GOLF hasn’t been played at the Olympics for over a century but now many of its leading players and governing bodies are pushing for its inclusion in 2016.

Much has changed in the sport since 77 golfers from just two countries – the USA and Canada - competed for men’s medals in individual and teams events at the 1904 Olympics in St Louis.

Golf is now played by 60 million people in nearly 120 countries  and pressure is mounting for it to be readmitted to the Ollympic fold.

Effectively, golf is now in a play-off against baseball, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens, softball and squash for inclusion.

Representatives of the International Golf Federation have formally presented their case for golf to become an Olympic sport during a meeting with the International Olympic Committee Program Commission in recent days at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Making the presentation were Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A and Joint Secretary of the IGF, and PGA TOUR executive Ty Votaw, Executive Director of the IGF Olympic Golf Committee.

Among the key points they highlighted were golf’s worldwide participation and diversity; the sport’s economic and charitable impact; and its commitment to the youth of the world. Golf, they noted, has grown significantly in these three areas and would continue to grow as an Olympic sport, thus influencing the relevance and attraction of the Olympic Games.

the current top-10 rankings for both men and women feature players from 12 different countries

Dawson said  golf was truly an international sport that continued to grow through

new initiatives being implemented all over the world to teach the game to both young and old.

“We believe the time is right for golf to be brought back to the Olympic Games,” he said.

During the presentation, the IOC Programme Commission was shown a series of short films that featured top players expressing support for golf’s bid. The films opened up with Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, the Number 1 ranked woman golfer in the world, and closed with World Number 1 ranked Tiger Woods. In between, the support of top players such as Annika Sorenstam from Sweden, Phil Mickelson from the United States, Suzanne Petterson from Norway and Vijay Singh from Fiji.

Also appearing in the films with statements of support were: Paula Creamer, United States;  Karrie Webb, Australia; K.J. Choi, South Korea; Ernie Els, South Africa; Sergio Garcia, Spain; Ryuji Imada, Japan; Anthony Kim, United States;  Camilo Villegas, Colombia; and Mike Weir, Canada.

“We felt it was critically important to show that many of the game’s biggest stars are saying supportive and positive things about golf’s bid for the Olympics,” Votaw said. “We obviously believe there is a very compelling case as to why golf should become an Olympic sport, and today was the first official step in what essentially is a year-long selection process. Peter and I took the opportunity to highlight the growth and popularity of golf, its global impact and how it would benefit the Olympic Games.”

A special element to the presentation was the presence of the actual trophy presented to Canadian George Lyon for winning the individual stroke play in 1904 in St. Louis, USA. 

Showing just how international professional golf has become, Votaw pointed out that the current top-10 rankings for both men and women feature players from 12 different countries.

Professional golf is televised every week in 216 countries, translated into 35 languages, with a reach of more than 500 million households. Also of note is that 120 players, or half of the LPGA’s membership, are from countries outside the United States. Plus, the European Tour’s “Race to Dubai” in 2009 will feature 53 tournaments in 27 countries.

While specifics of the proposed Olympic format will be based on the input of top players and outlined in the formal bid, Dawson and Votaw presented an overview of the IGF’s initial thinking, which includes 60-player fields for both men and women playing in a yet-to-be determined individual competitive format.

“We envisage the individual athlete competing for his or her country to ensure geographic balance among the players and to maximise the number of countries that can earn a medal,” Dawson explained.

Dawson and Votaw also noted the ease with which golf would fit into any of the four finalists to host the 2016 Games due to existing golf facilities in those cities – Chicago, USA; Madrid, Spain; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Tokyo, Japan. Both the host city and selection of any new sports will be determined at the 121^st IOC session, scheduled for October 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Local favorite Aaron Townsend has claimed the NSW Open by seven shots whist Michael Long has been crowned the 2008 Von Nida Tour Money List winner.  

Townsend and Long accepted their trophies at the final Von Nida Tour event held at The Vintage Golf Club in the New South Wales Hunter Valley on Sunday.

Townsend,  27, wrapped up his maiden Von Nida Tour victory with a final round three under 68 to win by seven shots from runner up Victorian Steve Jones.

Last week’s Cellarbrations NSW PGA Championship winner Tim Wood finished in third place on eight under par while Sydney’s Jamie Arnold and newly turned pro Matthew Griffin were tied fourth a further two shots back. 

