Australia’s rising star Lucas Herbert is back on home soil after a busy start to the year to play back-to-back events on the ISPS HANDA Tour of Australasia.

Returning for the Tour’s opening event, the ISPS HANDA Vic Open, a busy schedule and a string of strong results in 2018 has allowed the World Number 75 to return home ahead of a packed 2019 schedule.

“The last four months have been pretty flat out really, to be honest,” said Herbert.

“I was just sort of travelling around the world wherever I could get a start and get into a tournament.

“This year I can sort of play a bit more of a schedule that I can pick and I can obviously come back and play like this, the Vic Open and next week in Perth and play more golf in Australia, which is what we always like to do, us Australian golfers.”

Teeing off alongside international stars Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston from England and Ryo Ishikawa from Japan in the first round at 13^th Beach, the Melbourne-local believes he has what it takes to challenge the front-runners at this year’s tournament.

“I nearly won in 2017, just finished off badly in the last four holes,” said Herbert, who tied for sixth place in his last appearance.

“Other than that, I was right there and probably had a really good chance to win realistically.

“I think back to then, I was a pretty different golfer, I think.

“I’ve made a lot of big changes and big steps since then, but then obviously the event has grown as well.

“Being a European Tour event now, we’ve got some pretty good players here this week.”

Herbert joins a field of ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and European Tour players at the ISPS HANDA Vic Open where the men will also play alongside the women from the LPGA Tour and ALPG Tour.

“It’s good obviously to get the LPGA Tour involved as well as the European Tour,” continued Herbert.

“Shows how big the event’s gotten… so it’s good coming back here.

“It’s great to see it get this big and see the progression of it [with] obviously bigger, better names coming out every year.

Looking forward to embracing the relaxed atmosphere at the Vic Open, the likeable golfer believes the no-ropes format out on the course will favour the new generation of players.

“The tournament sort of suits a younger generation now, I guess, which there seems to be a lot of out here,” he said.

“I don’t know that having no ropes up is going to have a five‑shot difference from someone who prefers it to someone who doesn’t.

“I think it might keep you relaxed enough that it saves a shot here and there.

“I don’t know that it’s going to suit me any more specifically than it will the younger playing group that are out here playing on tour.”

Despite the relaxed atmosphere, Herbert insists his competitive streak is here to stay.

“I’m very competitive in everything I do, so as much as it can be a relaxed environment out there and obviously spectators around going to engage a lot more with the players hopefully,

“I’m still competing out there and I’m still here to win.”

The ISPS HANDA Vic Open tees off on Thursday 7 February, 2019.

The PGA of Australia is proud to extend honorary membership to Karrie Webb AO in recognition of her services to the Australian golf industry.

One of Australia’s most successful golfers of all time, Webb has proudly represented her country at the highest echelons of the game for more than 20 years notching up an incredible 51 wins worldwide including seven Major titles.

While her playing resume speaks for itself, just as impressive is her work behind the scenes to foster young talent via her Karrie Webb Series and subsequent scholarship being provided to two Australian females amateurs each year since 2008.

“I’m really chuffed,” said Webb of her honorary PGA membership.

“When Gavin Kirkman called me late last year, I wasn’t sure what he wanted to speak to me about and I definitely wasn’t expecting that.

“It’s a very, very nice honour and I’m really thankful to the PGA of Australia for thinking of me like that.”

As a vocal supporter of increasing female participation in golf, it was fitting that Webb received her honorary membership of the PGA of Australia at the ISPS HANDA Vic Open; a golf tournament leading equality in golf.

“Obviously the Vic Open’s had this format for I think six or seven years now and what I love about it is it’s actually gotten the world’s attention now that the LPGA have co‑sanctioned and the men’s European Tour have co‑sanctioned.  World media are talking about it,” added Webb.

“I spoke to Geoff Ogilvy for the first time today.  Our paths just don’t cross.  It would be nice, just as the tennis does, that we have a handful of events a year that we’re all together and you get to know everybody.”

