Interesting week awaits Aussie rookies at Sony Open

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2004 Sony Open in Hawaii | Preview | 13 Jan 2004

For Australians Andre Stolz and Scott Hend, this coming week’s Sony Open in Honolulu signals the start of their careers on the USPGA Tour. Stolz earned the right to play the tour this year by finishing in 13th position on the Nationwide Tour’s money list in 2003, a year which saw him win finish second at the Clearwater Classic and then not long after win the La Salle Bank Open in June.

That followed a win in March on the Japan Golf Tour and a runner-up placing to Ernie Els at the Johnnie Walker Classic in February. A year on the Nationwide Tour has him acclimatised to the US and provided he is over a wrist injury setback he incurred at the Australian Masters, good things are expected of him this year.

Hend secured his card via the Tour School finishing 21st after having reached the final stage via Stage Two where he finished 15th. Hend has played on the Canadian Tour in recent years and occasionally on the Asian and Nationwide Tours, so this is a big step but he certainly will not suffer in terms of length on the USPGA Tour as he is exceptionally long from the tee.

Ernie Els will defend the title he won over Aaron Baddeley in a playoff last year on the Seth Raynor-designed layout. The course was initially built in 1927 although it underwent significant redesign in 1966 by Bob Baldock.

Other leading players in the Sony Open field this week are Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, Davis Love, Retief Goosen and recent winners of the event, Jerry Kelly and Paul Azinger.

Australasians entered are Steve Allan, Stuart Appleby (6th last year) Aaron Baddeley (runner up in 2003), Scott Hend, Mark Hensby, Rod Pampling, Craig Perks, John Senden, Andre Stolz, Grant Waite and Adam Scott.