For Townsend, who is now heading for the second stage of US Tour School, the win comes after he previously finished second three times, the most recent this year at the OG Roberts South Australian PGA Championship.

“I can say enough about how special this is”, said a delighted and exhausted Townsend. “My first one, to win the NSW Open is tremendous.”

“I tried not to look at the leaderboard or too much that was going on around me and just tried to think if I play well and just try to take care of what I do then it will make it hard for anyone to try to catch me so I was really happy with how I played.”

“My confidence is at a high now and that’s what you need at this time of year so its an excellent time to be flying this high!”

Townsend played an impressive tournament, establishing what was to become an unbeatable lead on Day two. He finished the second round with a five shot lead, extending that to six by the end of the third round and finished off with a seven shot buffer.

Perth based New Zealander Long clinched the 2008 Von Nida Money List Trophy by $760.00 over Townsend. The 40 year old finished the year on a high with a win at the Oceanique WA PGA Championship two weeks ago and immediately backed up with a runner up finish at last week’s Cellarbrations NSW PGA Championship, finishing on a total of $27,650.

“I’m very happy. There’s a lot great talent and great players on this Tour and it’s a great privilege to have won this trophy. It’s the first Order of Merit Trophy I have ever won!”

“It’s been a great three weeks”, said the semi retired New Zealand born WA resident. “I intend to enjoy my golf a lot more now and am enjoying the break. It’s really refreshing to be able to have a week off now, have a few drinks and then start again!”

Belmont teenager Brendan Smith finished as the leading amateur.

Final leading scores at the NSW Open at The Vintage.

1, Aaron Townsend, -17, 63, 67, 69, 68, 267

2, Steven Jones, -10, 65, 71, 70, 68, 274

3, Timothy Wood, -8, 73, 67, 68, 68, 276

T4, Jamie Arnold, -6, 62, 73, 70, 73, 278

T4, Matthew Griffin, -6, 67, 71, 71, 69, 278

6, Bradley Andrews, -5, 69, 74, 68, 68, 279

T7, Benjamin Burge, -3, 71, 68, 71, 71, 281

T7, Brad Lamb, -3, 69, 72, 68, 72, 281

T7, Peter Nolan, -3, 71, 71, 72, 67, 281

T10, Aaron Black, -2, 68, 70, 70, 74, 282

T10, Ryan Hammond, -2, 66, 72, 73, 71, 282

T10, Brendan Smith, -2, 71, 73, 67, 71, 282

T13, Michael Brennan, -1, 72, 69, 72, 70, 283

T13, Leigh McKechnie, -1, 70, 68, 73, 72, 283

T13, James Nitties, -1, 72, 70, 73, 68, 283

T13, Jason Norris, -1, 69, 72, 74, 68, 283

T13, Peter Wilson, -1, 75, 69, 69, 70, 283

T18, Matthew Ballard, E, 69, 70, 72, 73, 284

T18, Craig Scott, E, 70, 74, 69, 71, 284

T18, Tim Stewart, E, 69, 73, 71, 71, 284

T18, Michael Williams, E, 67, 74, 70, 73, 284

Geoff Ogilvy has finished in a tie for third place at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai after a two-under par 70 in his final round.
The former US Open champion had an up-and-down round with three bogeys and five birdies to finish at 13-under overall, just one stroke behind leaders Sergio Garcia and Oliver Wilson.
New world No.2 Garcia edged out his Ryder Cup team-mate in a play-off to win a thrilling rain-affected tournament.
With the win, Garcia claimed a career-high in the world rankings, while the $US833,300 (AU$1,214,397) first prize sends the 28-year-old top of the inaugural Race to Dubai.
“It feels great,” said Garcia after claiming his eighth European Tour victory.
“I am so proud, to win and become world number two, it’s been a great week.”
SAS Masters winner Peter Hanson shot a six-under-par 66 to share third place alongside Ogilvy.
Adam Scott capped off a good tournament for the Aussie contingent with a sixth-place finishing, while Andrew Bonhomme faded in his final round to finish at even-par in a tie for 31st.
Crazy Phil Mickelson could only manage a one-over par 73 in his final round to finish in a tie for eighth place at nine-under.

