On The Pin

15/11/2016

The build-up is well under way for the 101st Emirates Australian Open at the Royal Sydney Golf Club.

Tomorrow is pro-am day at the famous Rose Bay course with the likes of former international cricketers Ian Healy and Brian Lara, AFL players Steve Johnson, Jarrad McVeigh and Josh Kennedy, dual international Wendell Sailor and television personality Kerry-Anne Kennerley taking part in separate events from 7am and 1pm.

Entry is free for spectators.

See the pro-am draw here: http://www.ausopengolf.com/pro-am



World No. 7 Adam Scott, who heads the field along with American superstar Jordan Spieth, made his first appearance at the course today for a practice round.

Scott won the Open in 2009 at New South Wales and was runner-up last time the event was played at Royal Sydney, in 2013.

The 2010 Open champion Geoff Ogilvy said today the Australian Open rated as ''a major'' for the homecoming Australian players who compete overseas through the northern summer.

See Geoff Ogilvy's press conference and story here: http://www.ausopengolf.com/news-display/95003



Spieth, who won the Open in 2014, kickstarting his incredible 2015 season, said he was hell bent on doing the same thing this time around.

See Jordan Spieth's press conference and story here: http://www.ausopengolf.com/news-display/95006

Spieth and Ogilvy will play alongside star amateur Curtis Luck from Perth, the 2016 US amateur champion, in Thursday's opening round, teeing off at 7.10am.

For the full Thursday draw, click here: http://www.ausopengolf.com/tee-times



For those who can attend tomorrow, below is the Wednesday media conference schedule at the media centre at Royal Sydney:

11.30am: Jhonattan Vegas
12.00pm: Aaron Baddeley
12.30pm: Australia's top amateurs Curtis Luck, Harrison Endycott and Brett Coletta
1.30pm: Adam Scott



The Emirates Australian Open has been secured for Sydney by the NSW Government, through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, in partnership with Golf Australia.

The Emirates Australian Open is a flagship tournament on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia. The winner will receive a minimum of 32 Official World Golf Ranking points.

The event will be telecast all four days on Channel 7.

Tickets are on sale now from Ticketek at www.ticketek.com or by calling 132849.



The 2016 Emirates Australian Open will be played at the Royal Sydney Golf Club from Thursday through Sunday.

Website: http://www.ausopengolf.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AusOpenGolf and

Attached are the current pro-am draws during tomorrow’s Emirates Australian Open build-up.

13/10/2016

A modern who’s who of Australian golf will tee it up in the Emirates Australian Open at Royal Sydney Golf Club from November 17-20.

Aaron Baddeley, who spearheads a group of six past winners, will return to the club at which his career exploded with his victory as an amateur in 1999.

Remarkably, Baddeley, who won for the fourth time on the US PGA Tour this season, has had seven top-10 finishes at the Australian Open, but hasn’t played since 2013 as he sought to maintain his American playing rights.

“I always look forward to going back to the Australian Open,” Baddeley said.

“I have so many special memories at this event, highlighted by my win as an amateur at Royal Sydney in '99.

“There truly is nothing like coming home and playing in front of an Aussie crowd!”

Another to have won the Stonehaven Cup around the famous Rose Bay layout is ageless Queenslander John Senden, while his good mate and dual champion Greg Chalmers is also back from Texas to compete.

“The chance to compete for the national championship is something we all cherish,” said Chalmers, the 1998 and 2011 champ who also won on the US PGA Tour this season for the first time in his distinguished career.

“It’s one we’ll all be excited for, especially against such a great field that’s being built again this year.”

Senden said the host club held special memories after his 2006 victory.

“I’ll never forget winning the Aussie Open at Royal Sydney – it was a huge moment in my career and it’s something I’d love to repeat in November.”

Joining them will be another dual champion in Robert Allenby (1994, 2005) and fellow Victorians Geoff Ogilvy (2010) and Stephen Allan (2002).

Tournament director Trevor Herden said the addition of the past champions gave the field great depth and a lot of talking points.

“These guys do a great job as ambassadors of Australian golf around the world each year and it’s great to see them continue to return to support their national championship,” Herden said.

“They’re added to Scott (2009) and Spieth (2014) as other past champions in the field, so it’s building nicely and we’re eager to announce some more big names soon.”

The Emirates Australian Open is a flagship tournament on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia. The winner will receive a minimum of 32 Official World Golf Ranking points.

The event will be telecast all four days on Channel 7.