Throughout her career Webb has had a strong association with the PGA, most notably with PGA Professional Ian Triggs.

“I had a fabulous time working with Triggsy.  He really got my game ‑‑ it wasn’t in great shape when he started helping us out, you know, from the swing obviously to just refining a few bad habits.

“But for me, we did a lot of great work on my short game, just tidied all of that up.

“His knowledge tee to green, every shot in the bag was fantastic.  I learnt so much from him.”

But it is the work that the PGA is doing to produce more female PGA Professionals which excites Webb.

“I know a lot of the female PGA of Australia professionals have great junior programs, so that’s boys and girls.  You know, I think they’re great nurturers, women,” added Webb.

“Women might have a different approach to coaching that identifies with certain people, whether it’s men or women.

“I think it’s great that the PGA of Australia’s really making it a little bit more accessible for women to go into that field and knowing that that is an option if they want to stay in the golfing world and have a career in golf.”

With 2800 PGA Professionals across Australia, PGA Chairman Rodger Davis said that it is an honour to have the support of Webb.

“Karrie Webb is a wonderful ambassador for Australian golf not just as an athlete but as a role model,” said Davis.

“We are privileged to welcome Karrie to the PGA of Australia with honorary membership. To count a person of her calibre amongst our ranks is truly wonderful.”

Leading Australian golfer Minjee Lee starts her season in 2019 as the 2018 Greg Norman Medallist, an honour that cements her place among the best Australians on the world stage.

Returning to Australia for the start of the season, Lee joins the field at this week’s ISPS HANDA Vic Open at 13th Beach Golf Links for what will be her first tournament since receiving the prestigious honour last November.

Awarded to the best male or female Australian Tour Professional on the international stage determined by annual success, Lee is the first female to win the award since its inception in 2015.

“Yeah, it’s definitely a great honour,” said Lee.

“It was really special for me, being the first female to be able to win this award.

“It’s obviously a great honour to me just to represent women and to be rewarded for my play last year.”

Lee’s season was the best of both the male and female Australian contingent playing around the world in 2018, which included tournament wins at the Vic Open and LPGA Volvik Championship at Travis Pointe Country Club Ann Arbor, Michigan.

“I had a really nice year last year. I won twice and I think I had a couple of seconds so yeah; it was a really good year,” added this week’s defending champion.

“I had a lot of fun playing and hopefully this year is going to be even better.

Currently ranked sixth in the world, Minjee believes a more process-orientated approach to her game will help her become a better player in 2019.

“I try not to put a number on the rankings.

“I think closer to obviously the World No. 1 spot, I think you can play more with your process goals.

“Then those, if you hit them, then I think you’ll eventually get closer to that World No. 1 spot.

“I’m obviously always going to work hard to be my best and to always try and make my goals that I make for myself so hopefully I can, someday in the near future, win this award again.”

Growing up watching the Australian golfing greats, Lee’s name is now synonymous with Australia’s best including previous award winners Jason Day (2015 and 2016) and Marc Leishman (2017).

“I don’t know if I’m technically better than all of them, but it’s pretty cool to have the honour of being the Greg Norman medalist.

“I know those guys are really great athletes as well, so it’s cool to be among their names.”

Despite the accolade, Lee insists the event on home soil will add no extra pressure as she looks forward to approaching the ISPS HANDA Vic Open tournament like any other on her calendar.

“The Vic Open has always been a special tournament to come back to and obviously to play,” Lee added.

“Yeah, I always love coming and playing in Australia, so Vic Open and obviously Aussie Open are really big events for me. I always come into every event treating it pretty much all the same.

“I just try and play my own game and I don’t really think ‑‑ think too much about it or try to put too much expectation on myself.”

Lee tees off at the ISPS HANDA Vic Open at 13^th Beach Golf Links on Thursday 7 February, 2019.

Defending ISPS HANDA Vic Open champion Simon Hawkes is prepared for his title defence in 2019 after a breakout year on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

Returning to 13^th Beach Golf Links for the first time since winning the event in 2018, Hawkes says his winning moment on the 18th green is engraved in his memory.

