All-new Victorian swing heralds Aussie summer reset
If you’re involved in Australian sport you know that almost all professional competitive opportunities have been affected in some way by the ongoing worldwide pandemic.
And golf has been one of those sports that took the full brunt of the lockdown with the entire 2020 golfing summer schedule cancelled including the Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship.
Moonah Links
However with the borders reopening across the country, there appears to be some good news coming out of PGA Australia with the announcement of an all-new “Victorian Swing”.
The Gippsland Super 6 at Yallourn Golf Club, which debuted last year, will herald the recommencement of the 2020/2021 season and will be followed on January 28 by the inaugural The Players Series, which will be hosted by US Open champ, Geoff Ogilvy, at Rosebud Golf Club.
The Players Series will see male and female professionals compete head-to-head for the same prizemoney and title and is being closely watched as a possible template for further tournaments in overseas markets.
“The Players Series is a world-first concept and in many respects we will have the eyes of the world watching,” said Dastey, PGA of Australia’s Tournaments Director Australasia.
“The R&A have thrown their support behind The Players Series due to the potential they feel the concept has to be replicated in many other countries around the world.”
“We’re really excited by what it can offer both for the players and for golf fans and I’ve got no doubt we will see it grow in the years to come.”
The Tour then remains on the Mornington Peninsula for the Victorian PGA Championship on February 4, which will be played across the Legends and Open courses at Moonah Links and followed a week later by another new event, the Moonah Links PGA Classic, from February 9.
Following the Victorian swing, players will head to various NSW Open qualifiers before teeing it up at the second of The Players Series events on March 4 in Sydney, which will be hosted by NRL legend Braith Anasta at Bonnie Doon Golf Club.
The 2020/2021 Order Of Merit will conclude with the QLD Open (Mar 11-14 – TBC) at Pelican Waters Golf Club before the $400,000 NSW Open at Concord Golf Club on March 25.
“I think the fields will be really strong. I know all of the Japan Golf Tour guys will be keen to play as many events as they can,” said three-time Australasian Tour winner and member of the Tournament Players Council, Matt Griffin.
“It will depend on how the European Tour schedule is sitting but we might get a couple of those guys back too.”
“For these types of events I’m thinking the fields will be as strong as we’ve seen in Australia. Hopefully that will get some good momentum behind the game.”