Tickets are on sale now from Ticketek at www.ticketek.com or by calling 132 849.

The 2016 Emirates Australian Open will be played at the Royal Sydney Golf Club from November 17-20.

Website: http://www.ausopengolf.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AusOpenGolf and

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AusOpenGolf

26/09/2016

Peter Thompson on the sad passing of one of the true greats of golf, Arnie Palmer.

"Arnold was the folk hero of golf.

Not only was he the greatest personality the game has produced, he was King of the fairways every time he played.

We were only two weeks apart in age and great rivals. We certainly had some wonderful times together.

The last time we played was an exhibition at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney on November 24, 2004. The occasion was the centenary of the Australian Open and Bruce Devlin joined us for the nine-hole match on the eve of the tournament.

At last year's Open Championship at St Andrews, we were rival captains in the four-hole Past Champions event and, although our team scores were the same, Arnold's team won the charity donation by being the older team of the two.

St Andrews was a fitting final place for us both to meet.

Mary and I are terribly saddened by the news of his death, and our thoughts are very much with Kit, and his daughters and their families.

Bless you always, Arnold"

24/08/2016

Aussie Curtis Luck becomes only the 3rd man from down under to win the US Amateur title.

There have been many classic US Amateur matches over the years, but nobody can recall anything similar to what Curtis Luck did today.

Jack Nicklaus won an epic final in 1959, Tiger Woods in a 38-hole shootout in 1996; but none had won eight holes in a row on the brightest stage in world amateur golf.

Until Luck.

The Perth ace turned all-square in the 36-hole final against Brad Dalke today, then watched the Oklahoman win the 19th to seemingly take the initiative.

But with dad Stuart on the bag urging him on, the 20-year-old then went on a charge they’ll speak of years around the hallowed Oakland Hills Country Club.

A perfect drive and then long approach to 7m on the par-five 2nd, his 20th hole, set up an eagle that sparked the longest run of consecutive holes won since the current match play format was adopted in 1973.

Eight holes later, the five-time West Australian state team rep had gone from 1-down to 7-up and the procession to a 6&4 victory from that point was simply a matter of time.

“I had my driver a bit more under control than I had all week here, which means lot on this course,” Luck said after becoming the second Australian – the third Australian-born – to win the Havemeyer Trophy.

“I got on the tee on the 2nd and hit a good drive and Dad said, `Now we’re on, this is it’.

“I took a step off the tee box , following behind Brad and something clicked.

“And from there, I didn’t make a whole lot of mistakes.”

That’s a very humble understatement.

On the Michigan club’s South Course Ben Hogan famously termed “The Monster” when he won the 1951 US Open at the same venue, Luck went four under par in his eight-hole stretch to put the issue beyond doubt.

“I think I started laughing walking down the fairway because I haven't heard of that, and I haven't seen it before,” Luck said of his run.

“What an amazing thing to do whilst you're out in the final of the US Amateur Championship.”

Luck, who will represent Australia at the World Amateur Team Championship next month along with Cameron Davis and Harrison Endycott, is now exempt into the 2017 Masters, US Open and Open Championship.

He will now, naturally, defer his plans to turn professional so he can take up those rare opportunities as an amateur.

“We grow up at home in Australia … and it’s a massive thing for us come over to the US, and from then on it’s the pinnacle and means everything,” Luck said of his prize.

“From 16, this is why I practise every day and work hard; the US Amateur is the championship that I’ve looked up to and thought that’s the one thing I want to have my name on.

“Obviously there’s not a lot of Aussie names on this trophy, and I’m absolutely blessed to be one of them, but I’m sure there’s many more of them down the track.

“I think that's pretty amazing to be one of those three, and I only hope that some more Aussies can get their name on the trophy because it's a great event with great players.”

New South Welshman Nick Flanagan won the US Amateur in 2003, while Walter Travis, who was born in Victoria in 1862 before moving to the United States 1886 and taking up golf as a 35-year-old and winning the 1900, 1901 and 1903 titles as an American citizen.

Remarkably, Luck (Cottelsoe) is the second West Australian in as many months to win a major USGA trophy after Min Woo Lee (Royal Fremantle) won the US Junior Amateur Championship in Tennessee in the same week that another WA rep Fred Lee (Royal Perth) reached the quarter-finals.

In between, Hannah Green (Mt Lawley) reached the quarter-finals of the Women’s US Amateur, too.

