The Australian Tour action moves to Kingston Heath in Melbourne this week for the Talisker Masters where Englishman Ian Poulter will defend the title he won at Victoria Golf Club in 2011. Ryder Cup hero Poulter arrives in Melbourne on the back of victory at the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in China which took him to World Number 15 on the World Rankings. He finished fourth at the BMW Masters in China the week prior in what added to his list of eight Top 10 finishes worldwide in 2012. It’s been an amazing five or six weeks with the Ryder Cup and then coming here in good spirits, Poulter said following his victory in China. As well as I&aposve played this year, it would have been a disappointment personally to have gone that year without winning, and for me and for how I played this year, it&aposs obviously a great and fantastic feeling especially after the Ryder Cup to get my hands back on a great trophy like this. I knew that if I stayed patient I d be right there at the end. It was a special day. I knew there was a good round of golf in me out there on that golf course; as we saw yesterday, if you start going low and get a number on the board then you re going to be hard to beat.” I feel confident with the putter right now. It’s so nice to get my hands on another trophy and get back in the winner s circle. By rankings, Australia&aposs Adam Scott (World Number 6) is the highest ranked player at Kingston Heath. He also comes to Melbourne on the back of a Top 10 finish in China and is hunting his maiden Masters title. Also in the mix is 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell who, despite suffering a hand injury in a mishap with a door last week, is ready to bring his ball-striking to Melbourne&aposs sandbelt. McDowell, the World Number 24, finished fifth at the Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Annes in July. He finished second at both the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard and Volvo World Match Play Champions earlier in the year. Leading the young talent stakes is National Squad member and WA Open champion Oliver Goss, fresh from his third place finish at the Asia-Pacific Amateur in Thailand. Cameron Smith and Jake Higginbottom also have starts as does Victorian Nathan Holman – a member of nearby Woodlands Golf Club. Recently turned pros Ryan McCarthy and Matt Stieger will also tee off on Thursday. Poulter, Scott and McDowell are joined in the field by past champions Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Craig Parry, Peter Senior and Brad Hughes as well as Richard Green, Peter O&aposMalley and Terry Pilkadaris. Telecast Times: Round 1 Thursday 15th November – LIVE 12.30pm – 5.30pm FOX Sports 3 Round 2 Friday 16th November – LIVE 12.30pm – 5.30pm FOX Sports 3 Round 3 Saturday 17th November – LIVE 12.30pm – 5.30pm FOX Sports 3 Round 4 Sunday 18th November – LIVE 12.30pm – 5.30pm FOX Sports 3
Author: Golf Australia