The ISPS HANDA Perth International tees off this week at Lake Karrinyup Country Club.
The PGA Tour of Australasia and European Tour co-sanctioned tournament has attracted a strong field to contest the title including South African Charl Schwartzel, Ryder Cup star Victor Dubuisson and five time European Tour winner Brett Rumford.
The four round tournament tees off tomorrow (23 October) with the winner to be decided on Sunday (26 October).
Groups to watch....
6.30am 10th Charl Schwartzel (RSA), Jason Dufner (USA),
Brett Rumford (AUS)
6.40am 10th Jin Jeong (KOR), Peter Uihlein (USA),
Greg Chalmers (AUS)
6.50am 10th Gregory Boudry (FRA), Marcus Fraser (AUS),
Edoardo Molinari (ITA)
11.10am 1st Victor Dubuisson (FRA), Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN),
Geoff Ogilvy (AUS)
11.20am 1st Stephen Leaney (AUS), Danny Willett (ENG),
Stephen Bowditch (AUS)
To check out all the Round 1 tee times click here.
Schwartzel has something to prove in Perth….
South African Charl Schwartzel has returned to the ISPS HANDA Perth International after missing the cut at the inaugural tournament in 2012.
“I’m very happy to be back. I feel like I've got something to prove out here. I wasn't really happy about my performance previously,” said Schwartzel.
“I don't think I played that badly; I just had some really shocking breaks out there.”
“I just remember walking off and thinking, I can't believe that I just missed the cut.”
Happy to be back in Perth on a course where he feels comfortable, Schwartzel is determined to have a better result this year.
“I feel like the golf course is one of the courses that I like. It's really challenging,” added Schwartzel.
“Normally when I come to an event and I feel like the golf course suits my game, I play well.”
“Like I say, I'm looking forward to playing a little better this year.”
Ryder Cup star enticed to Perth by TV coverage…
World Number 22 and Ryder Cup Star Victor Dubuisson is set to play the ISPS HANDA Perth International for the first time.
Having watched the tournament on TV the past two years the 24-year-old Frenchman was inspired to travel to Perth as part of his preparation for the Race to Dubai.
“Playing this tournament I think was a good thing to do,” said Dubuisson.
“I watched it on TV the last two years, and it looked to be really difficult. I saw a lot of players struggling, so I thought this could be a very good tournament to play.”
The highest ranked player in the field, Dubuisson is unfazed by his ‘favourite’ label and said he was just looking forward to playing golf.
“It's better to be one of the favourites. I don't have pressure on myself. I just play golf,” added Dubuisson.
“I will just try to do my best, and if my putting is good I can win.”
Rumford looking to turn his year around….
Brett Rumford has returned to the ISPS HANDA Perth International, the site of one of his last top-10 finishes.
Following a career year in 2013, Rumford finished outright 6th in Perth last year. Looking likely to continue his form he followed that with a T10 in his first event of the European Tour season at the Volvo Golf Champions.
Unfortunately his form wasn’t to continue - Rumford has struggled in 2014 making just nine cuts in 22 events.
“This is just the world's hardest game to play, no doubt about it. It's exhausting when you're on the wrong side of momentum,” said Rumford, who is trying to remain optimistic.
“You keep getting kicked like that, which the game does; it's really hard to maintain that optimism.”
“After you miss a cut you get a little bit down, but after a day I bounce back well. My optimism is there for the next week.”
A change of coach and playing in Perth with his brother on the bag, Rumford is hopeful this will be the turning point in his game.
“I've worked on a few things with my brother and gone back to my old coach,” added Rumford.
“The last couple of weeks I've been seeing some good signs, a little more consistency.”
“I'm hoping that can translate this week into just making a cut. It’s one step at a time.”
“I’m just trying to get a weekend under my belt, a full, competitive tournament and just continue from there.”
The ISPS HANDA Perth International is being played at Lake Karrinyup Country Club from the 23-26th October.
Played for AU$1.75million it is Australia’s richest professional golf tournament and the only one co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and the European Tour.
Tickets for the Perth International start from $22 and are available from Ticketmaster or at the gate. Children under 16 will gain free entry with a paying adult.
For general event information visit perthinternational.com and stay up to date on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/PerthInternationalGolf and Twitter - @PerthIntl. You can also find us on Instagram @PerthIntl and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvYsmBI_s6sGfVX0c9uM-DQ/feed?view_as=public
ENDS