Five months out from this year’s event, there is still no official venue. Is the viability of one of the most historic golf tournaments under threat?
The viability of the Australian Open, golf’s first national championship to have men and women playing alongside each other, is under increasing pressure with no venue announced for this year’s event and a host of prestigious courses hesitant to host it.
Since announcing its first gender equity event in 2022, both the men and women have played for $1.7 million purses at the Australian Open, which requires a significant underwriting and government assistance. The rise in popularity of Greg Norman’s LIV Golf, which has signed a four-year deal with the South Australian government and had more than 90,000 fans flock to The Grange over three days in April, has also limited Golf Australia’s options as far as the search for a host state.
And the importance of the Australian Open was highlighted when Joaquin Niemann, a star on Norman’s breakaway LIV Golf, was issued a special invite to The Masters, largely on the back of his win in Sydney last year. It echoed four-time major winner Rory McIlroy’s comments on the stature of the event, which has been won by a who’s who of men’s golf: Gene Sarazen, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Norman. Karrie Webb has won the women’s event five times.
And with so many players across both genders required to play on the final day, tee times were staggered in morning and afternoon waves across the first and 10th tees.When Scott made an unlikely final day charge last year after starting his round on the back nine, production crews were forced to scramble to the other side of the course and didn’t catch up with him until the final four holes of his round, which finished hours before the last groups.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The Australian Open has a dilemma: can men and women keep playing together?Five months out from this year’s event, there is still no official venue. Is the viability of one of the most historic golf tournaments under threat?
Read more »
The Australian Open has a dilemma: can men and women keep playing together?Five months out from this year’s event, there is still no official venue. Is the viability of one of the most historic golf tournaments under threat?
Read more »
Five authentic Aboriginal food experiences to put on your Western Australian itineraryBreathtaking natural landscapes, unique flavours and connection to Country await you on these Western Australian Aboriginal food experiences
Read more »
Australian government offers five year $107m package to ban live sheep exports in 2028Agriculture minister says the ‘live sheep export industry has shown time and again that they are unable to meet the community’s expectations’
Read more »
Five things to know about the Australian economyHere are the key takeaways on the economy from the Reserve Bank’s latest monetary policy statement.
Read more »
Five things to know about the Australian economyHere are the key takeaways on the economy from the Reserve Bank’s latest monetary policy statement.
Read more »