to green doesn’t change and I know that when I do sharpen up the chipping and putting that I’m going to be competitive again.
“That’s something to look forward to.”
Follow #TPSSydney #WebexPlayersSeries on social media:
Instagram: @pgatouraus
Twitter: @PGAofAustralia
Facebook: @PGATourAus
TV Guide
The event will be televised across Saturday and Sunday on Foxtel and Kayo in Australia. Times in AEDT, check your guide for local times.
• Saturday: Fox Sports (12pm – 3pm), Kayo Sports (12pm – 5pm)
• Sunday: Fox Sports and Kayo Sports (12pm – 5.30pm)
A course record by Blake Collyer and continued consistency of Matt Millar and Andrew Evans shapes to disrupt Hannah Green’s shot at history at the TPS Murray River at Cobram Barooga Golf Club.
The four finished the third round level at 15-under par, Green’s three-putt from the back fringe of the 18th green for a round of two-under 69 setting up an enthralling – and potentially history-making – final day on Sunday.
Travelling 90 minutes to and from his home in Albury this week, Zach Murray (66) finds himself just one back in outright fifth position with New Zealand’s Momoka Kobori (68) outright sixth at 13-under.
Grace Kim also flirted with the course record before posting seven-under 64 to be tied with Douglas Klein (67) at 12-under, Aaron Wilkin (67), Nathan Barbieri (68), Cassie Porter (70) and Whitney Hillier (70) four shots back in a share of ninth.
On the designated ‘Yellow Day’ for a tournament being played in honour of the late Jarrod Lyle, Green was uncharacteristically off-colour early but used a string of three birdies after the turn to re-establish her position at the top of the leaderboard.
Seeking to become first female winner of a Webex Players Series event and the first female winner of a mixed event on any major golf tour around the world, Green found early momentum hard to come by.
She was upstaged over the front nine by junior playing partner Sheridan Clancy before a run of three straight birdies from the 10th hole restored her status as a tournament co-leader at 15-under par.
A birdie at 15 was followed by a bogey at the long par-3 16th due to an awkward stance in the greenside bunker, the world No.30 bouncing back immediately with another birdie at the par-4 17th.
An aggressive first putt from the fringe left the major champion with work to do for a closing par, her putt sliding by the left side of the cup to fall into a share of the lead.
“Hopefully this is my bad round for the week,” said Green.
“Now that we’ve got 18 holes left and it’s really scoreable out here I am feeling the pressure.
“It’s always nice to be a couple in front but being tied with the boys is harder.
“A lot of the members have been saying they always cheer for the females a little bit more just to get over the line and get that first win.
“I feel like I’m in a good position to do that so there’s definitely some pressure but that’s a good thing.”
Much like Green on day one, Collyer’s assault on the course record set by Daniel Gale in the fourth group of the day began with a flourish, an eagle at the par-5 first from 35 feet followed by four birdies across the next five holes to be six-under through six holes.
After turning in 29, Collyer went to seven-under on his round with a birdie at 10 but dropped a shot at 12 to hand the outright lead back to Millar.
It would prove to be only a momentary stumble as he picked up shots at the 15th and 17th holes to match Gale’s 63 and earn a share of the lead with one round left to play.
“I got off to a really hot start and I was just putting myself in good positions,” said Collyer.
“I did that the first two days but didn’t feel like I rolled in the putts when I had the chances and today it really came together.
“I’ve been playing well lately and putting in a lot of work so I know at some point I will get rewarded for that.”
The 2021 Queensland Open champion, Evans conceded that the large gallery drawn to watch Green in action added to his own nervous energy but was pleased with how he responded.
“I didn’t know what to expect with my game because you’ve got all morning to think about everything but I’m very happy,” Evans said.
“I’m happy with the way I finished. Good birdie on 10, good par on 11, good birdie on 13.
“It’s bunched now. You’ve just got to attack when you can and do the best you can.”
A birdie at the par-5 10th saw Millar take the outright lead early on the back nine but a bogey at 12 and par at the short par-4 13th ensured the Canberra pro would end the day as part of the quartet on top.
“The goal of today was to try and make sure that if I didn’t lead that I was right up there,” Millar said.
“It’s not a course you want to be four or five back on. Hopefully I can put a good score on the board tomorrow.”
