Big names and compelling storylines give this year’s Aussie golf majors plenty of intrigue

by Admin
November 19, 2024

Australia’s golf majors are upon us and such is the enormity of the boom across the sport since COVID, there is no more yearning for the big overseas star that the Aussie tour felt it needed for so long.

Granted, a Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy or Jordan Spieth would all be welcomed back to Australia with open arms should they choose to return and play our big tournaments again, but such is the standard of Aussie talent and general interest in the game at present, the galleries over the next fortnight will be plentiful, regardless.

It starts with the Australian PGA at Royal Queensland on Thursday — a tournament won three times by local boy Cameron Smith — before the prestigious Stonehaven Cup is up for grabs again at the Australian Open on the famed Melbourne sand-belt, the week after.

Once more, the events are European Tour-sanctioned with the Australian Open maintaining its dual-gender format which is increasing in popularity.

It means the first two rounds will be split across Victoria and Kingston Heath golf clubs before moving solely to Kingston Heath for the final two rounds, after the cuts are made.

That will make the Lee siblings, Min Woo and Minjee, a star attraction once more with organisers a certainty to place the Perth products in adjacent groups yet again which led to huge crowds around them in Sydney last year.

The female Aussie brigade will be out to end somewhat of a local sporting drought. It’s been 10 years since an Aussie woman has won the Australian Open, with the last two titles going to South Africa’s Ashley Buhai, who is unsurprisingly returning in a bid for an unprecedented hat-trick.

The men’s draw is littered with big Aussie names but there is one glaring absentee. That of Adam Scott. At 44 years of age though and having supported the Aussie summer without fail for the last 20 years, he is entitled to a break without criticism, if he feels he needs it.

Thankfully, there are plenty of star attractions to fill the void.

Here is the best of them with their storylines for the Aussie summer:

Cameron Smith

Cameron Smith is seen teeing off while playing in the pro-am ahead of the 2024 ahead of the 2024 Queensland PGA Championship at Nudgee Golf Club in Brisbane, Wednesday, October 30, 2024.(AAP: Darren England)

Still the headline act of Aussie golf, he endured a poor 2023 Down Under, missing the cut in the PGA and finishing 17th in the Australian Open. The frustration showed and it’s clear he’s out to make amends playing both the Qld PGA and NSW Open — tournaments way below his pay grade — in the lead up. That’s been an awesome act from him and after a solid LIV season, it should have the 31-year-old well prepared to contend for a fourth PGA title and first Australian Open, which he craves.

Min Woo Lee

Min Woo Lee of Australia plays a shot from the bunker on the 4th hole during Round 4 of the Australian Open 2023 at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney, Sunday, December 3, 2023.(AAP: Dan Himbrechts)

The darling of the Australian golf scene last year, the West Australian’s first year on the PGA Tour didn’t quite go to plan with only three top 10 finishes. While he made a lot of cuts and the Internationals’ Presidents Cup side, he was expected to contend for a few more trophies. Talented enough to flick the form switch, a return to the scene of his 2023 PGA triumph could easily help “The Chef” get cooking again.

Jason Day

International team member Jason Day of Australia, celebrates after defeating the United States team on the 18th hole of their second round foursome match at the Presidents Cup golf tournament at the Royal Montreal Golf Club, in Montreal, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.(The Canadian Press via AP: Christinne Muschi)

So good to have him back. Has frustrated Aussie golf fans for a long time after failing to play here since 2017. By his own admission, he could have tried harder to return over the years but he’s finally coming home after overcoming injury issues and family commitments. He does so with a strong enough game to win one of the two big Aussie trophies for the first time. Will still enjoy huge crowd support, especially in his home state of Queensland, and is desperate to make up for his long-term absence with a big summer. With that in mind, his biggest issue might be putting too much pressure on himself.

Marc Leishman

Marc Leishman reacts to his par put on the sixth hole during the second round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National, Friday, April 9, 2021, in Augusta, Ga.(AP: Curtis Compton)

Has been a world class player for over a decade but incredibly has never won a tournament on home soil. Having not played a major in two years after moving to LIV, “The Leish” is slightly removed from the spotlight now. He did rediscover some of his best form on the LIV Tour this year though with three top five finishes, and a win at home at 41 years of age is still very much possible. How popular a breakthrough winner the Warrnambool boy would be.

Lucas Herbert

Australia’s Lucas Herbert tees off on the 18th hole during the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020.(AP: Kamran Jebreili)

Along with Smith, his presence at the NSW Open last week was awesome and the big Bendigo boy made the most of it with his first win in Australia. With some handy lead-up form and a seventh-place finish in both the Aussie majors last year, he’s ready to contend in stronger fashion this year. Undoubtedly has the game, big stage composure and self-belief to do so.

Cameron Davis

Cameron Davis plays a shot during round 3 of the 2023 Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane, Saturday, November 25, 2023.(AAP: Jono Searle)

The silent assassin of Australian golf, he might lack the personality and pizzazz in his game of some of the others but he’s every bit as dangerous, if not more. Was desperately unlucky to miss the Presidents Cup team this year after winning on the PGA Tour and finishing 12th in The Masters. An Australian Open winner back in 2017, the Sydneysider is always a big threat on home soil. Every chance he’s contending in both weeks.

Joaquin Niemann

Joaquin Niemann of Chile celebrates a putt on the 16th hole during Round 4 of the Australian Open 2023 at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney, Sunday, December 3, 2023. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)(AAP: Dan Himbrechts)

The Chilean sensation is only playing the Australian Open but he does so as the defending champion and arguably the best golfer featuring Down Under this summer. Won two LIV Tour events in 2024 and finished second overall in the player standings to Jon Rahm. His ability to flight the ball low helped him win the Stonehaven Cup in the Sydney wind last year, and after playing the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne, he has experience on the sand-belt tracks.

Harry Higgs

Harry Higgs hits his tee shot at the second hole during the final round of the Canadian Open golf tournament.(Reuters: USA TODAY/Dan Hamilton)

Similar to Michael Block last year the larger-than-life American is a handy attraction for the Aussie summer and judging by his posts on X is relishing every minute. His fun-loving approach makes him a crowd favourite but make no mistake, Higgs can play, as proven by a fourth-placed finish at the 2021 US PGA Championship and 14th in the 2022 Masters. He is liable to take his shirt off should he produce something special at the Australian PGA party hole, like he did at the Phoenix Open a couple of years back.

Women’s Australian Open

Hannah Green

Hannah Green, of Australia, holds up her ball after sinking her putt on the first green during the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open golf tournament, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Jersey City, N.J.(AP Photo: Seth Wenig)

As a three-time winner on the LPGA Tour in 2024, the West Australian has moved up to number five in the world rankings, and heads home in stunning form and the best placed of the Australians to end a 10-year homegrown women’s drought at the tournament. Her majors record this year fell short of expectations but she has the perfect chance to change that in Melbourne.

Minjee Lee

Minjee Lee, of Australia, hits out of the sand on the third hole during the final round of the US Women’s Open golf tournament at Lancaster Country Club, Sunday, June 2, 2024, in Lancaster, Pa.(AP: Matt Rourke)

The softly spoken antithesis to her brash brother, Minjee failed to win on the LPGA tour this year but did have four top 10s and is still inside the world’s top 20 rankings. A two-time major winner in the last four years, you can never rule her out when the big tournaments come around and she did come second last year.

Stephanie Kyriacou

Stephanie Kyriacou during the Australian Open 2022 golf tournament at the Victoria Golf Club in Melbourne, Saturday, December 3, 2022.(AAP: Con Chronis)

At 23, she represents the next generation and while her first season on the LPGA Tour was one of adjustment, she’ll be better for the experience and knows the Aussie golf scene intimately. Can shoot the lights out on her day and would be a popular challenger for the crown after finishing fifth in 2024.

Grace Kim

Grace Kim plays a shot during the Australian PGA Golf Championships at Royal Queensland Golf Club, in Brisbane, Sunday, January 16, 2022. (AAP Image/Jono Searle)(AAP: Jono Searle)

Another young gun who had three top 10s on the LPGA Tour this year and finished seventh in the Aussie Open last year. A rapid improver who is super accurate off the tee, it wouldn’t shock at all if she makes a splash at this year’s Open.