TI, like most golf followers was amazed and in awe of Simon Hawkes performance last week at the Oates Vic Open.

What a magnificent achievement which has earned him a place in the field this week, TI would not be surprised if he continued his good form and played very well again this week.

No winners last week but followers of TI will be forgiving as even the most knowledgeable golf fan would not have picked Mr Hawkes!

Despite some opinions to the contrary TI was only swayed a little. TI was going to be extremely patriotic this week but has also decided to include a couple of Kiwis. The format is exciting and is certainly difficult to pick a winner in a competition that includes 6 hole match play.

TI’s good mates at Ladbrokes have framed a market this week and with the favourites paying $21, there is plenty of value if you can find it! Here’s TI’s standouts for the week.

Lucas Herbert – $34

Despite a little bit of unwanted social media attention from the said player TI is going to pick Lucas Herbert this week. The young lad was a little disappointed with TI last last year when I was picking winner after winner, that despite good form he never rated a mention. Don’t despair young Lucas TI has in fact been a fan of yours for a long time. In fact TI had a few small dollars on you last year at great odds to finish top-8. The format suits the attacking style Lucas plays and his form is great. For what it’s worth TI is confident of a good showing. Don’t prove me wrong!

Ryan Fox – $21

Cracking fella, this guy is so close to a win. He has been for a long time and it is only a matter of time before he gets a win. A very good amateur record at match play and a big hitting birdie machine has to be included in my tips this week. A good performance last week has the Kiwi primed to take on the field at Lake Karrinyup this week.

Brett Rumford – $26

The defending champ, Rummy was seen doing his usual thing this week – helping fellow competitors get better. He always has time for others and defending the title he won last year would be a very special achievement. He looks to be in great form and as usual caddy Ronny is brimming with confidence.

Ben Campbell – $151

TI did have this young Kiwi lad in last week and he produced a solid performance. Who knows, if young Ben can drop a couple of putts, he could be playing the European Tour full time with his old amateur partner Ryan Fox. He would not be out of place on Tour and TI hopes this likeable lad from Masterton can play well this week.

Marcus Fraser – $101

Some may say this is a bit of a dark horse with some recent equipment changes that he is perhaps still getting used to. But we know the quality of the player.  He was spotted working hard with coach Denis McDade early in the week and TI doesn’t think much fine tuning is required to produce a good result this week. Tour player Rick Kulacz is carrying the bag this week which can only help and also hopefully inspire Mr Kulacz to better things in the future. Fraser would be a popular winner.

TI is really hoping a number of young Aussies could get the job done here with the likes of Eccles, Felton, Zunic, McLeod, Higginbottom, Smyth, Coletta and Papadatos all capable of having good careers on the European Tour if given the chance. This week boys, go get it done!

Despite being parochial TI loves the fact so many good European and Asian Tour players made the trip to Perth. Westwood, Willett and Beef will obviously be crowd favourites but there are plenty of quality players for the Perth public to follow.

Englishman Danny Willett got his week off to a flying start in Perth with a sky dive over picturesque Rottnest Island, Western Australia.

Arriving in Perth on Saturday, Willett took a few days off to explore the state, starting at 10,000 feet.

It wasn’t the typical start to a tournament week, but being in town for the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth, Willett wanted to experience a day in WA.

“It was amazing.  Us golfers don’t really get to do loads of really exciting things most of the time, so yeah, I’ve done it before in Dubai, but over Rottnest Island out of a chopper at 10,000 feet was something pretty special,” said Willett.

“It was just a fantastic way to start the week and really get a great sense of what there is on offer down here in Western Australia.”

While the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth tees off tomorrow, Willett will still be having fun with the stroke play /match play hybrid tournament providing something different to the usual 72 hole stroke play.

“I think it was part of the reason we’ve come down here, because of the format and because of where it is, and obviously where we’re at within our game to come and really enjoy what is a very different week,” added Willett who is coming back from a shoulder injury.

“To actually come and really enjoy, try to interact with the fans a good bit.  The fans in Oz are always great.

“We’ve kind of started it the right way, had a couple of days really enjoying the local area around Perth, and then kind of back to business again yesterday and today and getting used to the golf course for tomorrow.

Willett will be in action tomorrow at 12pm, teeing off the 1^st alongside Australian Wade Ormsby and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen.

Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand is excited about playing the new format for the first time at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth that tees off on Thursday.

The 22-year-old golfer is enjoying a mini career renaissance. After losing his Asian Tour card for 2017, he bounced back by winning a tournament in Bangladesh in early February. The Thai hotshot went on to finish ninth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit list that year.

"I didn’t get a chance to play here last year. I only caught it on TV. I think it’s a very good format. Having new things in golf is always exciting. This will be the first year I’m playing in this event and I’m aiming to get into the top 24, so that I can try the Super 6 format," said Janewattananond.

"I haven’t tried anything similar before. I’ll just try to make as many birdies as I can and then just not make any mistake."

Earlier this year, he secured a spot at The Open this year by finishing tied-fourth at the SMBC Singapore Open. Jazz wants to win again and he hopes to do that at Lake Karrinyup Country Club this week.

"Two years ago, I came to play here. It was a very different course compared to what we play in Asia. This year is different though, it’s a lot softer. The first time we play, everything runs off as the ground was firm. It’s easier compared to my first year, but still, the competition is strong so you have to be on point.

"The wind is going to affect everyone, especially those who are teeing off in the afternoon. You have to be lucky in the draw, too."

England’s Danny Willett has recovered from his shoulder injury and he is slowly rediscovering the form that led to his triumph at the 2016 Masters Tournament. While he is not setting expectations on his game at the moment, he will want to do well at the ISPS HANDA Super 6 Perth.

Willett is one of the marquee names amongst the elite field at the tournament that includes compatriots Lee Westwood and Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston well as Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand.

"I watched it (the tournament) last year on TV and really thought it was good.  So yeah, then to be able to come down and be part of the Super 6, it puts a different spin on golf," said Willett.

"We play a lot of 72-hole tournaments throughout the year and there’s a couple of match play events in there, but this obviously just throws it a little bit different in the mix there with the six holes and obviously the short pitch playoff hole as well."

Tirawat Kaewsiribandit of Thailand is feeling physically great and hopes to bounce back after two consecutive cuts prior to the ISPS HANDA Super 6 Perth. He was in serious contention at the Asian Tour season-opener in Singapore, but his tournament unravelled in the third and final round due to fatigue.

"After finishing the tournament in Singapore, I was a bit sick and very tired. I played 27 holes in a day and the weather was hot. Now, I feel better. Everything is better, in fact. I’ll try my best to play well in this tournament for sure," said Kaewsiribandit.

"The conditions this week are great. The tournament has a nice golf course and the weather is kind. I played yesterday and experienced very strong winds. Nevertheless, my aim is to first make the cut. Anybody can win if they get to the knockout rounds, so that’s the main aim for me, to play on Sunday."

The A$1.75 million (approximately US$1.25 million) ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth event, tri-sanctioned by the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, European Tour and Asian Tour, is proudly supported by the Western Australian Government through Tourism WA.

Paul Peterson of the United States will be chasing for more glory when he makes his debut appearance at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth which starts on Thursday.

The 29-year-old American enjoyed a remarkable start to the season, breaking into the winner’s circle for the first time on the Asian Tour after emerging victorious in Myanmar a fortnight ago.

Placed second on the Habitat for Humanity Standings, Peterson hopes to close in on leader Shubhankar Sharma with a good performance at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club.

Brett Rumford of Australia secured a dominant win last year, topping the leaderboard after the 54-hole stroke play before beating all his opponents in the matchplay round. He is looking forward to defending his title and retain his trophy on home soil this week. .

Moving away from the traditional four-day stroke play format, the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth will combine 54 holes of traditional stroke play across the first three days with an exciting knockout match play format for the fourth and final round.

Shiv Kapur of India likens the new format in Perth to cricket’s T20. He reckons that golf can only benefit from the change. The Indian golfer hopes to put together a more solid weekend performance here compared to the tournaments in Singapore, Myanmar and Malaysia.

Lee Westwood of England, along with Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston and Masters champion Danny Willet, are amongst the marquee names for the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth, which is featuring a world-first innovative format for the second consecutive year.

Westwood, who enjoyed a tied-11^th place finish in Malaysia last week, will be looking to extend his good form when he steps up to the tee for the A$1.75 million (approximately US$1.25 million) event.

