FOUR TO WATCH
Patrick Reed
Age: 26 From: Texas, USA Tour: US PGA Tour World ranking: 9
Story: The enigmatic Texan is well suited to the Lake Karrinyup layout thanks to his powerful driving game and right-to-left ball flight. Of course, his cavalier approach to tournament play is his primary drawing power as Reed competes in Australia for the first time. Reed captured The Barclays FedEx Cup Playoff event towards the end of last season for his fifth career win on the US PGA Tour, and has shown good form so far this year.
Alex Noren
Age: 34 From: Stockholm, SWE Tour: European Tour World ranking: 10
Story: One of the unheralded stories of 2016 was Noren’s rise from 96th in the world ranking to ninth. The Swede won four times – each one a big-ticket event on the European Tour – yet was a curious omission from the European Ryder Cup team while in peak form. Noren’s trophy haul doubled his victory tally on the circuit and, now fully fit after a nagging wrist injury, he stands to be one of the European Tour’s star players. This will be his first time competing at Lake Karrinyup.
Nicolas Colsaerts
Age: 34 From: Schaerbeek, BEL Tour: European Tour World ranking: 115
Story: The ‘Belgian Bomber’ is another whose prodigious length off the tee could potentially dismantle the Lake Karrinyup course – providing his iron play follows suit. Colsaerts is a streaky player with the skills to be destructive should he reach the matchplay portion of the tournament. He is also a former winner of the World Match Play Championship on the European Tour. At 34, the first Belgian to ever play in the Ryder Cup is poised to make ripples in world golf once more.
Curtis Luck (a)
Age: 20 From: Perth, W AUS Amateur world ranking: 2 (502nd overall)
Story: Playing via invitation, Luck will have plenty of hometown support as he competes in Perth just weeks ahead of his Masters debut at Augusta National. “Ever since the format was announced earlier in the year I had been hoping I would get the opportunity to play,” Luck said. “To play a professional tournament of this calibre in front of my friends and family is going to be something very special. But it is also a good chance for me to test my game against the world’s best and continue to fine-tune it ahead of the Masters. “I would love to win the ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth, not just so I am the first ever champion, but also so that when I do turn pro, I already have a card onto one of the biggest tours in the world.”