Even for Snake, it’s unfamiliar territory
DEFENDING champion Greg Chalmers played the old 18th green at Royal Pines Resort a total of 11 times on his way to the Australian PGA Championship last year.
But a far sterner test on the final hole awaits the Sydney-born Chalmers when he returns to the Gold Coast to defend his title from December 3-6.
Under the $10 million course re-design by Graham Marsh, the 18th has been given added bite and the green now bears little resemblance to the old flat design that has been replaced.
Last year, Chalmers, nicknamed “Snake”, played the 18th four times in regulation play, then had seven more visits in a playoff before he downed reigning champion and local hero Adam Scott and South Australian Wade Ormsby.
“I’m also really interested to see Graham Marsh’s redesign,” Chalmers said.
“After last year’s playoff, I feel like I know every inch of that 18th but from what I have heard it will be completely different this year.”
Chalmers has been given the good oil because in place of the bland original design is an entirely new challenge, not only just to get the ball close but to keep it from rolling down the steep green slopes.
Just to add more to the challenge, Marsh has installed two hidden pot bunkers at the right and left rear of the green.
“I am really looking forward to defending my title,” Chalmers said.
“It was an honour to win the championship for a second time last year and to go backto-back would be a dream.”
Chalmers is aiming to be the first player to achieve the feat since Robert Allenby in 2000 and ’01.
Allenby will also be there, trying to finally equal Aussie legend Kel Nagle’s five PGA titles, in the same year as the great passed away.
Allenby’s wins were in 2000, ’01, ’05 and ’09.
Other past winners entered for the PGA this year are Peter Senior (1989, 2003, ’10), Peter Lonard (2002, ’04, ’07), Nick O’Hern (2006) and Daniel Popovic (2012).