Gale dragged himself into the mix with a bogey-free 63 playing in the fourth group of the day, an eagle at the par-5 10th and four birdies in the space of five holes late in his round elevating him inside the top-20 and earning a Sunday sleep-in.
Murray’s rise will also make his commute from Albury easier on Sunday morning with an expected gallery of friends and family to provide the 24-year-old with further incentive.
“Hopefully there are a few more other people so they don’t stand out too much because they might be a bit rowdy,” Murray said of an expanded Sunday gallery.
“I’ve never played a tournament like this on the Murray before so to get over the line tomorrow with the family here would be cool.
“It hasn’t been ideal actually because it’s an hour-and-a-half drive; I’m in the middle of being close but not close enough.
“That’s part of the reason I’m happy to be up near the top of the leaderboard, it means I can cruise down here mid-morning and have a stretch and a warm-up.”
Two late bogeys dropped Whitney Hillier (70) into a share of ninth but the West Australian will remember her third round for the hole-in-one she had with 8-iron at the 129-metre par-3 ninth.
Undaunted by her position in the final group of the day, Clancy will start the final round of the TPS Junior Players Series tied with Jazy Roberts at one-over par.
Clancy was four-under through 11 holes but back-to-back double bogeys at 15 and 16 brought her back to the pack.
The pair enjoy a two-stroke lead from Bailey Goodall (74) with Abbey Bull (75), Louise Baliton (76) and Kade Bryant (76) well and truly in the mix.
The final round of TPS Murray River will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo Freebies from 12.30pm AEDT on Sunday.
Sydney pro John Lyras is the first-round leader at the men’s Vic Open after a stunning opening-round 64 on the Creek Course at 13th Beach today.
The 25-year-old who plays out of St Michaels Golf Club had an eagle at the par-five second hole to go with seven birdies and a bogey on the first day, despite playing his round in the afternoon when the winds were sterner.
He has a one-shot buffer over another Sydneysider, Dimi Papadatos, who birdied the last in the late-afternoon to shoot a 65.
Papadatos is a shot clear of a cluster of players – Victorians Cameron John, Zach Murray, Andrew Martin and James Marchesani who all opened with 66.
Lyras rode the wave of his hot driver on the day and attacked the par-fives, where he picked up five shots.
“It was windy out there today. Every shot was its own shot and its own beast,” he said.
“So it was nice to get one away early in this tournament.”
A late-starter in the professional game, he played cricket up to second grade level with the University of New South Wales until he completed high school before switching codes.
“Golf was the first love but cricket took over,” he said. “I kind of said after high school ‘I’m going to crack into golf and give it a shake, and do what I’ve really dreamt of doing when I was growing up, before I started playing cricket, at three, four, five, six.”
Lyras rated his round highly. “It’s definitely one of my best. I think I had my best control of my driver probably I’ve ever had, and you had to do it out there, you’re hitting driver everywhere.”
Border product Murray, 25, had two eagles in his opening 66 on the Creek course to join the 31-year-old Marchesani on top of the leaderboard at six under until Lyras’ came with his late run.
Twice a winner on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, Murray would be a feel-good victor on the Bellarine Peninsula, after several years battling a debilitating nervous condition that threatened his career.
The panic attacks happened both at home and on the course and for a time in 2020, he could not play at all. But with help from a psychologist in Melbourne, the Albury-Wodonga professional has found a way to move forward, and he finds himself playing well. Today he eagled the par-five seventh and the 17th, finished eagle-par-birdie to shoot six under par.
Ironically, he had started poorly, being one over par through four holes.
“I had to reset a bit, which I was able to do nicely,” he said.
“I must say today I didn’t feel like I had full control over my ball. I hit a couple of loose shots and got away with it, but I was able to steady the ship and hit quality shots coming in, so it was nice.”
Veteran Richard Green, who lives on the course, also is in the mix at five under par. Green recently turned 50 and is headed for the European seniors tour later this year, was in the final group at Rosebud last weekend and his form remained hot. The left-hander, who won this tournament in 2015, finished with two birdies and again dismissed the notion that he is a semi-retired golfer.
“That spark and that interest in performing again is certainly back,” he said.
