The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth is set for its third staging in 2019 when it is played from 14-17 February at Lake Karrinyup Country Club in Perth, Western Australia.

In the inaugural ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth, local hero Brett Rumford dominated in front of his home crowd while Thai superstar Kiradech Aphibarnrat proved a popular winner when he triumphed in 2018.

In 2019 the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth is set to again be a highlight on an impressive sporting schedule in Perth which has grown exponentially since the opening of the Perth Stadium last year.

Following 6 months of review and preparations the third edition is set to capitalise on a successful 2018 tournament that featured Lee Westwood, Danny Willett and cult hero Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston.

“We are extremely proud of how far the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth has come over the last two years,” said Gavin Kirkman, CEO of the PGA of Australia which owns the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

“Lake Karrinyup Country Club is one of the best golf courses in the country and we are delighted to be hosted by this fantastic venue once again in 2019.”

Tri-sanctioned for the third time in 2019, the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, European Tour and Asian Tour the field is set to include a plethora of golfing talent from all corners of the globe.  

Equally pleased with the scheduling of the event is Dr Haruhisa Handa, Founder and Chairman of ISPS HANDA.
“We are delighted to continue our title sponsorship of the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth, for the third year running,” said Dr Handa.

“ISPS believes in the ‘power of sport’ to inspire change. The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth embodies sport’s ability to innovate with its dynamic new format and will provide a thrilling start to the 2019 sporting calendar. I wish the tournament the very best of success.”

The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth was the first of a number of format innovations the European Tour has introduced over the years, emphasising the importance of entertainment as a way of bringing the game of golf to new audiences. They have since introduced the Golf Sixes event and Shot Clock Masters to their schedule.

Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer at the European Tour, said: “We are delighted to be returning to Perth and Lake Karrinyup Country Club for an event which has gone from strength to strength in the last two years.

“The innovative format was a ground-breaking one when it was introduced at this tournament in 2017 and its continued success is a testament to ISPS HANDA, the Western Australian government and the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia. We look forward to co-sanctioning another great event next February.”

The Asian Tour will again be a welcomed guest on Australian shores as it forms a stronger alignment with the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia enhancing opportunities for professional golfers in the region.

Cho Minn Thant, Chief Operating Officer of the Asian Tour says they look forward to returning to what has been a happy hunting ground for their players.

“The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth has been a huge success with its refreshing and innovation format. Fans have enjoyed the tournament and it is also a very popular event with our players,” he said.

“We hope to see continued success from our members following Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai’s runner-up finish in 2017 and Kiradech Aphibarnrat’s victory earlier this year.

“We are eagerly anticipating our return to Lake Karrinyup Country Club in Perth next year and look forward to working closely with ISPS HANDA, the Western Australian government and the PGA Tour of Australasia in making it another successful tournament.”

The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth will be played from 14-17February 2019 at Lake Karrinyup Country Club in Perth, Western Australia.

Tickets will go on sale from 1 October 2018 and will be available from Ticketmaster.

The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth event is proudly supported by the Western Australian Government through Tourism WA.

Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat has had a short but successful visit to Perth taking out the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth at Lake Karrinyup Country Club.

Aphibarnrat followed a similar path to his countryman Phachara Khongwatmai who qualified last in to the top-24 in 2017 and played his way to the final, only this time the honours lay with Thailand as he defeated New South Welshman James Nitties in the final.

It was a barnstorming finish from the crowd favourite who finished with an eagle and a birdie to claim his fourth European Tour title.

“It’s just been an awesome week.  I don’t know how to explain, but I’m so happy. I’m working so hard. The last few months I’ve been getting really close and finally I’ve done it,” said Aphibarnrat.

Arriving in Perth on Wednesday afternoon, Aphibarnrat got his first look at the course in round one of the tournament and immediately made an impression shooting 5-under 67, even par rounds on Friday and Saturday which meant he was part of the nine-man playoff to secure a spot in Sunday’s match play.

He said the lack of preparation may have been of benefit to him, playing some holes around the course without fear.

“First hole you just see clearly, second hole I hit driver, just 130 yards to the flag on the first round, and then I walked down the fairway and looked at my caddie saying, ‘did you just let me hit driver on this one?’ It’s so narrow, I tell him I won’t hit driver at all,” added Aphibarnrat. 

“It was a little bit relaxing, go out there and when you get the decent start you lose the pressure a little bit and try to free your swing.”

He and Australian Anthony Quayle eventually played the 18^th four times in round three before Aphibarnrat secured the final spot inside the top-24 for Sunday.

It was an opportunity Aphibarnrat wouldn’t take from granted; he defeated Ben Eccles (AUS) 1-up in round one and took Yusaku Miyazato through five trips on the Knockout hole, adjacent to the 18^th fairway, to qualify for the quarter finals.

American Sean Crocker took Aphibarnrat through all six match play holes but the result eventually fell 1-up in the Thai Professional’s favour.

After playing the first two rounds of the tournament together, Aphibarnrat again met up with Victorian Lucas Herbert, the two big hitters putting on a fantastic display in the semi-final. A brilliant first shot on the Knockout hole proved the difference and Aphibarnrat advanced to meet New South Welshman James Nitties in the final.

After losing the first hole to Nitties, Aphibarnrat showed his class halving the second and winning the final three to take out the final 2&1.

“It’s really tough to get in the last 24.  It’s been tough every single match that I play, I played in two knockouts. James (Nitties) is playing so good but he’s just unlucky at the end.”

“I believe if he just keeps doing what he does, one day he’ll be joining our Tour for sure.  But I’m just really happy with the result.”

The larger than life character once dubbed ‘the Asian John Daly’ is delighted with his result having put in a lot of extra work to his game over the last few months.

His win is made all the sweeter after a string of near misses in tournaments on both the Asian Tour and European Tour.

“It means a lot. When you focus on something, you try hard, this hard, then I was finishing second and I’m not giving up.  I’m trying so hard until I get it.”

This was the debut of Aphibarnrat in the unique ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth format, after experiencing it for himself he said it’s a great attraction for new fans to the game.

“It just makes it more exciting and interesting. I think the kids might love it. I’m sure you’re going to get more fans around the world this week.”

Nitties’ path to the final included wins over Nick Cullen (AUS), Dimitrios Papadatos (AUS), Callan O’Reilly (AUS) and Sam Horsfield (ENG).

The Novocastrian was noble in defeat considering how close he came to securing playing rights on both the European Tour and Asian Tour.

“It’s a sad way to go down considering another win might have got me some playing rights somewhere in the world because I currently have no status, but it was a great week,” said Nitties.

“Considering I was a four foot putt away from losing the first match, it was pretty positive stuff getting to the final.”

Lucas Herbert recorded a 3&1 victory over Horsfield to claim third place in the tournament.

For full results, visit pga.org.au.

For his win, Aphibarnrat picked up AUD $283,330.00, to view the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, visit pga.org.au.

The ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia now travels to City Golf Club in Toowoomba for the Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship presented by Wippells Volkswagen. To view the tournament schedule, visit pga.org.au.