Aussies aim for Open glory at Lytham

Melbourne final qualifier starts tonight!

Posted: 9 January 2012
by Bob Warters

Craig Parry - veteran challenging for an Open spot

Australian golfers have a magnificent record in the Open championship with Peter Thomson, Kel Nagle, Greg Norman and Ian Baker-Finch all previous winners, but whom, we wonder, might be the best challenger among those who take part in the Australasian International Final Qualifying for The Open at Melbourne’s Kingston Health Golf Club this week?

A field comprising 46 of the Continent’s finest, compete over two days (January 10-11) at the famous Sandbelt course for three places at this year’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes from July 15-22.

Among those bidding to beat both Aussies and Kiwis will be Melbourne-based South Korean Jin Jeong who turned pro in 2011 after becoming the first Asian to win the Amateur Championship and Silver Medal as low amateur at The 2010 Open in St Andrews.

Veterans aiming for a start at Lytham include Craig Parry - a shot out of a play-off in that infamous 1999 Open at Carnoustie - three-time Australian PGA winner Peter Senior and double Aussie Open champion Peter Lonard.

The next International Final Qualifying (IFQ) event will is at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington, South Africa, (January 18-19), followed by IFQ Asia at Amata Spring Country Club, Bangkok (March 1-2), IFQ America at Gleneagles GC, Dallas (May 21) and finally IFQ Europe at Sunningdale (25 June 25).

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Discuss this story

McStumpy

Jason Day is the one to watch this year, I think he's got "it". Adam Scott could also bag a major, but I don't fancy his long putter on a windy links.

Posted: 09/01/2012 at 20:08

McStumpy

I also think these international qualifiers are an excellent idea - they only take up a few of The Open spots, but starts the build up nicely and gives a few lesser lights to give qualifying a go without risking a fruitless, and expensive trip, to the UK

Posted: 09/01/2012 at 20:11

Yorkey

Totally agree Mcstumpy, i can see big things from Jason Day this year, feel he has the all round game to win a lot of tournaments.

Posted: 09/01/2012 at 20:24

fatshaft

It's the second week in January, there's no-one to watch yet. hard enough picking a winner the day before, never mind before we've seen we've seen who's playing well or not.

Posted: 09/01/2012 at 20:33

McStumpy

Agreed my chubbyshaftedness, but the article posed a question regarding the major credentials of a specific golf populace. Specifically, our Antipodean cousins. From that pool of golfers there are 3 golfers worthy of major consideration imho - Day, Scott and the sometimes forgotten Ogilvy. However, they face a strong challenge, and there is more chance of none of them winning a big one. However, it is my belief that Day has that indefinable X-factor. He may not win a major this year, or even next, but his time is coming.

Or, i could just be talking p*sh.......

Posted: 09/01/2012 at 21:13

Funky

no pish stumpy i totally concur,jason day will be a huge name in the game and a major or two i would think is well within his reach. this year ?maybe not but within the next four i would think.

Posted: 09/01/2012 at 23:34