2014 The Championship at Laguna National Preview: Leaderboard
BRETT RUMFORD is again defending champion on the European Tour this week but it is at a rebranded event in a different country.
The Aussie golfer eagled the first play-off hole against compatriot Marcus Fraser and Scot Pete Whiteford last year to win what was then called the Ballantines Championship but fronts this week as official defending champion at The Championship at Laguna National in Singapore.
The 36 year old said: “As far as the feelings coming into the week: no matter where it is – the China Open [last weekend] was also held in a different location – it is nice to defend.
“Obviously it is a shame that it’s not back at a course where I won, but I’ve played well around here before and I’m looking forward to it.”
Rumford admitted to still being underdone, just his second week back before the tour starts heading back to Europe.
“I’ve not played that much this year, so this is a stepping stone. It’s great to defend, but this is probably more a case of warming up and getting match practice in.
“I think it was 2007 that we last played here so it has been a while, but with the technology changes it is playing a lot shorter and the rough is not as long. I always remember this being a tough test of your driving ability; it was a driver’s golf course. The greens being so grainy and firm and fast, there was a premium on hitting the fairway.”
The other Aussie in the field with European Tour status is Wade Ormsby while Scott Hend, Matthew Griffin, Kieran Pratt, Scott Barr, Terry Pilkadaris, Unho Park, Matthew Stieger and Andrew Dodt are in thanks to Asian Tour status.
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The Championship at Laguna National Leaderboard