Ogilvy’s win could lure more golfers to Australia
Roar Rookie
By Michael Green, 15 Jan 2010 Michael Green is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- Geoff Ogilvy, Golf, OneAsia Tour
The whirlwind that was the short and crazy summer of Australian golf is now firmly in the past. The dust that swirled around Tiger’s group as he stalked the fairways of Kingston Heath has now firmly settled, unlike his private life.
Most people agree that the money paid to get the world number one in Australia was well spent, with the Victorian government estimating $34 million was poured into the local economy, well above the pre-tournament expectations of $19 million.
The question over whether this will stimulate the Australian golf tournaments remains. What are the incentives for more of the world’s top golfers to play golf in Australia?
The OneAsia Tour, if run correctly, will help greatly and it appears tour organisers are on the right track but Geoff Ogilvy’s win in Kapalua last weekend may do more for Australian golf in the short term.
It has taken a while, but many golf experts from across the US were asking why the Australians do so well at Kapalua and at the early season tournaments.
Australian golfers don’t really get an off-season, as most come back to play in our national tournaments. Combined with the fact that the weather in Australia is very Hawaiian, then things start to make sense.
Nick Faldo mentioned these factors during the telecast last weekend, and the Larry Dorman at the New York Times also reported similar observations.
Maybe the idea of playing in Australia to fine tune the game during the “off-season” may become more appealing to PGA Tour professionals who are looking to get the next year off to a good start.
Winning early in the season must surely take the pressure off for the rest of the year. Besides, who would want to spend Christmas in the cold anyway?
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- Geoff Ogilvy, Golf, OneAsia Tour
Justin said | January 15th 2010 @ 7:39am | Report comment
Its not a new thing for an Aussie to win the first tournie of the year. I think it has happened something like 6/7 times in the last 7/8 years.
In a nutshell the Septics just dont travel, especially for peanuts, which our tournaments offer.
His win wont change a thing IMO.