Wood wins NSW PGA Championship

RIVERSIDE OAKS: CATTAI, NSW, Sunday November 9: In a thrilling finish today, Victorian Tim Wood held off a late charge from Peter Senior and Michael Long to win the 2008 Cellarbrations NSW PGA Championship at Riverside Oaks.
The 27 year old Victorian took the match to the wire bogeying the final two holes to win by just a a shot over last week’s Oceanique WA PGA Championship winner Long and the evergreen Senior.
Wood, a regular on the Canadian Tour for the past two seasons claimed his maiden Von Nida Tour victory after entering the final day with a one shot lead over Long and held a two shot lead at the 16th. Both he and Long then bogeyed the 17th as Senior knocked in a 30 foot birdie putt, but the young Victorian’s lead gave him enough to come home with the win.
He finished the tournament on a total of 16 under 272, with Long and Senior in equal second place on 15 under 273.
Pymble trainee pro Brent McCullogh came home with a final round 68 to finish outright third on 11 under followed by New Zealander Brad Shilton and Newcastle’s James Nitties who sailed home with rounds of five under 67 to finish T7 on 11 under alongside Sydney’s Dean Kinney and Tristan Lambert.
Former US Tour winner Andre Stolz finished at 10 under and T11 alongside defending champion Scott Draper.
For Wood, he picked up the first prize of $15,000 and will head to The Vintage GC in the Hunter Valley to contest the season ending NSW Open starting on Thursday.

Four Aussies secure 209 US PGA Tour cards

Four Australians have secured their 2009 US PGA TOUR cards after finishing in the Top 25 on the Nationwide Tour Money List for 2008.

At the conclusion of the 2008 Nationwide Tour Championship on Sunday (US time) Jarrod Lyle, Greg Chalmers, Aron Price and Marc Leishman booked their tickets to the big show and the chance to win a prized US PGA Tour event next season.

They join Robert Allenby (11), Geoff Ogilvy (15), Stuart Appleby (22), Adam Scott (39), Mathew Goggin (40), Rod Pampling (47), Aaron Baddeley (49), Peter Lonard (66), Nick O’Hern (75), Steve Elkington (85), John Senden (86), Tim Wilkinson NZL (92) and Nathan Green (113) as members of the 2009 US PGA TOUR after the 13 players retained their cards by finishing in the Final Top 125 on the US Tour this year, taking the total number of

Australasians who are currently members of the 2009 US PGA Tour to 19.

That number is likely to increase after the Final Stage of US TOUR Qualifying School to be held from December 3-8 in La Quinta, California.

Lyle finished at the top of the list of Australasians in 4th place after winning twice on the Nationwide Tour this season, followed by Greg Chalmers (8th), Aron Price (18) and Marc Leishman (19), all who tasted victory as the Aussies tallied up their most successful season yet with seven wins in total.

Also, winners on the Tour this season were Ewan Porter (41) and Gavin Coles (48) who finished in the Top 60 on the Money List and who have retained their Nationwide Tour cards for 2009, as has Won Joon Lee who finished 50th.

Villegas & Poulter to add flair and flamboyance to 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic

Perth, Western Australia; Tuesday, November 11, 2008; World number seven Camilo Villegas and Ian Poulter, ranked 25, will add a touch of flair and flamboyance to the 2009 JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC in Perth, Western Australia when Asia Pacific’s premier luxury golf event tees off  February 19 to 22 at The Vines Resort & Country Club.

Colombia’s Villegas, one of the most exciting young talents in the game today whose swashbuckling style has grabbed the attention of the golfing world in 2008, and Poulter, well known for his flamboyant dress sense both on and off the course, will line up alongside Englishmen Lee Westwood and Paul Casey as well as Australia’s Great White Shark, Greg Norman.

“The 2009 JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC field is shaping up to be one of the strongest and most colourful  we have ever had in the 19-year history of this prestigious tournament,” commented David Gates, Global Brand Director for JOHNNIE WALKER.

“With Villegas and Poulter joining a host of truly international golfing stars from the top echelons of the European, Asian and Australasian Tours, the action on the course in Perth is guaranteed to be highly competitive and extremely exciting. Combine this with the wonderful backdrop of Western Australia and the fantastic off-course entertainment that JOHNNIE WALKER traditionally organizes and we are in for another spectacular JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC.”