Marquee player and 2006 US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy opened with a one-under par 71, as did Australian PGA champion Jed Morgan, who would have gone lower other than for a triple bogey seven at the par-four 16th where his hooked drive required a penalty drop.
The PGA Tour of Australasia is back after a week off and heads to Rosebud Country Club on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula for The Players Series Victoria Hosted by Geoff Ogilvy.
TPS Victoria made its debut on the Australian summer of golf calendar last year and is back again after its unique format proved to be a hit with both players and fans.
Men and women, both professionals and amateurs, compete against one another from scaled tees for the one trophy, and juniors will also be in action on the weekend.
The tournament has received an increase in prize money with the field of 144 battling it out for the total prize pool of $200,000.
Play commences on Thursday morning and here is how to follow the action in person, on TV or via social media channels.
Who to follow:
One of the most prominent figures in Australian golf, major champion Geoff Ogilvy, plays host and is also a major drawcard this week. However, the strength of the field lies in the number of rising stars eager to get their hands on some silverware. Elvis Smylie returns to try and go one better than his runner-up finish last year, while Queensland PGA champion Anthony Quayle will certainly be one to watch. LPGA Tour-bound Stephanie Kyriacou makes her first appearance of the Australian summer and fellow Sydneysider Grace Kim is sure to continue her sensational form. Australia’s top amateur Kirsten Rudgeley will certainly be someone to keep an eye on.
How to follow:
For live scoring and the latest news from TPS Victoria visit pga.org.au or download the PGA Tour of Australasia app from the App Store or Play Store.
Exclusive content and tournament updates will also be posted regularly on the PGA of Australia’s social media channels.
Instagram: @pgatouraus
Twitter: @PGAofAustralia
Facebook: @PGAofAustralia and @PGATourAus
Official hashtag: #TPSVic
How to watch:
You’ll be able to catch all the weekend action, broadcast live, on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
Times (AEDT):
Round 3: Saturday 5 February, 2:30pm-5:30pm LIVE on Fox Sports 503
Round 4: Sunday 6 February, 12:30pm-5:30pm LIVE on Fox Sports 503
How to attend:
TPS Victoria is being run as a covid-safe event. Fans are welcome to attend each day with entry free and free parking available.
About the tournament:
TPS Victoria was played for the first time at Rosebud Country Club last year and reigning PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner Brad Kennedy was the inaugural champion.
The total prize purse for the tournament is $200,000 with the winner to take home $36,000.
Players have 50,000 more reasons to perform well this week as TPS Victoria is the first of three Webex Players Series events to receive an immediate increase in prize money.
Rosebud Country Club on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula will showcase a stellar field of men and women starting Thursday, February 3. US Open champion and tournament host Geoff Ogilvy headlines the men’s field while LPGA Tour-bound Stephanie Kyriacou and Karis Davidson are part of a women’s field that also boasts rookie pros Grace Kim and Cassie Porter and amateur stars Kirsten Rudgeley and Sarah Wilson.
Playing for the one prize purse from scaled tees, the introduction of the Webex Players Series was a highlight of the 2020/2021 ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia season and returns this year richer and with new additions in the Murray River and Hunter Valley regions.
TPS Victoria, Sydney and Murray River have all had their total prize purse increased from $150,000 to $200,000 per event while TPS Hunter Valley was originally announced as a $200,000 tournament when it joined the schedule.
The region’s best juniors will join the professionals for the final two rounds of all four Webex Players Series events broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo.
The TPS Murray River tournament to be played at Cobram-Barooga Golf Club received a further boost late last week with the confirmation that 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA champion Hannah Green will be in the field.
Forced to withdraw from the WPGA Championship due to border restrictions, this will be Green’s first appearance in a Webex Players Series event and further emphasises the excitement for the concept amongst our leading players.
The increase in prize money for the three events not only makes each more enticing to Australia’s best players but gives them greater significance in determining the all-important finishing positions on the Order of Merit.
“The goal all along has been to build a tour with more events and greater prize money so we’re thrilled to add $50,000 in prize money to each of these three tournaments in addition to the Queensland PGA played two weeks ago which was also increased by the same amount,” said PGA of Australia Tournaments Director Australasia, Nick Dastey.
“The Webex Players Series was extremely well received last summer and adding two further events this year at Cobram-Barooga and Cypress Lakes shows the appetite out there for such a concept.”
