WA Open ends western swing

BY PGA of Australia | Australasian PGA Tour | 2012 WA Open | Preview | 24 Oct 2012

International golfer Brett Rumford will headline this week’s John Hughes Geely / Nexus Risk Services WA Open Championship to be played at Royal Perth Golf Club from 25 -28 October 2012.

Rumford, a three time European Tour winner, was in town last week to play the PGA Tour of Australasia / European Tour co-sanctioned ISPS HANDA Perth International, deciding to stay on to compete this week.

“I was always going to play this, there is Singapore in a couple of weeks so I could have been preparing for that but I decided to play this week and support West Australian golf,” said Rumford.

“Obviously being around my home course was a big incentive as well.”

This will be the first time Rumford has played his State Open since 2005 when he claimed the title and is hoping that his home course advantage will help him.

“There are a lot of subtleties in the greens so I still need to play well around here, I need to drive the ball good.”

“I don’t usually play Royal Perth in the mornings, so tomorrow it should be interesting playing with an easterly wind but in saying that I’m just looking forward to getting out there and having a knock.”

“I think anyone in this field is capable of winning, if I can play anywhere near to my ability then I will give myself a good chance this week.”

After a disappointing start at the ISPS HANDA Perth International, Rumford felt his game was showing promising signs at the weekend.

“I don’t know what happened over the first couple of days last week, I didn’t seem to play that well but towards the weekend I was playing better and better.”

“But that is just golf isn’t it? You just never know, there is no difference in how hard you work from one week to the next but you just get varied results, hopefully it can come off this week”

Rumford is slated to play with 16-year-old school girl and US Girls Junior Champion Minjee Lee, who led the John Hughes Geely / Nexus Risk WA Open Championship after the first round in 2011.

“I only just heard through the grape vine that she is doing amazing things and obviously you don’t really have the ability to follow the junior scene being away in Europe for eight months of the year.”

“She played well here last year and I think she might create history being the first female golfer making the cut in an Open event, so hopefully she can do it this week.”

Having been one of the best golfers to come out of Perth in recent times, Rumford is enjoying watching the next wave of talented golfers tear up Royal Perth.

“We have always had world class players to bring the exposure to Australian golf, I think the weather and the opportunity that Australia provides it’s pretty hard not to produce quality players, particularly when you look at how active we are and how competitive we are as a nation.”

Joining Rumford in the field are a number of former champions including Rohan Blizard, Stephen Leaney and Kim Felton.

Winning the John Hughes Geely / Nexus Risk Services WA Open Championship in 2011 was the career breakthrough Blizard was looking for and is relishing the opportunity to defend his title.

“Winning made me feel like I belonged out here on Tour and that my game, when I play well is good enough to win,” said Blizard.

“I felt I had finally made the next step up after a successful amateur career.”

“I’ve played Royal Perth before, but a long time ago, from memory it was a tight golf course off the tee with small greens which should suit my game.”

The tournament is set to get underway from 6.30am on Thursday with the champion to be crowned on Sunday afternoon.

Discuss this article in our forums