The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth event, tri-sanctioned by the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, European Tour and Asian Tour, is proudly supported by the Western Australian Government through Tourism WA.

Australia continues to be at the cutting edge of innovation in golf with the introduction of PGA Open Mic during the FOX SPORTS broadcast of the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth.

Driven by the PGA of Australia and FOX SPORTS, this initiative will see ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia players interact live with the commentary team as they play their round.

Imagine gaining an insight into a player’s thoughts as he walks off the tee and down the fairway to his ball or before he tees off on a hole during the match play section of the tournament gaining an understanding of his strategy and approach.

This will be possible during the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth, an event tri-sanctioned by the European Tour, ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, and Asian Tour, as players are interviewed by FOX SPORTS presenter Warren Smith, former pro and FOX SPORTS golf analyst Paul Gow, along with Warren Humphreys, Dom Boulet and Kate Burton from the commentary booth.

“Golf needs to continue to innovate to stay relevant in the modern market. Fans increasingly want more insight into the game, watching a player hit a superb shot is no longer enough. We now want to know the thought process behind that shot,” said Gavin Kirkman the Chief Executive Officer of the PGA of Australia which owns the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

“PGA Open Mic will allow fans an inside the ropes experience, from the comfort of their lounge room that they have never before experienced in golf. This is the first time this has ever been done in golf in Australia.

“This type of content has seen the broadcast of cricket enhanced dramatically. Fans love hearing from the players during the heat of the battle on the field of play. But it also helps the players express their personalities and enhance their reputations. This is a great initiative for everyone involved.

“I would like to thank FOX SPORTS for working with us to bring this idea to life.”

FOX SPORTS Head of Television, Steve Crawley, said: “It’s about giving fans an insight they wouldn’t normally get; to take them closer to the action and you can’t get much closer than hearing from the players as they walk down the fairway during play.

“This is a first of its kind for golf broadcasting in Australia and we can’t wait to offer this incredible experience to Foxtel subscribers."

Australian golf has been driving innovation in the game for a number of years with the men and women Professionals last week contesting the Oates Vic Open on the same course, at the same time for equal prize money.

This week sees the second staging of the stroke play / match play hybrid tournament; the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth. This was the first international tournament to utilise this format concept with tournaments like the GolfSixes and the European Challenge Tour’s Northern Ireland Open replicating its success.

“The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth is the perfect tournament for us to launch PGA Open Mic,” added Kirkman.

“The format is innovative and now we have an equally innovative way to comprehensively tell the story and show the action unfolding.”

The success of PGA Open Mic will be contingent on the players embracing this modern broadcast method and already the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia players are responding positively to the idea.

“We have spoken to a number of our ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia players and they are excited too,” added Kirkman.

“They are passionate sports fans, they watch what other sports are doing to bring fans closer to the action and they want to provide this same opportunity to golf fans.

“We are anticipating this innovation to be very popular amongst the Australians and New Zealanders. Everyone is very excited so literally, watch this space!”

The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth will be broadcast to an estimated 460 million people in 33 countries around the world.

In Australia sports fans can watch live on FOX SPORTS 506 this Thursday (3pm-8pm AEDT), Friday (3pm-8pm), Saturday (3pm-8pm) and Sunday (2pm-8pm).

For just a $25* general admission fans can watch Danny Willett, Brett Rumford, Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston, Lee Westwood and others in action in the innovative ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth. While children aged 16 years and under enter free of charge.

Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.com.au.

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

Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston has seen the sights of Perth and met some of the locals ahead of his ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth debut at Lake Karrinyup Country Club this week.

Beef, together with American Sean Crocker and star West Aussie amateur Min Woo Lee were given a segway tour courtesy of Segway Tours WA through the beautiful Kings Park.

“Yeah first time, I was nervous at the start, I got on and I was going back and forth, back and forth and I thought I was going to fall off the front and fall off the back but after about ten minutes I got used to it and it’s good fun,” said Beef who also got up close and personal with Karen the koala following the tour.

“That was so cool I’ve always wanted to do that and to be able to hold it and say hello to Karen was wicked and I am a big animal lover so it’s been a really cool day.”

Beef’s last visit to the host venue of the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth, Lake Karrinyup Country Club came in 2016 and yielded a top-20 finish.

