HAVING recently cemented their Presidents Cup roles Victoria’s Geoff Ogilvy and Robert Allenby have confirmed as starters in the 2011 JBWere Australian Masters.
They will join defending champion Stuart Appleby and World No.1 Luke Donald for the event at the Victoria Golf Club which this year has moved to December 15 – 18.
Other international guests already announced include England’s Ian Poulter and Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, the youngest ever winner on the European Tour.
The Australian Masters was pushed out of its usual November timeslot this year by the Presidents Cup and the argy bargy over which major Australian tournaments would immediately precede and follow it.
Those opportunities went to the Australian Open, on at The Lakes in Sydney from November 10 – 13, and the Australian PGA Championship on from November 24 – 27 at Coolum on the Gold Coast.
It may well prove a blessing in disguise for the Masters to now have the tournament sitting alone the week before Christmas and at the height of summer and the holiday season.
The timing has allowed the participation of the likes of Donald and Poulter and there are a number of other players of interest available and taking part.
Joining Allenby as a past Masters Champion (twice) will be Richard Green (2004), Peter Senior (1991 and 1995), Bradley Hughes (1993 and 1998), Craig Parry (1992, 1994 and 1996) and Michael Campbell (2000).
Brendan Jones – a 10 time winner on the Japan Golf Tour has also confirmed his participation. Brendan and Richard Green will represent Australia in the WGC-World Cup in China in late November.
The Masters has also always provided opportunities for the world’s best amateur golfers and this year is no exception with 2011 British Amateur Champion Bryden Macpherson (Victoria); 2011 Australian Amateur Champion Matt Stieger (NSW) and New Zealand’s #1 amateur Ben Campbell all having the opportunity to play alongside the established stars. Organisers have also extended an invitation to the 2010 Aaron Baddeley International Junior Champion, Byron Meth from the United States.
The 2011 JBWere Masters is on from December 15 – 18 at the Victoria Golf Club. Tickets are available form Tiicketek. The event will be broadcast on Channel Nine and FOX SPORTS.