Australia’s golf majors are upon us and such is the enormity of the growth throughout the game since COVID, there isn’t any extra craving for the massive abroad star that the Aussie tour felt it wanted for therefore lengthy.
Granted, a Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy or Jordan Spieth would all be welcomed again to Australia with open arms ought to they select to return and play our huge tournaments once more, however such is the usual of Aussie expertise and normal curiosity within the sport at current, the galleries over the subsequent fortnight can be plentiful, regardless.
It begins with the Australian PGA at Royal Queensland on Thursday — a event received thrice by native boy Cameron Smith — earlier than the celebrated Stonehaven Cup is up for grabs once more on the Australian Open on the famed Melbourne sand-belt, the week after.
As soon as extra, the occasions are European Tour-sanctioned with the Australian Open sustaining its dual-gender format which is rising in reputation.
It means the primary two rounds can be cut up throughout Victoria and Kingston Heath golf golf equipment earlier than shifting solely to Kingston Heath for the ultimate two rounds, after the cuts are made.
That may make the Lee siblings, Min Woo and Minjee, a star attraction as soon as extra with organisers a certainty to position the Perth merchandise in adjoining teams but once more which led to large crowds round them in Sydney final 12 months.
The feminine Aussie brigade can be out to finish considerably of a neighborhood sporting drought. It has been 10 years since an Aussie lady has received the Australian Open, with the final two titles going to South Africa’s Ashley Buhai, who’s unsurprisingly returning in a bid for an unprecedented hat-trick.
The lads’s draw is affected by huge Aussie names however there’s one evident absentee. That of Adam Scott. At 44 years of age although and having supported the Aussie summer season with out fail for the final 20 years, he’s entitled to a break with out criticism, if he feels he wants it.
Fortunately, there are many star points of interest to fill the void.
Right here is the perfect of them with their storylines for the Aussie summer season:
Cameron Smith
Nonetheless the headline act of Aussie golf, he endured a poor 2023 Down Beneath, lacking the reduce within the PGA and ending seventeenth within the Australian Open. The frustration confirmed and it is clear he is out to make amends enjoying each the Qld PGA and NSW Open — tournaments method under his pay grade — within the lead up. That is been an superior act from him and after a strong LIV season, it ought to have the 31-year-old nicely ready to contend for a fourth PGA title and first Australian Open, which he craves.
Min Woo Lee
The darling of the Australian golf scene final 12 months, the West Australian’s first 12 months on the PGA Tour did not fairly go to plan with solely three high 10 finishes. Whereas he made a whole lot of cuts and the Internationals’ Presidents Cup aspect, he was anticipated to contend for a couple of extra trophies. Gifted sufficient to flick the shape swap, a return to the scene of his 2023 PGA triumph might simply assist “The Chef” get cooking once more.
Jason Day
So good to have him again. Has pissed off Aussie golf followers for a very long time after failing to play right here since 2017. By his personal admission, he might have tried more durable to return through the years however he is lastly coming dwelling after overcoming damage points and household commitments. He does so with a robust sufficient sport to win one of many two huge Aussie trophies for the primary time. Will nonetheless get pleasure from big crowd assist, particularly in his dwelling state of Queensland, and is determined to make up for his long-term absence with an enormous summer season. With that in thoughts, his largest difficulty is perhaps placing an excessive amount of strain on himself.
Marc Leishman
Has been a world class participant for over a decade however extremely has by no means received a event on dwelling soil. Having not performed a serious in two years after shifting to LIV, “The Leish” is barely faraway from the highlight now. He did rediscover a few of his finest kind on the LIV Tour this 12 months although with three high 5 finishes, and a win at dwelling at 41 years of age remains to be very a lot doable. How common a breakthrough winner the Warrnambool boy could be.
Lucas Herbert
Together with Smith, his presence on the NSW Open final week was superior and the massive Bendigo boy made essentially the most of it along with his first win in Australia. With some helpful lead-up kind and a seventh-place end in each the Aussie majors final 12 months, he is able to contend in stronger trend this 12 months. Undoubtedly has the sport, huge stage composure and self-belief to take action.
Cameron Davis
The silent murderer of Australian golf, he would possibly lack the character and pizzazz in his sport of among the others however he is each bit as harmful, if no more. Was desperately unfortunate to overlook the Presidents Cup crew this 12 months after successful on the PGA Tour and ending twelfth in The Masters. An Australian Open winner again in 2017, the Sydneysider is all the time an enormous menace on dwelling soil. Each probability he is contending in each weeks.
Joaquin Niemann
The Chilean sensation is just enjoying the Australian Open however he does in order the defending champion and arguably the perfect golfer that includes Down Beneath this summer season. Gained two LIV Tour occasions in 2024 and completed second total within the participant standings to Jon Rahm. His potential to flight the ball low helped him win the Stonehaven Cup within the Sydney wind final 12 months, and after enjoying the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne, he has expertise on the sand-belt tracks.
Harry Higgs
Just like Michael Block final 12 months the larger-than-life American is a helpful attraction for the Aussie summer season and judging by his posts on X is relishing each minute. His fun-loving strategy makes him a crowd favorite however make no mistake, Higgs can play, as confirmed by a fourth-placed end on the 2021 US PGA Championship and 14th within the 2022 Masters. He’s liable to take his shirt off ought to he produce one thing particular on the Australian PGA celebration gap, like he did on the Phoenix Open a few years again.
Girls’s Australian Open
Hannah Inexperienced
As a three-time winner on the LPGA Tour in 2024, the West Australian has moved as much as quantity 5 on the planet rankings, and heads dwelling in gorgeous kind and the perfect positioned of the Australians to finish a 10-year homegrown ladies’s drought on the event. Her majors document this 12 months fell in need of expectations however she has the right probability to vary that in Melbourne.
Minjee Lee
The softly spoken antithesis to her brash brother, Minjee didn’t win on the LPGA tour this 12 months however did have 4 high 10s and remains to be contained in the world’s high 20 rankings. A two-time main winner within the final 4 years, you’ll be able to by no means rule her out when the massive tournaments come round and he or she did come second final 12 months.
Stephanie Kyriacou
At 23, she represents the subsequent era and whereas her first season on the LPGA Tour was certainly one of adjustment, she’ll be higher for the expertise and is aware of the Aussie golf scene intimately. Can shoot the lights out on her day and could be a well-liked challenger for the crown after ending fifth in 2024.
Grace Kim
One other younger gun who had three high 10s on the LPGA Tour this 12 months and completed seventh within the Aussie Open final 12 months. A fast improver who’s tremendous correct off the tee, it would not shock in any respect if she makes a splash at this 12 months’s Open.
