Two of Australia’s Presidents Cup aces are the latest to join the star-studded Emirates Australian Open field.
Two of Australia’s Presidents Cup aces are the latest to join the star-studded Emirates Australian Open field.
Victorian Marc Leishman, 31, and Queenslander Steven Bowditch, 32, have today joined the parade of champions lining up to contest the Stonehaven Cup.
Alongside current world No.1 Jordan Spieth, former world No.1’s Adam Scott and Lee Westwood and 2011 Open Championship hero Darren Clarke, the Aussie duo will compete at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney next month.
Tournament director Trevor Herden was thrilled with the commitment of two of Australia’s brightest lights.
"Both Marc and Steven have really made giant strides this year and it’s great to see them come back and not only support their national championship, but to both be back with legitimate shots at the title," Herden said.
"Marc was so close at the Open Championship in the playoff, and Steven won the Byron Nelson in Texas – then both showed the world they felt right at home at the elite level when they won their singles matches at the Presidents Cup.
"It just seems like they’re both really ready to take the next step in their careers and maybe the Emirates Australian Open is where they take it."
Leishman, whose world ranking peaked at No.27 this year after he was part of a three-way playoff at the Open Championship at St Andrews, will play his sixth national championship but first since 2012 because of commitments with his young family in the United States.
Bowditch, who has won tournaments on the US PGA Tour in consecutive years, will play the Australian Open for the 12th time having twice finished seventh, including as an amateur in 2000.
The championship is owned by Golf Australia and is managed by Lagardere Sports with the assistance of TRP Sports.
The 2015 Emirates Australian Open, the 100th staging of the national championship, will be played at The Australian Golf Club from November 26-29.
The Emirates Australian Open is a flagship tournament on the PGA Tour of Australasia. The winner will receive a minimum of 32 Official World Golf Ranking points.
The event will be telecast for all four days on Channel 7.