PGA quality on the rise

City Golf Club the scene for hot title field

GOLF: Defending champion Daniel Nisbet will face the toughest field yet assembled at City Golf Club when the 2020 Coca-Cola PGA Championship hits off in Toowoomba next Thursday.

Nisbet blitzed his rivals in last year’s event with a sixstroke win after finishing 24 under-par on the par-70 City layout and is eager to get his year off to a positive start with a repeat effort next week.

But with a line-up boasting the cream of Australasia’s touring pros and rising stars, the 2020 tournament is shaping as one of the most open since the tournament moved to the City club in 2009.

PGA state manager Qld,

NT/WA Broc Greenhalgh said the addition of two familiar names to this year’s 156-player field has rounded out what could be described as the best available field of players.

“Each year the challenge is to somehow outdo the previous tournament for depth of playing talent,” Greenhalgh said.

“It’s no easy task given the quality of the field drawn to this tournament each year, but somehow we believe we have again in 2020.

“We have a great cross-section from seasoned players such as Peter Lonard, plus youth.

“The scheduling this year with the PGA falling between the Vic Open and Queensland Open has really allowed us to attract the best players available.”

Nick O’Hern and Marcus Fraser – two names familiar to Australian golf fans – will make their first City Golf Club appearances in next week’s championship.

“We’re delighted to have

Nick and Marcus playing here for the first time,” Greenhalgh said.

“Nick is the only player in the world to have beaten Tiger Woods twice in matchplay.

“Marcus is an Olympian and had the honour of leading after the opening round when golf returned for the first time to the Olympics in Rio.”

Next week’s PGA action starts on Monday at City when players look to qualify for more than 50 starting spots.