Coolum lures Ogilvy home for the summer
IN: News | Australasian PGA | Australian PGA Championship (2008) | General | 02 Sep 2008
Geoff Ogilvy will return home in December to play his first Australian tournament of the year at the Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship alongside the biggest names in Australian golf including Adam Scott and defending champion Peter Lonard.
To again be played at the Hyatt Regency Coolum on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast from December 4 – 7, the presence of Ogilvy, Scott and Lonard sets the wheels in motion for what promises to be yet another record-breaking year for the Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship, now well regarded as Australia’s best professional tournament.
Currently ranked as World No. 10, Ogilvy is Australia’s highest ranked player and will return to Coolum in December having last played the course in 2006 where he finished T8.
However it was a second place finish in 2001 that remains to be the native Victorian’s best result in any of the ‘big three’ on the Australasian Tour, Ogilvy confident he can go one better in this year’s tournament.
“I am looking forward to returning to Coolum and to competing in Australia’s oldest professional event. Hopefully I can add my name to the many great players listed on the Joe Kirkwood Cup,” said Ogilvy.
“Coolum always sets up for an exciting week of golf to showcase our best players and also provides a very relaxing atmosphere for family, friends and golf supporters to visit.”
Also headed to Coolum after committing to play the 2008 Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship earlier this year is Queenslander and local crowd favourite Adam Scott.
Currently ranked at world No.11, Scott will return to the Sunshine Coast in December for the third consecutive year eager to better his T6 finish in 2007.
With an impressive total of 14 international career victories to his name, including one on each of the US PGA and European Tours during 2008, a now 28 year old Scott is still yet to claim a professional title on Australian soil.
At the other end of the spectrum three time tournament winner Peter Lonard will return to defend his Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship title off the back of a whirlwind year in the US.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back to Coolum to defend my title this year,” said Lonard who at 41 years of age has already posted three top ten finishes on the PGA Tour in 2008.
“I’m injury free again and keen to keep hold of the trophy for another year.”
In further good news for Australian golf, the PGA of Australia has also confirmed an increase in the prize pool for this year’s tournament.
“On behalf of the PGA of Australia I’m pleased to announce that this year’s Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship prize pool will stand at a total of $1,500,000,” said Max Garske, CEO of the PGA of Australia.
“With the prize pool now at the highest level in the tournament’s lengthy history, we look forward to welcoming our players home in December for what promises to be yet another record breaking year.”
The 2008 Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship will tee off at the Hyatt Regency Coolum on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast from December 4 – 7 and will be televised nationally on Network 10.
Source – PGA Australia
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