Stars come out to play
Next month’s Australian Open returns to Melbourne and is set to be one of the most inclusive golf events in the world
The ISPS HANDA Australian Open is roaring back into the world spotlight this summer with a new format and the best field the event has seen in years. Australia’s best golfers – headed by world top-five ranked players and major champions in Cameron Smith and Minjee Lee – will be in Melbourne from December 1-4 as the storied men’s tournament joins with the women’s Open for the first time.
It represents the long-awaited reappearance of the men’s Open after the 2020 and 2021 editions were cancelled because of the pandemic and travel restrictions. The women’s Open, previously played in February, also was cancelled in 2021 and 2022.
But in the summer of 2022 the event creates its own history by drawing the men’s and women’s Opens together at the same venue for the first time – the first national Open in golf anywhere in the world to feature a dual-gender format with men and women playing the same courses for separate trophies.
Both men’s and women’s Opens will have equal prizemoney of $1.7 million, and the men’s event will be co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour.
It is the first time the men’s Open has been played in Melbourne since 2002, and the women’s Open has not visited the city since 2015.
The tournament, to be held at Victoria Golf Club and Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne’s sandbelt, also will be highlighted by the Australian All Abilities Championship for golfers with a disability, featuring 12 of the world’s best players. It will be the first time the Open, which dates to 1904, features an inclusive format.
This year’s event boasts a stunning field. Smith is the reigning British Open champion after the Queenslander triumphed at St Andrews in July.
He will face fierce competition from 2013 US Masters champion Adam Scott and Olympian Marc Leishman.
Lee’s rise to prominence has been spectacular since she emerged from Perth as a world class amateur in her teens.
She has won two majors – the 2021 Evian Championship in France and the 2022 US Women’s Open at Pine Needles in North Carolina.
Among her biggest rivals are 2019 women’s PGA champion Hannah Green while Australian Open five-time winner Karrie Webb will also be a popular drawcard at this year’s tournament.
Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland says, “with all our best players coming home to compete we’re super excited and we’re expecting some big crowds. We know golf fans are excited to welcome them back home.”
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This week we profile successful national radio host, Tasmanian born and bred Rohan Edwards. The Australian Film Television and Radio School educated radio star has been working in the broadcasting industry for the best part of a decade. Just some of the high-profile gigs he’s landed include working on the nationally syndicated Kyle and Jacki O and Ash London Live shows. Now, however, he’s landed his most prestigious role to date — as co-host of the hugely popular – Hot Nights with Abbie Chatfield show. Chatfield is a former reality star who rose to fame after a stint on the Bachelor. Edwards says he has no problem with Chatfield having a much bigger profile than himself and says he’s just happy to be working on air, basically being paid to indulge his love of having a chat and a bit of fun. What I love about Rohan’s story is that he has great message for young Tasmanians who aspire to work in the entertainment industry. He says he just hopes his success shows Tassie kids that with a bit of hard work and determination anything is possible and dream jobs are attainable.