Luck paid special tribute to his family in attendance in Michigan this week.

“I’ve been very luck to be surrounded by people I know, so I felt at home and that’s not normally the case when you‘re travelling internationally. It makes a huge difference,” he said.

21/07/2016

Aussie Golf Open -

He's our Masters hero, a past Stonehaven Cup champion, a multiple winner on the 2016 US PGA Tour – and Adam Scott is coming back to the Emirates Australian Open.

Golf Australia today confirmed Scott, 36, would tee it up in the nation's most prestigious tournament from November 17-20 at Royal Sydney Golf Club.

One of Australia's all-time great players, the world No.8 has had no fewer than 15 top-10 finishes in major championships and continues to thrive with two wins in the United States already this year, including the World Golf Championship at Doral in March.

Scott is ranked third in the FedEx Cup race and, alongside compatriot Jason Day and 2014 champ Jordan Spieth, is already the third player in the world's top 10 to join the field for what promises to be a classic national championship.

“The Australian Open has always been a tournament I value highly, Sydney is a great city and I have fond memories of Royal Sydney as a great venue for championship golf,” Scott said.

“I am really looking forward to competing to win my second Stonehaven Cup in November.”

Golf Australia chief executive Stephen Pitt welcomed Scott to the field with open arms.

“Adam has been a regular at his national championship over the years and he always seems to bring his A-game,” Pitt said.

“We look forward to seeing him play again and we know that the crowds appreciate not only his golf, but the way he carries himself. He's an immensely popular figure and a great ambassador for the sport in this country.”

The Queenslander won the Emirates Australian Open at New South Wales Golf Club in 2009, eclipsing the field by five shots.

He has been incredibly close to a second Stonehaven Cup in each of the past three years, finishing fifth in 2014 and joint runner-up last year on top of a memorable last visit to Royal Sydney in 2013.

The Queenslander duelled all the way with multiple major champion Rory McIlroy, who eventually prevailed on the final green in front of a huge gallery.

NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events and Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres said Scott was always a welcome visitor.

“Adam is a local favourite and a past champion, and I can't wait to see him tee it up at Royal Sydney in November for the Australian Open,” Ayres said.

“He's already won twice on the US PGA Tour this season and will be bringing this good form to Sydney to take on Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and a host of other top local and international golfers.

“The Australian Open has been secured for Sydney by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. I encourage all sports fans to make plans to get to Sydney from 17-20 November and see this incredible line-up of players at one of Australia's top courses.”

The Emirates Australian Open is a flagship tournament on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia. The winner will receive a minimum of 32 Official World Golf Ranking points.

The event will be telecast all four days on Channel 7.

Tickets are on sale now from Ticketek at www.ticketek.com or by calling 132 849.

The 2016 Emirates Australian Open will be played at the Royal Sydney Golf Club from November 17-20.

Website: http://www.ausopengolf.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AusOpenGolf and

15/05/2016

Jason Day has continued his world #1 form taking out the Players Championship. Day finished 15 under par 4 shots clear of the field.

Day lead from start to finished and never looked like giving up his command out in front of the field.

Aussie Aussie Aussie !

05/04/2016

World Number 1 Jason Day has put his name to Australia's national junior golf program, MyGolf, with the 2015 US PGA Championship winner today announced as its official ambassador.

The eight-time US PGA Tour winner will be the face of MyGolf, boosting the growth of junior golf around Australia.

"I'm honoured to be the ambassador for the MyGolf program. Kids are the future of our sport and if my involvement can assist to bring more juniors into our game then I'm stoked to be involved," Day said.

"It's great to see Golf Australia and the PGA working together and investing in an initiative that provides a really clear entry point for junior golfers across Australia; I can't wait to meet some of our MyGolfers when I'm back home."

Visit MyGolf.org.au

PGA of Australia CEO Brian Thorburn praised Day's commitment to Australian golf at the grass-roots level.

"We're thrilled Jason has put his hand up to support MyGolf. His input will provide inspiration to junior golfers Australia-wide and to donate his time in supporting the program is a testament to the professional that he is," Thorburn said.

Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said Day's involvement would be a great spur for the program.

"Having Jason as the face of MyGolf gives the program even more validity in the golf industry and, importantly, for the kids who look up to him," Pitt said. "I'm sure he will inspire a new generation to pick up a golf club and be a part of this great initiative."

Day will feature in exclusive digital content promoting the program and play a key role in promoting MyGolf during the Australian summer of golf.

