Date: May 16, 2007
Author: Alistair Hogg

Aussies Around The World: Weekend Preview

By Alistair Hogg PGA TOUR With The Players Championship barely behind us, the AT&T Classic is about to get underway at TPC Sugarloaf. Ten Australians are in Georgia for the event including Peter Lonard, hoping to back up his solid play which saw him finish equal-sixth in Florida. The New South Welshman was in contention for the title but was unable to keep up with the pace-setters throughout the closing stages. Australians entered in the AT&C Classic at TPC Sugarloaf, Georgia Steve Allan Steven Bowditch Gavin Coles Steve Elkington Matthew Goggin Paul Gow Mark Hensby Peter Lonard Jarrod Lyle Michael Sim NATIONWIDE TOUR The Nationwide Tour resumes after a week off as 11 Aussies get set to participate in the BMW Charity Pro-Am in South Carolina. The event will be played at The Cliffs Valley, The Cliffs at Walnut Cove and The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyard courses. The &aposbetter-ball&apos competition is the only event on the Nationwide Tour schedule where amateurs and celebrities are grouped with Nationwide Tour professionals. The first six charity pro-am tournaments have raised over $4 million for local charities. Australians entered in the BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs, South Carolina Greg Chalmers Jason Day Kim Felton Nick Flanagan Scott Gardiner Bradley Hughes Matthew Jones David McKenzie Aron Price Richard Swift EUROPEAN TOUR The European Tour heads from Spain to Ireland this week as eight Australians get set to compete for the Irish Open. It is the first time Ireland has hosted a professional golf event since Europe&aposs memorable Ryder Cup triumph at the K-Club in 2006. Home nation hero Padraig Harrington leads a quality field into the event which also includes Aussie Brett Rumford who won the title ahead of the Irishman in 2004 at County Louth Golf Club. Australians entered in the Irish Open at Adare Manor and Hotel & Golf Resort, Ireland Marcus Fraser Richard Green Matthew Millar Peter O&aposMalley Wade Ormsby Terry Price Brett Rumford Andrew Tampion ASIAN TOUR Macau holds sweet memories for Australian Kane Webber as it was the scene of his maiden tour win in 2006. The rookie broke through in what was just his second Asian Tour event with a three-stroke win over compatriot Scott Barr. In fact, there were six Australians in the top seven finishers at Macau including Webber, Barr, Brad Kennedy and Terry Pilkadaris. All of Australia&aposs top performers are back in 2007 to hopefully repeat the dose of down under domination in Macau. Australians entered in the Macau Open at Macau Golf and Country Club, Virginia Scott Barr Neven Basic Shane Baxter Rowan Beste Marcus Both Mitchell Brown Tony Carolan Gavin Flint Peter Fowler Pat Giles David Gleeson Adam Groom Ashley Hall Scott Hend Brad Kennedy Troy Kennedy Jason King Adam Le Vesconte Leigh McKechnie Nathan Main Richard Moir Jarrod Moseley Unho Park Gary Simpson Scott Strange Kane Webber Michael Wright LPGA TOUR Karrie Webb spearheads a small but talented Aussie attack at the Sybase Classic in New Jersey. It won&apost be easy for the girls though as seven of this year&aposs Top-10 players will be vying for the title including defending champ Lorena Ochoa. Joining Webb is Rachel Hetherington, Wendy Doolan and up-and-comer, Katherine Hull. Australians entered in the Sybase Classic at Upper Montclair Country Club, New Jersey Wendy Doolan Rachel Hetherington Katherine Hull Karrie Webb LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR Nikki Garrett can&apost seem to put a foot wrong at the moment. The Australian broke through for her maiden LET win in Tenerife a fortnight ago and backed it up with a win in Spain last week. When it rains, it pours – and Garrett will be hoping her streak continues in Switzerland this week. Joining her at the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open will be Sarah Kemp, who carded a hole-in-one in last week&aposs Spanish Open and Cherie Byrnes who finished seventh. Australians entered in the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open at Golf gerre Losone, Switzerland Carlie Butler Cherie Byrnes Natascha Fink Nikki Garrett Leah Hart Lisa Jean Sarah Kemp Karen Lunn Joanne Mills Anna Rawson Rebecca Stevenson Bree Turnbull Shani Waugh