The popular Englishman said the layout is one of his favourites and had high praise for the condition of the course this week.

“I just love the condition of it. The greens are always really good here and the condition of it. And it just seems to sort of suit my eye so I feel like I can play well around here.

“It’s a different format which I think I’m going to enjoy. I think it’s something a bit different. I’m looking forward to playing and I just love being in Perth, I like everything about it; the beaches, the food and the stuff you can do.”

Known for his interaction with the fans and larrikin nature, Beef is sure to be hit when round one gets underway this Thursday.

“I’ve always had fun with them (the crowd) when I’ve been back and I’ve had so many nice messages the last sort of day or so, so I think it’s going to be good fun, we can have good banter with everyone.”

Local amateur Min Woo Lee has the advantage of course knowledge behind him having played the Australian Amateur Championship at Lake Karrinyup in January.

While he unfortunately made a premature exit to the tournament in the second round of match play, Lee said the experience was invaluable as he prepares for one of the biggest tournaments of his career.

“It’s a great course, I think it’s ranked number one in WA and definitely up there as one of the best in Australia,” said Lee, who arrived in Perth yesterday following the Oates Vic Open at 13^th Beach Golf Links.

“It’s a long course if the wind gets up and it can play pretty tough with the rough. The greens are pretty undulating so it will be fun and a tough week.

“You’ve got to play good golf to win. So yeah definitely having match play experience not too long ago definitely helps.

“I’m a pretty aggressive golfer so hopefully I can keep keep playing aggressive and good golf.”

Sean Crocker returns to Australia with good memories having recorded a top-10 finish in last year’s Australian PGA Championship.

“My agent was making a joke that when I come over to Asia and Australia I play better so hopefully it works that way,” said Crocker who got his first look at Lake Karrinyup Country Club today.

“It’s a beautiful course, it looks like it’s in great condition and looks like it’s very scorable. You’ve got to play well for three days to get in the match play but it should be a fun week.”

For just a $25* general admission fans can watch Danny Willett, Brett Rumford, Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston, Lee Westwood and others in action in the innovative ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth. While children aged 16 years and under enter free of charge.

Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.com.au.

The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth will once again be live on Fox Sports from 8-11 February, check local guides for details. 

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

West Australian amateur Min Woo Lee along with up and coming American Sean Crocker are pumped to take on the Lake Karrinyup Country Club layout for this week’s ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth.

Lee has the advantage of course knowledge behind him having played the Australian Amateur Championship at Lake Karrinyup in January.

While he unfortunately made a premature exit to the tournament in the second round of match play, Lee said the experience was invaluable as he prepares for one of the biggest tournaments of his career.

“It’s a great course, I think it’s ranked number one in WA and definitely up there as one of the best in Australia,” said Lee, who arrived in Perth today following the Oates Vic Open at 13^th Beach Golf Links.

“It’s a long course if the wind gets up and it can play pretty tough with the rough. The greens are pretty undulating so it will be fun and a tough week.

“You’ve got to play good golf to win. So yeah definitely having match play experience not too long ago definitely helps.

“I’m a pretty aggressive golfer so hopefully I can keep keep playing aggressive and good golf.”

Lee was on hand at the weekend to see his sister Minjee Lee take out her second Oates Vic Open in commanding fashion, something he’ll hope to replicate this week in the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth.

“My sister played great golf down the stretch and ended up winning by five shots so hopefully I can do that,” added Lee.

“It’s (the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth) one of the biggest tournaments I’ve played and to get the opportunity to get a European Tour card if you win, it’s pretty big so hopefully my ‘A game’ is on.”

Crocker returns to Australia with good memories having recorded a top-10 finish in last year’s Australian PGA Championship.

“My agent was making a joke that when I come over to Asia and Australia I play better so hopefully it works that way,” said Crocker who got his first look at Lake Karrinyup Country Club today.

“It’s a beautiful course, it looks like it’s in great condition and looks like it’s very scorable. You’ve got to play well for three days to get in the match play but it should be a fun week.”

Turning Professional in November 2017, Crocker says he expects the crowds to enjoy some attacking golf with plenty of scoring opportunities on the six match play holes.