Jointly run by Golf Australia and the PGA of Australia, MyGolf has enjoyed considerable success since its relaunch in July 2014, with more than 4,700 participants registered across 450 centres nationwide during 2015/16 alone.

Junior participation is vital to the future growth of golf and the PGA and Golf Australia have collectively spent considerable time investing in a national junior brand that will have a positive impact on participation, create a new legacy for the game and assist the development of Australia's next generation of golfers.

"There is no greater priority for the PGA and Golf Australia than growing the game and seeing the positive results as juniors tee it up," Thorburn said.

The MyGolf Program is Australia's national junior program aimed at juniors 5-12 years of age.

03/04/2016

World No.1 Jason Day has put his name to Australia’s national junior golf program, MyGolf, with the 2015 US PGA Championship winner today announced as its official ambassador.

The nine-time US PGA Tour winner will be the face of MyGolf, boosting the growth of junior golf around Australia.

“I’m honoured to be the ambassador for the MyGolf program. Kids are the future of our sport and if my involvement can assist to bring more juniors into our game then I’m stoked to be involved,” Day said.

“It’s great to see Golf Australia and the PGA working together and investing in an initiative that provides a really clear entry point for junior golfers across Australia; I can’t wait to meet some of our MyGolfers when I’m back home.”

Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said Day’s involvement would be a great spur for the program.

“Having Jason as the face of MyGolf gives the program even more validity in the golf industry and, importantly, for the kids who look up to him,” Pitt said.

“I’m sure he will inspire a new generation to pick up a golf club and be a part of this great initiative.”

Day will feature in exclusive digital content promoting the program and play a key role in promoting MyGolf during the Australian summer of golf.

PGA of Australia CEO Brian Thorburn praised Day’s commitment to Australian golf at the grass-roots level.

“We’re thrilled Jason has put his hand up to support MyGolf. His input will provide inspiration to junior golfers Australia-wide and to donate his time in supporting the program is a testament to the professional that he is,” Thorburn said.

“There is no greater priority for the PGA and Golf Australia than growing the game and seeing the positive results as juniors tee it up.”

Jointly run by Golf Australia and the PGA of Australia, MyGolf has enjoyed considerable success since its relaunch in July 2014, with more than 4,700 participants registered across 450 centres nationwide during 2015/16 alone.

Junior participation is vital to the future growth of golf and the PGA and Golf Australia have collectively spent considerable time investing in a national junior brand that will have a positive impact on participation, create a new legacy for the game and assist the development of Australia’s next generation of golfers.

The MyGolf Program is Australia’s national junior program aimed at juniors 5-12 years of age.

18/03/2016

As predicted by the lads at On the Pin, the Australian Open will return to Royal Sydney this year. More information to follow.

28/02/2016

Media Release


28th February 2016

Jiyai Shin reigns supreme at RACV Ladies Masters

Korea’s Jiyai Shin shot a superb final round 4 under par 69 to win the 2016 RACV Ladies Masters at RACV Royal Pines Resort today, defeating England’s Holly Clyburn by three shots.

Shin had held the overnight lead by two shots from Clyburn and Sweden’s Camilla Lennarth, and the talented European pair piled on the early pressure. The 28year old Swede made early birdies at the 1st and 3rd holes to join Shin in the lead at 10 under par while Clyburn herself made birdies at 3rd and 6th holes to make it a three way tie at the top, before Shin broke out of the tie with a birdie herself at the 6th to edge clear again. Two more birdies at the 8th and 10th holes saw the affable Korean take a 2 shot lead, however just when Shin seemed completely in charge she would falter with bogeys at the 11th and 13th, where she drove into the water to fall back into a tie for the lead with Lennarth, who had earlier birdied the 8th hole to get to 11 under par.

Shin would bounce back with a birdie at 15 and the 16 came the killer blow when she holed from 3 metres and a comfortable three shot lead with just two holes to play after Lennarth had bogeyed the 14th hole.
The margin would prove too great for the chasing pack to overcome, and Shin would cruise to a three shot victory with a birdie at the last for a 4 under par round of 69.

