Australian Golf Club will provide one of the sternest tests seen at an Emirates Australian Open in recent years, according to the man charged with setting up the course, Golf Australia’s championships director Trevor Herden.
The Australian, which last hosted the Open in 2007, has been reduced to par 70 for the tournament next month. Two of the shorter par-fives, the first and 14th holes, have been slightly shortened in length, but brought back to par-fours for the tournament, which begins on 27 November.
The course will play at 6625 metres that week, with both the first (at 430 metres) and the 14th (459 metres) playing as strong challenges at par four.
Both the par-five holes – the fifth (553 metres) and the 18th (486 metres) are difficult, with the closing hole having new fairway bunkers that demand a precise tee shot.
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy carded an 18-under total at Royal Sydney last year, but Herden said the winning score could be around 10-12 under par, depending on the weather. The Australian was remodelled by its designer, the legendary Jack Nicklaus, in 2012. Nicklaus has said the redesign is aimed at providing a “stern but fair test’’.
Australia’s top-ranked player Adam Scott and McIlroy have committed to play after their thrilling duel down the stretch at Royal Sydney last year. Scott, who had won both the Australian PGA and the Australian Masters in the lead-up giving him a chance for the so-called Triple Crown, faltered with a bogey at the last hole to lose by a shot.
Herden said par was not relevant for this year’s set-up. “I don’t think par matters. You just come up with a number. At 430 metres today, the first would be a generous par-five wouldn’t it? Then the 14th, at 459 metres they’ll get a kick off the downslope and there will be long drives down there. If it gets too tough into strong winds, we can go forward to the next tee. So (par) 70 is a realistic number, it’s a good championship test. ‘’
Along with the new par-fours there are some challenging holes, including the eighth, a par-four at 440 metres.
Herden said he expected a close finish, just as witnessed in previous years. The past three Opens have been decided by a shot, with McIlroy (2013), Peter Senior (2012) and Greg Chalmers (2011) just keeping their noses in front. “No one’s walked away with it since Geoff Ogilvy (winner by four in 2010),’’ he said. “It might well come down to the last shot on a reachable par-five, with water edging the green.’’