By John Huggan Armed with perhaps the deepest and strongest field in its proud 107-year history, the 2011 Australian Open is very definitely a big deal. But, then again, that is always the case for the home players, no matter the quality of the opposition. Outside of the four major championships, the Australian Open is the most important event of the year for any Australian, confirms defending champion Geoff Ogilvy. It’s definitely number five on my list, even if, to the wider populace, there are maybe a dozen bigger tournaments on the calendar each year. And even if some of those same tournaments might even do more for my career. But none of those have the emotional pull of your own national Open title. When I m 55 and looking back on my career, winning the Australian Open will mean a lot more to me than a victory at, say, Doral. Ogilvy s victory 12 months ago also represented his first visit to the newly renovated Lakes course. I d played the course before all the changes made by Mike Clayton, who has subsequently become my design partner, says the 2006 US Open champion. He and I obviously have very similar views on the way courses should be, so I knew I would enjoy the new experience. I loved that we had more space off the tee. Golf is much more for everyone when you don t feel constricted and can create better angles for the approach with a well-placed tee-shot. The Lakes has some really fun holes. There are a couple of short par-4s where you have some choices to make. And there are par-5s where water comes into play. Water, in fact, is used very well on the 11th, 14th and 17th. They are enjoyable holes to play. Also part of Ogilvy s big week was a feeling of readiness right from the word go. I arrived fresh and ready to go, he recalls. I d played only one event in the previous six or seven weeks the Aussie Masters where I finished in the top-ten without really making anything on the greens. And my practice had gone well. So I was pretty excited about my chances when I arrived. As it turned out, I played only six holes in practice because of the bad weather. But no one else played much more either. And, as it turned out, I never hit a shot in the wet all week once the event started. I remember struggling a bit early on in the first round. But I made a couple of good up-and-downs and got round in four under. While I m not going to say I knew I was going to win, standing on the first tee before the second round I knew I was going to be in the hunt at the end. And I played really well on Friday and Saturday; that s when I won the tournament really. Even armed with a six shot edge, the final day wasn t completely without moments of doubt for the eventual champion, however. Compatriot Matt Jones made things more than interesting down the stretch. It was all about hanging on, says Ogilvy with a slight shudder. There was some stress, even with a big lead. I felt like I had it won after the 15th hole, but final confirmation came after I had completed the 17th, the last water hole. It was a nice feeling to be on the last tee knowing it was over. It meant a lot to me to have won and that feeling hasn t gone away 12 months on. I will always cherish my victory at The Lakes last year. A
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