The 27year old former winner of the 2013 Women’s Australian Open was obviously delighted to win in Australia for the second time. “I really wanted to win this tournament because previously I came second. I really want my photo up with the past champions. I got a lot of motivation from each. I feel really good. I want to stay here. I love coming to Australia, it really feels like home, I would love to stay here! I love the pies and some beer but please keep this a secret from my trainer! It is great to win, that means I get to come back next year”

Shin said that she had really enjoyed the newly re-designed RACV Royal Pines layout. “When I first played the course earlier in the week it gave me a really good feel. I love playing links style golf and in the wind and this course gave me a similar feel so I came into the tournament really confident. You really have to concentrate around the greens, it really has changed a lot”

Holly Clyburn birdied the last to finish alone in second place at 11 under par, while Camilla Lennarth and Nicole Broch Larsen finished in a tie for 3rd place at 10 under par.

16 year old Korean Hye Jin Choi finished as the leading amateur at 8 under par in a tie for 5th place, while 2009 RACV Ladies Masters Champion Katherine Kirk finished as the leading Australian at 1 under par in 17th place.

For final results and money click here http://alpg.com.au/tournament.php?id=4261&sec=r

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Karen Lunn
[email protected]
+61 477 021091



About ALPG

Within the Australian golf industry, Australian Ladies Professional Golf Inc. (ALPG) stands alone as the representative body responsible for its Members and the promotion of women's professional golf.

Comprising teaching and playing professionals from Australia and New Zealand, ALPG's mission is to work with stakeholders to promote women's professional golf and develop competition and business opportunities for Members through tournaments and professional development initiatives. ALPG is the official sanctioning body for female professional tournament golf in Australia.


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24/02/2016

Day wins AIS Male Athlete of the Year

Jason Day capped off a remarkable year by being named the 2015 AIS Sport Performance Awards (ASPAs) Male Athlete of the Year at a gala awards event at Star City in Sydney tonight.

The boy from Beaudesert’s extraordinary 2015 peaked with his first Major win at the 2015 USPGA Championship making him world No. 1.

Day said he was “honoured” to receive the award.

“2015 was a dream come true for me. Winning a major championship had been a dream of mine since I was 12. So taking out the PGA brought me to tears.”

Day’s 20-under in the PGA was the lowest score in a major and he was only the fifth Australian to win the prestigious tournament.

It was one of five USPGA wins for the year, and he finished in the top 10 in three of the four Majors.

He memorably finished ninth in the U.S. Open having collapsed on the course with vertigo on the second day.

The (ASPAs) recognise Australia’s leading athletes, teams, coaches and administrators by celebrating their outstanding achievements.

About 300 of Australia’s sporting personalities gathered for the second annual ASPAs.

20/02/2016

ADELAIDE, FEBRUARY 21: Australia’s new wave of elite professional golfers will help fund the future of Australian golf under a groundbreaking new program.

Golf Australia chief executive Stephen Pitt today announced the “Give Back” program, a revolutionary plan agreed by the body’s high performance staff and athletes.

“In essence, when graduates of our high performance squads reach a certain threshold in professional world rankings each year on the world’s top tours, they will put some of their earnings back into the GA high performance pot for the next generation,” Pitt said.

“We could not be prouder that our brightest young talent are effectively putting their hands into their pockets to say thanks to all those who’ve helped them achieve their professional goals.

“It says everything about them as people, not just athletes, that they’re prepared to help the next wave push through by giving them the same opportunities they received to reach their potential.”

Each player since 2015 to have been in the Golf Australia national or rookie squads has signed a commitment to be part of “Give Back”.

Once athletes reach a world rankings threshold – top 125 for men and top 50 for women – a small percentage of their prizemoney will be returned to high performance programs throughout Australia.

This money will be reinvested into helping develop the future stars of the game.

No athlete will be asked to give back for more than five years, nor more than the funds they received through the program when they were participants. There is no compulsion for players who don’t reach those benchmarks to contribute and endorsement deals aren’t taken into account.

Money will only be given back once an athlete reaches his or her sixth year as a professional. This allows athletes time to establish themselves before the commitment begins.

Of those participants since 2015, Minjee Lee has already reached the benchmark, but she won’t return any money until 2020, her sixth year as a pro.

Australian PGA champion Nathan Holman turned professional in 2014, so is eligible to give back in 2019 and, at No.176 in the world rankings, is approaching the men’s threshold.

As part of the “Give Back” culture GA is trying to create, Cameron Smith has shown his commitment by setting up a separate scholarship in his name.

The 22-year-old, tied for fourth at last year’s US Open, will give an annual $12,500 sponsorship to a player he and Golf Australia’s high performance team jointly select.

The inaugural Cameron Smith Scholarship has been given to Golf Australia national squad junior member Louis Dobbelaar.