Western Australia Tourism Minister Dr Liz Constable said the strong field would be welcomed by Perth’s golf enthusiasts.

“The JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC has always been a favourite with locals and visitors alike and I’m sure, with the line-up set for 2009, it will be more popular than ever before,” Dr Constable said.

Over the past 18 years  the JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC has been played in eight different countries and 13 different golf clubs around the Asia Pacific region including China in 2005 and earlier this year, for the first time, India.

Golf legends and young guns at NSW Open

Monday, November 10. Anticipation is mounting as Australia’s golf legends and rising stars descend upon The Vintage and the Hunter Valley for the 2008 NSW Open starting Thursday.

The NSW Open is the final Von Nida Tour event for 2008 and will see the 2008 Von Nida Tour winner announced on Sunday afternoon.  

Golf legend and Seniors Order of Merit leader Rodger Davis will be arriving tonight and will be joined at The Vintage by Bob Shearer on Tuesday morning.  Rounding out the “Young Guns” entering the field and participating in The Open are 15 year old amateur qualifier Jake Higginbotton and Eisenhower Cup team members Rohan Blizard, Tim Stewart and Matthew Griffin.

Other legends participating in NSW Open week at The Vintage are World Golf Hall of Fame member Kel Nagle and 1991 British Open winner Ian Baker-Finch,

They, along with renowned Australian golfers Billy Dunk and Jack Newton will be joining other former NSW Open champions including Shearer, Davis, Terry Price and defending champion Jason Norris on Wednesday for the inaugural Legends Luncheon in the Vintage Members Lounge. 

Friday14th November will be the NSW Open Championship Gala and will feature the Team Challenge Pro-Am. Draw. The Team Challenge Pro-Am. is a Pebble Beach-style pro-am that is run alongside the Open. This year’s Team. Challenge Pro-Am. will be held during the final two rounds of the NSW Open – on Saturday and Sunday, 15 – 16 November. 

Featured amateurs for the Team Challenge Pro-Am. are legendary tennis professional John Newcombe and former Wallabies star Matt Burke.  Rod McGeoch will be the host and emcee for the special evening of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres under the stars.

Events NSW Proud Sponsor of NSW Open.

FIFTY FOUR year old former New Zealand PGA Champion Stuart Reese gave tournament golf away for 16 years after losing all feel and confidence in his golf swing.

“I couldn’t even hit balls in front of my members, I was just too embarrassed,” the Club Peninsula Professional (NZ) says.

Now he has fought back with an opening round of six under par to lead the Greater Building Society Australian Masters Invitational at Emerald Lakes Golf Club.

The New Zealander took advantage of the pristine conditions to be three shots clear of his nearest competitors.
Reese has been battling his way back by making some dramatic mechanical and attitudinal changes to his game.

But he still doesn’t have full confidence in the adjustments yet after folding late last week in the Australian Senior Open.
Reese has showed some great form this week at Emerald Lakes Golf Club after winning the Sponsor Pro Am. His opening round on Thursday consisted of six birdies and no bogies. The senior professional said: “I didn’t play great but I’m happy with the score.”
Hardly a breath of wind was evident all day but despite the perfect scoring conditions some of the greatest names in Australian golf were finding that the Emerald lakes layout was proving a little more demanding than many had initially thought it might.

The overnight rain had made the course just a club or two longer and the scores were reflecting a more demanding layout than had been the case earlier in the week.
Local golfer Neil Wall shot a solid opening round in the morning of three under par 69 and was soon joined by three other players in Terry Price, Sydney club professional Greg Hohnen and Brisbane based professional Allan Cooper, to leave them trailing Reese by three.

While not officially a senior golfer, Price was granted a special invite to this event to assist in bolstering the strength of the field and took full advantage.
Price had an eagle, four birdies and three bogies and despite his score he self admittedly indicated was not at his best. He headed for the practice fairway looking to find the form the he feels he needs to stay on top of his older rivals this week. “There are several important weeks coming up and I need to get my game back in shape,” he added as he began to beat balls in the heat of the afternoon.
Price has now lost status on the European Tour after two years struggling with a leg broken in a bizarre accident in England. He has struggled to return to the level of fitness he needs to contend at the level he once did on a regular basis.
Wall on the other hand is a player who only turned professional at the age of 50 and six years later is beginning to record some very impressive performances in senior tour events in Queensland and elsewhere.