“We played the back-9 which they use for the match play which has a lot of birdies on that side, a lot of par-5’s and driveable par-4’s, shorter par-4’s.”

“So you’re going to need birdies to move on to your next match because pars aren’t going to do anything.

“With the driving par-4’s and the reachable par-5’s, birdies and eagles are out there and should make it fun for the spectators to watch once you get shots and long irons in and long putts made.”

Holes 10, 11, 13, 14, 12, 18, in that order, will be used for the Super 6 matches on Sunday.

While Lee and Crocker are rising stars of the game, if they hope to win the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth they will need to overcome established stars Lee Westwood, Danny Willett, Beef Johnston, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and defending champion Brett Rumford.

For just a $25* general admission fans can watch Danny Willett, Brett Rumford, Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston, Lee Westwood and others in action in the innovative ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth. While children aged 16 years and under enter free of charge.

Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.com.au.

The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth will once again be live on Fox Sports from 8-11 February, check local guides for details.

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

Charismatic Englishman Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston is headed to Lake Karrinyup Country Club for the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth as Tyrrell Hatton withdraws due to injury.

Playing in Malaysia this weekend, Beef will jet to Perth tonight and is sure to be a hit with crowds with his fun loving and laid back personality.

“I love it in Perth, I’ve been there twice before and always had a good time,” said Johnston.

“I really like the place, I love the beaches there and the people so it’s always a good spot to go to.”

An exciting player by nature, Johnston said he expects some aggressive play over the first three rounds to qualify inside the top-24 come Sunday.

“You’ve got to play well in the first 54 holes, I think you’ve got to play aggressive and if you can get in to the match play anything can happen so it’s completely different but I think it’ll be good fun.”

In 2016, Beef teed it up in Perth but flew under the radar, since then he has gone on to win on the European Tour, gain a PGA TOUR card and become a cult favourite amongst golf fans.

His exciting brand of golf, mixed with his crowd interaction makes him the perfect player to embrace the fast stroke play / match play hybrid ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth.

“Australia loves a larrikin, we love to embrace personalities that are talented, fun and that embrace the Aussie way of life. When you think of pro golfers who fit that mould, one player immediately comes to mind; Beef Johnston,” said Gavin Kirkman, CEO of the PGA of Australia which owns the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia. 

“We are very excited that Beef will be joining us at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth. With this tournament we aim to attract high calibre players who will also embrace the innovative format; we believe Beef is the perfect fit for the tournament.”

While Beef is in for the tournament, fellow Englishman Tyrrell Hatton has withdrawn from the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth.

Hatton was looking forward to making his first trip to Australia but on recommendation from the European Tour’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Andrew Murray, Hatton sadly has taken the advice to rest his wrist and withdraw from the event.

“I am absolutely gutted that I can’t play in Perth at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth, a fantastic, innovative and fun event in a great part of the world in Western Australia,” said Hatton.

“I wish everyone a fantastic week and hope it’s a great success like last year.”

Disappointed that the World Number 15 will not be contesting the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth, tournament organisers, the PGA of Australia  and European Tour, conveyed their sympathies to Hatton.

“We are obviously very disappointed that Tyrrell (Hatton) won’t be joining us in Perth but we are equally concerned for his fitness,” added Gavin Kirkman.

“We wish Tyrrell a fast recovery and hope to see him on the golf course again in the near future.

“We understand that sporting fans in Perth were looking forward to watching the talented young Englishman and we hope that Tyrrell will be able to compete in the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth in the future.”

Ben Cowen, Director of International Policy, European Tour, added: “We hope that Tyrrell can make a speedy recovery and we are sorry that he is unable to play next week in Perth. It is fantastic news that Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston will make the trip down to Western Australia and can enjoy the stunning surroundings of Perth and the exciting format of the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth.”

The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth offers an incredible line-up of talented players including recent addition Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston, former World Number 1 Lee Westwood, 2016 Masters Champion Danny Willett, Defending Champion Brett Rumford, top-100 players Wade Ormsby, Seung-Su Han, Yusaku Miyazato, Satoshi Kodaira, Thorbjørn Olesen and Hideto Tanihara as well as New Zealand’s highest ranked player Ryan Fox.

“We have a very talented group of players coming to contest the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth and we will deliver a highly entertaining tournament,” added Kirkman.