“I actually haven’t been back on-site since that day and it’s bringing back a lot of really good memories,” says Hawkes.

“That last putt definitely is one I can recall quite vividly.”

After playing a practice round on the creek course on Sunday, Hawkes is excited to get back into the season but insists there are no nerves lingering ahead of the event.

“It’s just another good opportunity to play a really good quality golf tournament,” added Hawkes.

“The only thing I see is that I’m the only guy in the field that can go back-to-back. I really have no expectations.

“I’d like to play all four rounds… but I’m a bit of a different golfer than I was 12 months ago,” continued Hawkes, who struggled with a facet joint injury last year.

“It was good to actually have Christmas break to sit down on the couch and not swing a golf club and just let those heal but I’m fighting fit now.”

Hawkes’ win at the Vic Open launched his season in 2018, providing him the opportunity to play at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth and a number of other events locally on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and overseas.

Crediting the victory, Hawkes believes a win at such an event can be the start any golfer needs to boost their career.

“It gives you the confidence and the affirmation that you’re doing all of the right things,” he said.

“I’d be a good example of there being so many good players out here that are one week away from taking their careers to the next level.

“I hope I can show a lot of guys who are playing on the pro-am circuit or just kind of struggling away what is possible,

“18 months prior to my win I was going to throw it all in so… if you keep putting the work in … you just give yourself an opportunity like that and sometimes things can just fall your way.”

Finishing 8^th on the ISPS HANDA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit has also opened further doors for Hawkes.

“There’s quite a lot of great things about the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, they’re opening a lot of pathways for players to tours around the world,” added Hawkes, who will tee it up in the Alfred Dunhill Links on the European Tour as a benefit of his high performing season.

“If it’s anything like last year I’ll get a few starts in China and a few starts on the Asian Tour and of course playing at St Andrews in a professional golf tournament has definitely been a dream of mine.”

Having supported Hawkes in his dream, his parents will make the trip over from Tasmania to watch their son play professionally for the first time, making his title defence just a little more special.

“I think the last time they would have seen me play was when I was a 16 year old junior,” Hawkes said.

“They used to take me to all of the junior tournaments like a lot of parents around Australia do to help their kids develop their golf games.

“It’s really nice for them to come and see the fruits of their work really and all the sacrifices they made when I was growing up, it’s kind of good to show them that it’s all kind of paid off.”

The ISPS HANDA Vic Open tees off on Thursday 7 February at 13^th Beach Golf Links, Barwon Heads.

Japanese rock star Ryo Ishikawa is on his way to Victoria.

Ishikawa, the darling of Japan’s golfing media, has committed to play the ISPS Handa Vic Open from 7-10 February at 13th Beach Golf Links in Barwon Heads.

Since bursting on to the world golfing stage as a teenage prodigy, the now 27-year-old has been one of the hottest properties in world golf, but has not played in Australia since 2016’s World Cup at Kingston Heath and was previously a part of the International team in the 2011 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.

Ishikawa, who has won 14 times on his home tour and has been as high as No.29 in the world rankings, said he was keen to see another corner of Australia.

“I’ve been to Melbourne before, but didn’t have time to see any more of Victoria, so I’m really excited to see the Bellarine Peninsula,” Ishikawa said.

“I’ve heard great things about the tournament and its relaxed atmosphere and am looking forward to being in Australia again.”

Golf Australia operations boss Simon Brookhouse was thrilled that such a magnetic player was coming to the Vic Open.

“If you’ve ever been to a tournament where Ryo is playing and watched the throng of attention he attracts from Japanese fans and media, you’ll know exactly how big a deal this is,” Brookhouse said.

“He’s a needle mover, particularly in Japan, and it’s really great to see one of that tour’s great players making his way south to play at 13th Beach.”