He recently won the Queensland Senior Open at Nudgee. Wall had done two years of a traineeship with Merv Ulhmann at the Oxley Golf Club in Brisbane before giving it away.

“They were long hours and the pay was only $12 a week and I decided to do other things. I wanted to turn professional again a little later in life but family commitments precluded that. At the age of 50 I decided it was now or never and have really enjoyed it since.”
Wall’s round consisted of five birdies and two bogies and he was quick to thank the people at Emerald Lakes for allowing him to practice there on a regular basis with his good friend Brian Jones in the lead up to the event.
Fifty-one-year-old Hohnen is the club professional at Killara Golf Club in Sydney’s north where he has been for the last 35 years. Hohnen played the Australasian Tour on occasions earlier in his career but on turning 50 he has begun to play more including ten or so senior tour events in 2008.

“The management at Killara have encouraged me to play events and I am really enjoying doing so. It was a very solid ball striking day, I think I hit 15 greens and was really happy with the way I played generally.”
Tournament drawcard Ian Baker-Finch opened with a round of even par.

“I am playing really nicely when I trust it but every once in a while I lose focus and don’t turn properly and a bad one comes out of nowhere normally a hybrid or a long iron,” said Baker-Finch after his round.

“The nice thing about it is that while I want to play well it is not as important as it once was if I don’t. The course played a little longer today with the overnight rain but the greens were great but my golf not so. “My goal was to shoot three 69’s which I thought would have been a good score so now I have to shoot something pretty low if I am to have a chance.”

(Original source material courtesy PGA of Australia)

New South Wales golfer Sylvia Donohoe has won her fifth Australian Women’s Senior Amateur Championship in convincing fashion at the Ulverstone Golf Club in Tasmania.

After two tough previous matches where she was taken to the 18th hole, Donohoe defeated Liz Smyth from the ACT 4/3.

Donohoe went into the back 9 two up after playing the front nine in even par, including an eagle on the par 5 six hole, after lipping out for albatross.

Donohoe’s finished the 15 holes at 1 over par.

Never one to show much emotion, Donohoe was thrilled with her win and shared the experience with her caddie Pat, and husband Graeme.

After the win she said: “I was focused today and I feel like I am getting better with age! The course was fantastic, you had to place your shots – you couldn’t just belt away”, she said.

Donohoe represented NSW six times in her younger days, but has never won the Australian Amateur Championship or the NSW Amateur Championship.

In the Flight Matches for the respective age divisions, NSW’s Annette Baggie defeated Dorothy Retschlag from Qld 4/2 after qualifying in the number one position in the New Age Flight.

The Veterans Flight was a close encounter between Carmel Smith from Qld and Lyn Hancock from WA, with Smith prevailing in the end 1 up.

In the Super Veterans Flight, Joyce Smith from Victoria had a comfortable win over Wendy Beattie from Qld 6/5. With this being Smith’s 21st year attending the Championship, it will be one she will certainly remember.

Smith adds this victory to her 44 years straight as Club Champion at her home club in Victoria, Mt Alexander.

Full Results

(Original Source: Courtesy Golf Australia)

Leading caddie Steve Williams has revealed some fascinating insights into his current boss Tiger Woods compared to former boss and friend Greg Norman.

In an interview with Peter Stone, published on smh.com.au, Williams says Norman was as good a player as Woods and could have been equal to the best of what Tiger has done. But his fatal flaw was in dwelling on bad shots and not being able to get over them. Tiger, on the other hand he says, explodes but then “plays a miraculous shot straight afterwards”.

“I certainly wouldn’t have got to where I am today without caddying for Greg, because I learned an awful lot,” Williams told Stone. “Greg had a great understanding of the mechanics of the golf swing. He didn’t require a lot of coaching, and it was great working with him. But Greg had his faults. His greatest weakness was his inability to shake off a bad shot, or something he didn’t like. He just couldn’t get over it.”

Woods lets his fury hang out and erupts and it is said he is the most fined player on the US PGA Tour for swearing and club abuse. That every shot he plays is scrutinised to the nth degree and televised makes him an easy target for golfing officials.