“The stroke play / match play hybrid format is designed to thrill, to place a premium on birdies and it creates an atmosphere of competitiveness that is not usually seen in golf.

“Next week is sure to be a memorable week of golf and we are very much looking forward to it.”

For just a $25* general admission fans can watch Danny Willett, Brett Rumford, Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston, Lee Westwood and others in action in the innovative ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth. While children aged 16 years and under enter free of charge.

Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.com.au.

The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth will once again be live on Fox Sports from 8-11 February, check local guides for details. 

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

A strong contingent of Japanese players is heading to the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth drawing the attention of the golf loving nation to Western Australia.

World Number 72 Hideto Tanihara will return to compete in the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth at Lake Karrinyup Country Club from 8-11 February.

Having qualified for the match play in 2017, Tanihara recorded a 1UP victory over Duncan Stewart of Scotland in the first round, before being knocked out of the tournament in the second round by the inaugural champion Brett Rumford.

“I really enjoyed my time in Perth last year and I liked the Lake Karrinyup Country Club, it reminded me of some of the courses in the west of Japan,” said Tanihara.

“Last year I qualified for the match play and got through to the second round. Unfortunately I came up against the eventual champion Brett Rumford. He was playing excellent golf that day, so this year I hope to do a little better and get past the second round of matches.”

Joining Tanihara will be World Number 54 Yusaku Miyazato who was the Number 1 player on the Japan Golf Tour in 2017 having won four times. Thanks to his impressive play last year and his world ranking, Miyazato will make his debut at The Masters in April.

World Number 42 Satoshi Kodaira will also tee up in the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth and like his fellow countryman will be a player to watch at Lake Karrinyup Country Club. Kodaira finished second on the Japan Golf Tour money list, behind Miyazato, thanks to two wins in 2017 and with the qualification cut off date for The Masters looming in late March, a good performance in Perth could see him rise in the World Rankings to solidify his place in the Top 50 and earn a place in Augusta.

American Seungsu Han, has carved a successful career on the Japan Golf Tour finishing fourth on the money list in 2017 after recording his maiden professional victory. The World Number 80 is also set to tee it up alongside his fellow Japan Golf Tour players at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth.

These proven champions add significant depth to the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth field as eight players from the top-100 in the Official World Golf Rankings will compete in the stroke play, match play hybrid tournament.

“We are delighted to welcome Hideto Tanihara, Yusaku Miyazato, Satoshi Kodaira and Seungsu Han to Lake Karrinyup Country Club,” said Gavin Kirkman, CEO of the PGA of Australia which owns the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

“The Japan Golf Tour and the depth of talent competing there week-to-week is incredibly strong so to have three of their top-four players from 2017 at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth is a coup for the tournament.

“We are happy with the field that we are assembling for the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth. With the addition of these great players along with Lee Westwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Danny Willett and Brett Rumford, fans should expect to see some tightly fought matches come Sunday.”

Golf is widely popular in Japan and the country is set to host the Olympic Games in 2020 where golf will appear for the second consecutive time.

Japan is also a large source market for visitors to Western Australia, making it a key demographic for the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth.

“I’d like to welcome top Japanese players Hideto Tanihara, Yusaku Miyazato and Satoshi Kodaira as well as American Seungsu Han to Perth and invite them to experience some of the magnificent tourism aspects of our great city and beyond,” said Paul Papalia, Tourism Minister, Western Australia.

“Hosting international sporting events is an important part of our strategy to grow Western Australia’s economy and create jobs, and events like this one not only deliver significant national and international media coverage of the State, but also inject millions into the economy by attracting visitors.

“Japan is Western Australia’s eleventh largest source market by visitor numbers and ninth by visitor spending. In the year ending September 2017, there was 27,500 Japanese visitors that spent an estimated AUD$57 million.”

For just a $25* general admission fans can watch Danny Willett, Brett Rumford, Tyrrell Hatton, Lee Westwood and others in action in the innovative ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth. While children aged 16 years and under enter free of charge.

Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.com.au.

Corporate hospitality options are available including the popular West Cape Howe Wines Terrace and BDO Super Suite.

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

* Ticket prices include GST. Transaction fees apply. Please note the booking terms and conditions when purchasing your tickets through www.ticketmaster.com.au.