Geoff Ogilvy has all but committed to the 2017 Emirates Australian Open.
Ogilvy, the 2010 champion, said his success in securing his 2018 US PGA Tour card last week would enable him to plot a controlled path to The Australian Golf Club in Sydney from 23-26 November.
Preparing for the Northern Trust in New York as part of the FedEx Cup playoffs, Ogilvy told reporters his newfound safety for next season would mean he's likely to be able to skip the RSM Classic in Georgia the week before his national championship.
"I'll probably load up my schedule early so I don't go to Sea Island (RSM) just to make it to the Australian Open better," Ogilvy said.
That means Ogilvy, 40, will likely play the Shriners Open in Las Vegas and/or the OHL Classic in Mexico before heading home to chase a second Stonehaven Cup with a few days to prepare.
Ogilvy said his rise to No.116 on the FedEx standings had given him the freedom to choose.
"I'd still have played it (the Australian Open), but it would have been a compromised preparation," he said.
"It's not ideal to fly from the east coast of the US to Australia and tee it up the next day.
"It would have put a spanner in the works, for sure."
Remarkably, Ogilvy has missed the Australian Open just once since his debut as an amateur in 1995 as an 18-year-old. In 2000 he missed only because he was at USPGA Tour Q-School
In addition to his victory at The Lakes, he has another eight top-10 finishes, including a T4 result at Royal Sydney last year when he led during the final nine holes.
OGILVY AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN
2016 T4
2015 T8
2014 T71
2013 T27
2012 T23
2011 T4
2010 1
2009 T31
2008 T6
2007 T18
2006 2
2005 T30
2004 T30
2003 MC
2002 10
2001 T6
2000 DNP
1999 10
1998 T27
1997 T57*
1996 T52*
1995 T15**
* – amateur
** – low amateur