“The thing a lot of people don’t like about Tiger is his temperament is obviously not ideal, but he has that knack of being able to get over it very quickly,” Williams told the Herald.

“He likes to take the frustration out and get on with the job. Call it controlled aggression. Tiger lets it all hang out, and plays a miraculous shot straight afterwards.

“That was something Greg could never do. He’d dwell on it. That was his downfall. Greg didn’t have the personality type of Tiger. If he did, I think he would have been equal to the best of what Tiger has done. In my eyes, Greg was certainly as good a player as Tiger.”

See the full Peter Stone interview here.

Five times major winner Seve Ballesteros has been diagnosed with a brain tumour after undergoing tests at a Madrid hospital.

“I inform you that after an exhaustive check that was realised at Hospital La Paz, a brain tumour has been detected,” the 51-year-old Spanish golf legend said in a statement issued by the hospital.

“During my career I was one of the best at getting around obstacles on golf courses. Now I want to be the best at confronting the most difficult match of my life with all my strength.”

Agence France-Presse reported Ballesteros will undergo a biopsy on Tuesday and then doctors will decide on a course of treatment.

He collapsed unconscious on Monday and was taken to the hospital where he remained in intensive care while doctors conducted tests.

Hospital officials released a statement on Friday confirming the Spaniard had suffered “a partial epileptic fit” but said he had left intensive care and was in “a stable condition.”

Ballesteros won the British Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988 and became the first European to win the Augusta Masters in 1980, a title he repeated in 1983.

He was an influential figure in the Ryder Cup, winning 20 points from 37 matches and captaining Europe to victory in 1997.

He collected 87 titles before knee and back problems forced him to retire last year.

Known for his flamboyant and imaginative style of play, he won one of his three British Open titles by playing a shot from a temporary parking lot.

Ballesteros recovering after surgery

(Posted 17/10/2008)

SEVE Ballesteros is reported to be in a stable condition after undergoing 12 hours of surgery to remove a brain tumour.

Doctors, who were scheduled only to perform a biopsy, took the decision to operate on the flamboyant Spanish golfer at Madrid’s La Paz hospital because of the seriousness of the situation. The operation was said have been “satisfactory”.

Jim Furyk hugs Justin Leonard after defeating Spain’s Miquel Angel Jimenez to secure the Ryder Cup for the US after three successive European victories.

The United States have won The Ryder Cup for the first time since 1999, ending a run of three successive victories for Europe.

Jim Furyk secured the winning point, defeating Miguel Angel Jiménez on the 17th green to take the US total to an insurmountable 14 ½ points.

Victory in the top singles match by Anthony Kim over Sergio Garcia set the tone for the day at the Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky.

While Paul Casey secured a battling half with Hunter Mahan and Robert Karlsson and Justin Rose both delivered for Europe, defeating Justin Leonard and Phil Mickelson, the next four matches all went to the US.

The two home town Kentuckians played their part, Kenny Perry getting the better of Henrik Stenson 3 & 2 and J B Holmes holding off Soren Hansen 2&1. Boo Weekley was also sensational in beating Oliver Wilson 4&2.

The end came when Furyk safely parred the 17th hole after Jiménez failed a 25 foot birdie chance that would have extended the the match for another hole.

The maximum men’s golf handicap has now increased to 36.4 under changes announced by Golf Australia. A number of other measures come into force as of September 1, including new provisions cracking down on players suspected of “manipulating” their handicaps.

Golf Australia says one of the positive outcomes of the new handicap ceiling will be that players whose golf diminishes over time due to age will be better encouraged to remain actively engaged in competitions and club life.

Beginners will also be better encouraged to become actively engaged in golf and club life and the new handicap level is also in line with US and European systems.

Another new provision will help players who may be recovering from injuries or illness and will allow for an immediate manual adjustment of their handicaps.

For full details of the the new provisions see our previous story of the announcement:

Men’s handicap increase…but golf cheats beware

THE PGA OF AUSTRALIA has released its 2008 end of year Australasian Tour Tournament Schedule.

The schedule features eight events in eight weeks from October to December culminating in the ‘Big Three’ - the Australian Masters, Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship and Australian Open closing out the year in style.

