Johnnie Walker Classic promises much
BY Bruce Young | Asian Tour | 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic | Preview | 18 Feb 2009
The Johnnie Walker returns to the Vines Resort in Perth’s Swan Valley this week and what a return it promises to be. Any event in Australia which includes Camilo Villegas, Anthony Kim, Lee Westwood, Colin Momtgomerie and Paul Casey is sure to get most people’s attention but when you add Greg Norman’s name into the mix, there is genuine cause for anticipation.
The tournament was last played at the Vines Resort in 2006 when Kevin Stadler headed off Robert Allenby, Richard Green and Nick O’Hern in a thriller. In 2009 however the tournament layout reverts to the previously used combination of the Ellenbrook and Lakes nines and for most this is the combination that provides a greater balance than the one used in 2006.
The Graham Marsh and Ross Watson designed layout was first used for tournament golf just four months after its opening in September of 1989 when Jeff Maggert won the inaugural staging of the then Vines Classic. It subsequently became home for the Heineken Classic and over the years has proven itself to be a high quality tournament venue.
Villegas arrives in Perth after a very impressive third place finish at the Buick Invitational two weeks ago. Prior to that he missed the cut in Phoenix and was 12th at the Mercedes-Benz Championship. Villegas has displayed a capacity to play well wherever he plays and his first visit to the Vines should prove of no concern to him.
Anthony Kim had a roller coaster week in Malaysia last week after being completely lost on the very grainy greens early in the week before finishing the event off strongly. If he can carry that latter form into this week he has a chance.
Lee Westwood has not played an event since Dubai but the classy Englishman was brilliant towards the end of last season and the Vines layout should suit his style of play.
Paul Casey has enjoyed a brilliant start to the season with a victory in Abu Dhabi and a 4th place finish in Dubai. He finished 11th when the event was last played at the Vines which bodes well for him in 2009 especially given the form he brings to the event.
Ian Poulter finished 6th at the Vines in 2006 but this will be the Englishman’s first event of 2009 after a strong finish to 2008.
Richard Green has put together several good finishes of late and with the knowledge that he can play well at the Vines he could contend again. He is the highest placed finisher from 2006 in this week’s field. He will face an uncertain week as he awaits an alternate place in next week’s Accenture Match Play Championship field. He is currently 65th on the list and might have to wait on Tiger Woods’ participation or otherwise to determine his fate.
The great unknown is Greg Norman but to a large extent that is what makes the 54 year old so fascinating. He has not played a ’regular tour’ event since his stunning third place at Royal Birkdale in July but that came after very little tournament golf in the preceding few months. It is unlikely that he can contend this week but with Norman it is a case of never saying never.
Despite missing the cut last week in Malaysia, Francesco Molinari has done well enough in recent weeks to improve on his share of 6th place in 2006.
Amongst the Australians other than Richard Green, Brett Rumford appears to be enjoying being back on the European Tour and back in his own backyard he could do well.
The in-form Andre Stolz is a player good enough to win this event at his best and with a win at the recent Victorian PGA Championship to boost his confidence after several years away from the game his progress will be watched with interest.
Adam Blyth just keeps getting better and better and despite a disappointing last day in Kuala Lumpur last week he might go well again.
Perhaps surprisingly there is a noticeable absence of the leading Asian players in this event tri sanctioned between the Asian, the Australasian and the European Tours. Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng are most noticeable by their absence. Marksaeng is likely preparing for next week’s Accenture but many others in that field are in Perth this week.
Last week’s winner, Anthony Kang, along with Jyoti Rhandawa, James Kamte and Wen Liang Chong are however in the field and give the Asian Tour an outside chance of taking the event.
