Aussies’ world secrets just par for the course
TEAM Australia has taken local knowledge to a new level in its quest for World Cup glory and a $3 million payday.
Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith – favourites to win the $9 million, 28-team event – had a shadow in practice rounds on Monday and yesterSTEPHANIE day at Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne.
Leading Australian amateur David Micheluzzi, a member at Metropolitan and fresh off finishing tied for fifth at the Australian Open on Sunday, gave the pair his tips and tricks for getting around the sandbelt layout.
World No.21 Leishman, a Victorian, is no stranger to the course but said he hadn’t played it for a while.
Queenslander Smith is less familiar and said Micheluzzi’s thoughts could prove crucial in their World Cup pursuit come tomorrow’s opening round.
With $1.5 million going to each member of the winning team, Smith said every little bit helped. “It was actually quite helpful. A couple of those tee shots … knowing where to land them, it was pretty good,” Smith said.
Micheluzzi, who led the Australian Open midway through the second round, has twice shot 63 at Metropolitan in the past year.
He has been a member for four years. The 22-year-old let Smith’s coach, Grant Field, know during the year he was available for any questions. He got the call when Leishman picked Smith, over his 2016 World Cup partner Adam Scott, to fly the Aussie flag.
“I did the first 10 holes with them on Monday and eight on Tuesday,” Micheluzzi said.