It’s another great coup for the concurrent men’s and women’s tournament which, for the first time, will be jointly sanctioned by the LPGA Tour, ALPG, European Tour and ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia.

Brookhouse was excited to also announce that Ryan Fox, of New Zealand, Nic Colsaerts, of Belgium, Paul Dunne, of Ireland, and Italian Matteo Manassero were among the European Tour stars to have committed.

“This is the beauty of having the European Tour as our partner … many of these men played in the World Cup last year, so we have a great depth of talent and there’ll be stars wherever you look in the men’s field this year,” he said.

Entry is free to all Victorian golf club members, but other tickets are on sale through oTix and remain some of the best value in elite sport at $10 per day, $30 for a season pass.

Children under 18 and those with a Seniors Card are free. See vicopengolf.com/ticketing for details.

The ISPS Handa Vic Open, which features equal prizemoney for men and women, is proudly supported by the Victorian Government.

There’s not much Geoff Ogilvy hasn’t done in golf.

But he’s about to chase a missing piece of his stellar career puzzle, confirming today that he’ll play in the ISPS HANDA Vic Open.

Ogilvy, although a stalwart of the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia through the years, has been unable to play his home state Open since 1998 because of commitments in the United States.

He was leading amateur in each of the three times he played the Open – in 1995, ’97 and ’98 – and was runner-up overall to Stephen Leaney at Victoria Golf Club in 1997.

Having moved home this summer, the 2006 US Open champion cannot wait to tee it up at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links from 7-10 February.

The former world No.3, a three-time WGC winner including two World Match Play crowns, will be the first men’s major champion to have played the event since Ian Baker-Finch in 1997.

“I’ve been really excited to watch the development of the Vic Open from afar for the past few years and I’m really excited that I get to play it again after all these years,” he said.

“With the men’s and women’s events held concurrently, it’s great to have the European and LPGA Tours aboard – it really shows how far the event has come and it’s great to see an Australian tournament have such focus for its innovation.”

Golf Australia operations general manager Simon Brookhouse said Ogilvy, who has already committed as Ernie Els’ vice-captain for the International team at this year’s Presidents Cup, would be a huge drawcard on the Bellarine Peninsula.

“We’ve all admired Geoff’s brilliant career, but for many it will be the first chance to see him live,” Brookhouse said.

“It’s testament to the tournament that he still harbours that desire to add to what is an amazing resume.”

Ogilvy, 41, has won eight times on the US PGA Tour, most recently in 2014, but has decided to come back to Melbourne to live with his young family.

“Geoff is a legend of Australian golf. We don’t have dozens of major champions, so to have one hopefully contending at the ISPS HANDA Vic Open is absolutely fantastic for the tournament and its fans,” Brookhouse said.

“It’s a great opportunity for all Australians to celebrate his enormous career up close and personal at Thirteenth Beach.”

The ISPS HANDA Vic Open is a unique concurrent men’s and women’s professional tournament.

It is jointly sanctioned by the ALPG, LPGA, PGA Tour of Australasia and European Tour and features equal prizemoney for men and women.

Entry is free to all Victorian golf club members, but other tickets are on sale through oTix and remain some of the best value in elite sport at $10 per day, $30 for a season pass.

Children under 18 and those with a Seniors Card are free. See vicopengolf.com/ticketing for details.

The ISPS HANDA Vic Open is proudly supported by the Victorian Government.

The innovative Vic Open, which features both male and female competitors from the European Tour and the LPGA, will have ISPS Handa as its title sponsor for the next two years.

In an exciting development, it was announced that the Japanese non-profit organisation will partner with the Australian event until at least 2020.

Although first introduced on the Australian golfing circuit in 1957, it was in 2012 when the event took on new significance – being held concurrently with the Women’s Victorian Open, to create the only professional golf tournament in the world where men and women play on the same courses, at the same time, for equal prize money.

But in a new chapter for the event in 2019, both the European Tour and the LPGA will join forces with the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia and the ALPG Tour for the first time, from February 7-10 at 13^th Beach Golf Links at Barwon Heads on the southern Australian coast.

