The Australian PGA Championship defending champion, Greg Chalmers, has taken his first look at the newly remodeled back nine at RACV Royal Pines Resort and the 18th hole where he made history at last year’s tournament.

Returning to RACV Royal Pines Resort for the first time since his victory in a seven-hole playoff between Adam Scott and Wade Ormsby, Chalmers was pleased that he didn’t have to contend with the new 18th last year, which will provide a challenges for Professionals this week.

"It’s vastly different.  I certainly wouldn’t like to play that 18th hole seven times now.  It’s very difficult," said Chalmers.

"I played the back nine this morning and it’s going to be a tough test."

"It’s a really nice look off the tee shots, greens have got a lot of bumps and run offs in them.  It’s going to make it very tricky."

"It’s going to put a lot of pressure on driving, a lot of pressure on iron shots. It’s going to take a complete game this week to get it done."

However, this season Chalmers hasn’t been able to carry his success on to the PGA TOUR, playing with conditional status this year has limited his opportunity to tee it up.

"I didn’t have a great year on the golf course.  I didn’t play a lot.  I played 18 events on the PGA TOUR, so not schedule. I’ve averaged 30 events a year for the last little bit." and they came in spits and starts."

"I’ve hit the ball nicely this year but I haven’t holed near the footage I would normally hole.  It’s the little things in golf that stack up and it’s a chip you don’t chip close or a putt you don’t make and all of a sudden you’re 1 over instead of even and going in the wrong direction."

While Chalmers admits there’s still work to be done, he is happy with where his game is at in the lead up to the final major on the PGA Tour of Australasia for the year and is pleased to be back to defend.

"My game’s in decent shape.  I don’t get to defend very much.  I haven’t won enough to call it normal so it’s nice; it’s nice to come back to an event that is special.  I’ve won it twice and to come back as a defending champion is very unique."

With his win at last year’s Australian PGA Championship Chalmers, sealed the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit and earned starts in the World Golf Championship – Cadillac Championship, Nedbank Golf Challenge and The Open Championship, which he was already exempt into.

Australia’s richest golf tournament in 2015, the Australian PGA Championship will be played for AU$1.75million and co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and European Tour.

Tickets for the tournament are now on sale at www.ticketek.com.au with children 16 years and under admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Discounts are also available for members of RACV and affiliated motoring clubs as well as for Gold Coast residents.

The Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland as well as the City of Gold Coast and Gold Coast Tourism proudly supports the Championship