Reigning US PGA Champion and world number 16, Jason Dufner, has confirmed his return to Western Australia for the 2014 Perth International at Lake Karrinyup Country Club from 23 to 26 October.
Dufner won his first Major Championship last August at Oak Hill in Rochester, NY and will return to Perth after finishing second in the inaugural event in 2012.
He will be joined in the field by the charismatic and talented 24 year old Frenchman, Victor Dubuisson. Dubuisson is currently the #1 player on the European Ryder Cup Points list; #5 on the Race to Dubai Rankings and #20 in the world rankings. Dubuisson has enjoyed a terrific past year winning his maiden European Tour title in Turkey last October and reached the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February.
Dufner and Dubuisson are most likely to be rivals at the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles four weeks before the Perth International.
Commenting on his return to Perth, Jason Dufner said “I had a great time in Perth two years ago. I loved the city, the hospitality and the terrific golf course at Lake Karrinyup. I had a terrific battle to the end in 2012, closing as runner-up, and I am hoping to go one better and take home the trophy."
Dubuisson played in the World Cup in Australia last November but this will mark his first trip to Perth. “I am looking forward to my first trip to Western Australia and have heard a lot of good things about the course and the tournament. It will be an important event for me in the lead up to the Final Series and Dubai World Championship.”
The Perth International also announced that Korean born, Australian based Jin Jeong will return to defend his title and will be joined in the field by five time European Tour champion and local favourite Brett Rumford, along with Steven Bowditch who won his maiden PGA TOUR title in April at the Texas Open.
On the initial player announcements, David Rollo, Vice President-Director of Golf IMG Australia remarked, “we are delighted to see Jason and Victor commit to the 2014 Perth International and there is no doubt this year’s field will be strongest we have seen with more exciting announcements to follow. It is a validation of the outstanding support of Tourism Western Australia and we have the makings of a world class tournament this October.”
The Perth International is now in its third year and is owned and promoted by IMG. It is proudly supported by the Western Australian Government, through Tourism WA, and is the only Australian tournament to be co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia.
The Perth International is also partnered with premium brands including Crown Perth, Emirates Airlines, The West Australian, the Seven Network and Schweppes.
Lake Karrinyup Country Club is widely acknowledged as Western Australia’s premier private golf club and has been regularly rated as one of the top ten golf courses in Australia.
For general event information visit perthinternational.com and stay up to date on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/PerthInternationalGolf and Twitter - @PerthIntl.
Ticket information will be announced shortly.
Media contact:
Lauren Lofthouse, +61(0)448994380, [email protected]
Janine Pittaway, +61(0)418911796, [email protected]