“This is fantastic news for the Vic Open and all parties involved with this pioneering event,” said Ben Cowen, Head of International Policy, European Tour.

“Being associated with the Vic Open fits perfectly not just with our desire to lead the transformation of global golf through innovation but is also in keeping with the aims of ISPS Handa who are doing so much to grow our game across the world.

“We thank everyone at ISPS Handa, in particular, Dr Haruhisa Handa, for continuing to help make the game of golf more inclusive and diverse.”

“The commitment and support from Dr Haruhisa Handa through ISPS HANDA for Australian golf is second to none and dates back almost 30 years,” said Gavin Kirkman, Chief Executive Officer, PGA of Australia.

“We are delighted to see a second tournament within the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia now supported with a title sponsorship from one of our great partners.

“It’s wonderful that these bodies can bring such a great event to a global audience,” said Midori Miyazaki, Executive Director, ISPS Handa.

“The Vic Open has been extremely successful in recent years in helping people see golf in a different way – and ISPS Handa hopes, as always, to do the same thing.

“We believe in the power of sport to inspire and being a part of arguably the world’s most inclusive tournament will help us to spread that message and break down barriers between communities even further.”

ISPS Handa is already a key supporter of Australasian golf as title sponsor of the Women’s Australian Open, World Super 6 Perth, World Cup of Golf and New Zealand Open, as well as the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Australian All Abilities Championship and Disabled Cup tournaments.

“We are again thrilled to partner with our good friends at ISPS Handa, especially at another innovative tournament such as the Vic Open,” said Stephen Pitt, Chief Executive Officer, Golf Australia.

“ISPS Handa delivers a world-class message about sport’s capacity to empower, so we’re very pleased to share another of our platforms to help spread the word.”

The Victorian Government, another key backer of the Vic Open and its expansion to equal prize pools for men and women of $1.5million each next year, was also delighted to welcome ISPS Handa aboard.

“Along with the recent ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf, the 2019 Presidents Cup and the Emirates Australian Open Golf in 2020 and 2022, the Vic Open strengthens Victoria’s reputation as Australia’s golfing capital,” said Martin Pakula, the Victorian Government’s Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events.

“We’re proud to support Australia’s only joint men’s and women’s professional golf tournament and the only tournament in the world where men and women compete for equal prizemoney on the same course at the same time.

“The Andrews Labor Government is proud to partner with Golf Australia, City of Greater Geelong and the Vic Open’s new title sponsor ISPS Handa to host the 2019 event.”

European Tour professionals will join the continent’s top women at 13^th Beach Golf Links in 2019 with the European Tour locked in to co-sanction the Vic Open from February 7-10.

That means Australian golf fans will be able to enjoy back-to-back European Tour events on home soil for the first time in 15 years.

The cream of the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia will battle it out against the European Tour’s top talents in Barwon Heads, before both tours head west for the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth the following week.

Meanwhile, the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the ALPG will deliver the strongest women’s Vic Open field ever with the co-sanctioning agreement to enter into its third year.

With the ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open also underway at The Grange GC in Adelaide the following week, the Vic Open will again kickstart a bumper month of golf in Australia for the game’s best women.

“The co-sanctioning of both the men’s and women’s Vic Open events with the European Tour and Ladies European Tour further cements Victoria’s reputation as an international golf hub,” said Victoria’s Minister for Sport, John Eren.

"It ensures the tournament remains an important pathway for our local up and coming champions while at the same time raising its status on the world stage and bringing the best of the best to our own backyard."

The last time the European Tour went back-to-back on Australian soil was the 2004 Heineken Classic at Royal Melbourne and the following week’s ANZ Championship in New South Wales.

Interestingly, Dame Laura Davies teed it up as one of five major champions in the ANZ Championship field, marking the first time a female competed in either a European Tour or ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia event.

Fifteen years on Davies has been one of the strongest supporters of the joint Vic Open, having teed it up in every edition of the combined men’s and women’s event since it moved to 13^th Beach in 2013.