The Von Nida Tour (VNT) ‘End of Year Swing’ commences in October at the WA Open and kick starts a month of golf crossing three states and finishing with The Vintage NSW Open, where Victorian Andrew Bonhomme last year clinched the VNT Money List Title by a mere $158 from Jason Norris.

The PGA will introduce televised highlights packages for the Von Nida Tour for the first time this year which will be broadcast on Fox Sports, home of the PGA Golf Show and selected regional television networks.

The WA Open returns to the Order of Merit schedule for the first time since 1988, and the Vintage NSW Open will offer record prize money of $125,000.

The PGA Tour’s National Order of Merit recommences in Shanghai with the prestigious HSBC Champions Tournament from 6 to 9 November. The HSBC Champions was last year won by Phil Mickelson and boasts an array of winners from around the globe competing for a US$5 million prize fund - making it the richest event in Asia-Pacific. The HSBC Champions field will include winners from Australia and abroad in addition to our leading players from the Order of Merit and Von Nida Tour.

The Tour then returns to Huntingdale Golf Club for the Australian Masters from 27 to 30 November. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the Australian Masters is a highlight on the Australian sporting calendar and boasts past champions like Greg Norman, Peter Senior, Michael Campbell, Robert Allenby, Peter Lonard, and, following a dramatic play-off last year, Aaron Baddeley. Baddeley’s heart stopping win on the fourth play-off hole against Daniel Chopra last year heralded his return to the winners circle at home for the first time since he claimed his second successive Australian Open title in 2000.

The Tour next heads to the Sunshine Coast for Australia’s oldest professional tournament and the PGA Professional’s own event - the Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship to be held at the Hyatt Regency Coolum from 4 to 7 December. Last year perennial crowd favourite Peter Lonard held off a classy field of world ranked players to capture the Kirkwood Cup for a third time in front of a record final day crowd of 15,850.

Eager for a glimpse of the year’s strongest field, the four-day crowds at Coolum broke all tournament records for the second successive year and this year promises to again generate a field dripping with local and international talent.

The 2008 season will culminate with the 93rd Australian Open at Royal Sydney Golf Club from 11 to 14 December. The Australian Open will be headlined by Adam Scott (OWGR 3) and Geoff Ogilvy (OWGR 4) with defending champion Craig Parry expected to provide a spirited defence of the Stonehaven Cup. In 2007, Parry held off US star Brandt Snedeker and Aussies Nick O’Hern and Won Joon Lee to claim his first Open title and his third PGA Tour Order of Merit title.

This will bring down the curtain on a year in which the PGA has presented 13 events across Australia on its National Order of Merit and Von Nida Tour with prize money in excess of $14 million.

Releasing the schedule on Thursday, Max Garske, Chief Executive, PGA of Australia said:

“The PGA’s 2008 Summer Schedule will provide an opportunity for golf fans across the country to experience professional golf first hand in a variety of locations. Our flagship events will showcase our world beating home grown talent and determine who will win our Order of Merit 2008. We welcome our members home for summer and thank them for their loyalty and commitment to Australian golf.”

“Last year we experienced record crowds and increased television ratings across the board along with some of the strongest tournament fields in Australia for some time. The upcoming summer promises to again deliver world class golf for the sporting public and I commend Ben Sellenger and our Tour Division team for their work with the event owners and promoters to finalise this strong schedule.”

2008 PGA TOUR TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Oct 23-26, WA Open, Cottlesloe GC, WA, $110,000, Fox Sports (delayed highlights)

Oct 30-Nov 2, WA PGA, The Cut GC, WA, $110,000, Fox Sports (delayed highlights)

Nov 6-9, NSW PGA, Riverside Oaks, NSW, $100,000, Fox Sports (delayed highlights)

Nov 6-9, HSBC Champions, Sheshan Int’l GC, Shanghai, $US5,000,000, Fox Sports

Nov 13-16, The Vintage NSW Open, The Vintage GC, Hunter Valley, $125,000, Fox Sports (delayed highlights)

Nov 27-30, Australian Masters, Huntingdale GC, VIC, $1,500,000, Seven Network

Dec 4-7, Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship, Hyatt Regency Coolum, QLD, $1,400,000, Network TEN

Dec 11-14, Australian Open, The Royal Sydney GC, $1,650,000 (min) , Seven Network