Appleby set for MasterCard Masters
BY iseekgolf.com | Australasian PGA Tour | 2004 MasterCard Masters | General | 10 Nov 2004
Stuart Appleby has confirmed he will be gunning for a first MasterCard Masters title at Huntingdale next month. Appleby, ranked in the world’s top 20, will have plenty of support from his hometown fans in Melbourne when the event takes place from December 9-12.
The Victorian has been prominent in the US in recent times and started this season in fine fashion with victory at the Mercedes Championships in Hawaii in January beating Vijay Singh by a stroke. This followed a win last October at the Las Vegas Invitational after a playoff with Scott McCarron. In fact, during a six-month period over late 2003 and early 2004, Appleby won twice, finished second three times and third on one occasion over an 11-tournament span in the US.
Appleby experienced possibly the finest moment in his career so far in late 2001 wining the Australian Open in Queensland. He produced a magnificent final round 65 at The Grand to beat Scott Laycock. The following year, Appleby carved out another notable closing 65 – this time at the British Open – in a bold attempt to capture his first major title. However, he fell out of the tense playoff with eventual winner Ernie Els, Thomas Levet and Steve Elkington on the fourth and final hole to tie for second.
Appleby joins a field at Huntingdale that already includes Australian No. 1 Adam Scott, defending champion Robert Allenby, 2002 MasterCard Masters winner Peter Lonard, and former three-time winner Craig Parry.
Source – IMG