And there will be more than just a slice of the biggest Vic Open prize pool ever on offer in Barwon Heads.

The men’s champion will earn an exemption on the European Tour until the end of the 2020 season and playing rights on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia through 2021.

Valuable Race To Dubai points will also be up for grabs in 2019, as the European Tour makes its second stop in Australia for the season after December’s Australian PGA Championship.

And there’s a good chance the trip to 13^th Beach will be an historic one, considering a European player has not won the men’s Vic Open since its inception in 1957.

“We have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with golf in Australia for many years and this new partnership with the Vic Open is yet another illustration of that,” said Ben Cowen, European Tour’s Director of International Policy.

“As well as giving a wonderful playing opportunity for our members, being associated with the Vic Open also fits perfectly with our desire to lead the transformation of global golf through innovation.

“We thank everyone at the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, the Victorian State Government and Golf Victoria for their help in making this a reality, and we look forward very much to our visit to The Garden State next February.”

Gavin Kirkman, CEO of the PGA of Australia, which owns the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, said a third European Tour co-sanctioned event will provide further opportunities for Australian and New Zealander golfers.

“We are delighted to co-sanction a third Australian tournament in the 2019 season with the European Tour," said Kirkman.

“The ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia is the pathway of champions and it is our goal to provide our players with opportunities to expand their careers internationally.

“Co-sanctioning tournaments on our schedule with the European Tour is integral to our player pathway and we hope that an ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia member makes the most of the opportunity on offer at the Vic Open in 2019.

“We would also like to commend Golf Victoria on their vision to grow the Vic Open to a co-sanctioning level and we look forward to working with them, the European Tour, ALPG and LET to produce a top quality week of golf for Australian sports fans.”

Head to www.vicopengolf.com for more information.

The Vic Open will become Australian golf’s richest week in 2019 with the combined prize pool surging to an unprecedented $3 million.

That’s more than double the $1.3 million on offer in 2018 and means since moving to 13^th Beach Golf Links in 2013, the prize pool has increased ten-fold – from $300,000 to $3 million.

The Vic Open remains the only golf tournament of its kind in the world, with men and women competing for equal prize money, on the same courses at the same time.

And in 2019 that won’t change, with $1.5 million up for grabs in Barwon Heads for both the men’s and women’s fields from February 7-10.

With the backing of the State Government a $3 million purse will become the benchmark, with the world’s best male and female golfers to battle it out at 13th Beach on the Bellarine Peninsula for a minimum of $12 million over the next four years.

“This prize money boost ensures the Vic Open remains an important pathway for local up and coming champions and raises its status on the world stage, cementing Victoria’s reputation as a golfing powerhouse,” says Premier Daniel Andrews.

“The Vic Open is a great opportunity for Victoria’s coastal towns to shine. I encourage all golf fans to come along and see the nation’s best in their own backyard,” says Minister for Sport John Eren.

The winners in 2013, Stacey Keating and Matthew Giles, each took home upwards of $22,000 along with the silverware.

The winners in 2019 will pocket ten times that amount.

“This announcement is fantastic for Victorian golf, securing the future of a landmark tournament with global appeal right here in our state,” says Golf Victoria CEO Simon Brookhouse.

“It’s also great news for the players, with the Vic Open providing the top men and women from Australia and around the globe with back-to-back high prizemoney events in Australia,” says Brookhouse.

“We’re extremely appreciative of the State Government’s ongoing commitment to our great game and we’re excited to release further details about the biggest Vic Open in history soon.”

The 2019 Vic Open will provide the world’s leading ladies with the perfect final tune-up ahead of the Women’s Australian Open in Adelaide.

The men’s event will continue to be one of the headline acts of the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, with the return of the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth helping to bolster the early season’s schedule.

“The Bellarine Peninsula is a beautiful place to visit and events like the Vic Open encourage more tourists to the area and give local businesses an economic boost,” says Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville.