LPGA Headed To Royal Melbourne In '12

For Immediate Release...:

LPGA returns to Australia at Royal Melbourne Golf Club beginning in 2012 with the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open
 
Golf Australia announces LPGA, ALPG to co-sanction US$1.1 million event
 
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA, Oct. 27, 2011 – Golf Australia, in conjunction with the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) and the ALPG (Australian Ladies Professional Golf), announced today that the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open will be added to the LPGA Tour schedule beginning in 2012. The 2012 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open will take place the week of Feb. 6-12 at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, host of the upcoming 2011 Presidents Cup, beginning a three-week LPGA swing through the Asia-Pacific region that will include stops at the Honda LPGA Thailand and the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore.
 
“All credit goes to Golf Australia for their consistent vision to bring the LPGA Tour to Australia,” said LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan. “The LPGA is delighted to partner with Golf Australia to showcase some of the greatest golfers in the world in one of the greatest locations in world – the famous Melbourne Sandbelt -- and at one of the most respected golf venues in the world – Royal Melbourne. The combination of spectacular city, top-notch venue, and terrific fans make this event a perfect start to our global spring swing. The ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open works perfectly for our 2012 LPGA Tour schedule as Australia will lead right into the Honda LPGA Thailand and HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore.”
 
The 2012 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open will be a full field event with players battling for a US$1.1 million purse in a four-day, 72-hole stroke-play competition that will be televised in the U.S. by Golf Channel and in Australia by ABC TV. In 2013, the event will be hosted by Royal Canberra Golf Club.

Comments

[Marky Mark]

Are they going to play the Composite course? Or will they be shoe-horned onto either the West or the East course?

Can't imagine the members are thrilled with sacrificing play for another stretch during the summer.

[UnderTheChin]

I guess that is another way to pad out the schedule when all your current sponsors are bailing out on you.

[Mike Clayton]

Marky Mark,

Playing the West is hardly a hardship.

[david]

The LPGA is finally beginning to get that it's only chance of survival lies increasingly outside the US... great venue indeed !

A full field event is also spendid - but I wonder how many of the lesser lights will be able to afford to travel there ?

[Del the Funk]

I'm glad to hear there is going to be a purse.

[smails]

give us a front page headline when they come back to the states

[Marky Mark]

@Mike Clayton - the East isn't a hardship either.

Playing there last year with a friend who is a member, I wanted to play the East for a change.

Not knowing that, the pro Bruce Green came over to us in the lounge before the round and said that the West was packed that day at it would be hard to slot us in. When we told him we were there to play the East, he replied "really?"

[Mike Clayton]

Marky Mark.

I was out on the East a couple of years ago with a friend.It was a perfect summer evening, and there wasn't one person out there.
Amazing for what is one of the best ten courses in the country.
It's tough competition on the other side of the clubhouse.