Coming hot on the heels of the inaugural Fortinet Australian WPGA Championship, the four Webex Players Series events also provides the talented class of rookie women professionals coming through with invaluable playing experience.
“We want our best girls playing on the world’s biggest tours but they need tournament experience at home before they can take that next step,” said WPGA Tour CEO Karen Lunn.
“Minjee Lee and Stephanie Kyriacou both won professional events as amateurs and took that confidence and made an instant impact overseas.
“There is such a strong group of girls now making their way as professionals and I’ve got no doubt that we will soon see a female winner of a Webex Players Series event and that they too will go on to have success internationally.”
The top three finishers on the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit will receive cards on the DP World Tour in 2022/2023 while the top five receive entry into the final stage of the Korn Ferry Tour qualifying school at the end of the year.
“The extension of our strategic alliance with the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR has added so much to this year’s Order of Merit race,” added Dastey.
“We view our tour’s role as providing playing opportunities here in Australia but to also serve as the pathway for our players to join the DP World Tour or PGA TOUR.
“The past two years have unquestionably been challenging but with the growth in tournaments and emergence of these young stars we’re very excited about the growth opportunities we will see in the next few years.”
The $200,000 TPS Victoria tournament begins this Thursday at Rosebud Country Club. Featured players include Geoff Ogilvy, Stephanie Kyriacou, Matthew Griffin and Karis Davidson.
There are two men in the corner of 22-year-old rookie Jed Morgan who know a thing or two about pressure.
Ricky Ponting captained the Australian cricket team to Ashes victories and World Cup wins; Graeme Lloyd was a member of the New York Yankees’ bullpen in their World Series win over the Atlanta Braves in 1996.
So when the Royal Queensland member who hails from the tiny town of Hatton Vale 70 minutes west of Brisbane begins his third round of the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship on Saturday with a six-stroke lead it will be their actions, not their words, that he will lean on.
Morgan set a new course record on Friday with a blistering morning round of eight-under 63 to post 14-under for the opening two rounds, the lowest 36-hole total to par in the Australian PGA since Peter Senior’s 15-under mark at Coolum in 2003.
It has brought the 22-under tournament record set by Nick O’Hern and Peter Lonard in 2006 well into range, O’Hern himself tweeting on Friday in between commentary stints on Fox Sports that “records are meant to be broken”.
Gatton product Andrew Dodt (66) will play alongside Morgan in the final group in Round 3 with Round 1 pacesetters Louis Dobbelaar (71) and Aaron Pike (70) a further shot back and seven shots from the leader.
Given he has been a professional golfer for only three months Morgan is entering uncharted territory on Saturday but will call on his exposure to two legends of Australian sport to cope with the moment.
Last year Morgan, the 2020 Australian Amateur champion at Royal Queensland, received a Tier 1 Scholarship within the 2021 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program, Australian cricket legend and golf fanatic Ponting appointed as his mentor.
“The pair have opened up, I guess their insight of professional sport and just dealing with this type of stuff,” said Morgan, who has shot 10-under at Royal Queensland off the blue tees.
“I don’t know if I take too many words or phrases from people, but I just more take how they act and stuff like that.
“I think they’re just both aggressive people, especially when they’re competing, and that’s how you’ve got to be.”
Sharing a coach in Grant Field, Morgan has also had first-hand exposure to Cameron Smith’s preparation and philosophy on golf, the pair sharing a laidback nature and love of fishing.
With a gallery tipped to expand with more friends and family across the weekend, Morgan has made no secret of his winning intentions given the position he has put himself at the halfway mark.
“I’m definitely thinking about it. It’s pretty hard not to if you’re leading,” Morgan said of his pursuit of the Joe Kirkwood Cup.
“It’s part of it. There’s plenty of guys ahead of me that have thought about winning and gone on to win, so no reason I can’t do it.
“I didn’t know if 14 (under) was really a number that we could get to through two rounds, but I’m there, so I just won’t put a cap on it.
“They had 35-under last week on a golf course that’s pretty big and long, so there’s no number or cap on it. Just got to keep making birdies.”
Marquee man Min Woo Lee (70) struggled for much of his second round but two late birdies at the 15th and 17th holes dragged him back inside the top 10 but 10 strokes off the lead.
