Defending champion Joaquin Niemann has been introduced as a confirmed starter for November’s ISPS Handa Australian Open in Melbourne.
Niemann, who plies his commerce on the LIV Golf tour, received the 2023 occasion in a playoff towards Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino at The Australian course in Sydney’s east.
That win earned Niemann an invite to this 12 months’s Masters, the place he completed in a tie for twenty second.
Along with Niemann, Aussie star Min Woo Lee will even take his place within the event on the Kingston Heath and Victoria golf golf equipment on Melbourne’s Sandbelt starting on November 28.
“To have the chance to defend a title, particularly a nationwide Open, is one thing really particular that I’m drastically trying ahead to,” Niemann mentioned.
“I totally loved the Australian Open expertise final 12 months and suppose it will likely be a unbelievable approach to finish a profitable 12 months.
“Having performed on the Melbourne Sandbelt beforehand, I can’t wait to attempt to go back-to-back throughout Kingston Heath and Victoria at this 12 months’s event.”
The Chilean says he all the time enjoys competing in Australia, praising the nation’s capacity to supply expertise and labelling it one of many “leaders” in world golf.
“I really feel like golf event and a correct event has to have an incredible golf course, and Australia (is) all the time the chief in that. An excellent crowd, all the time the chief in that as properly,” Niemann mentioned.
“Golf in Australia has all the time been superb they usually all the time attempt to dwell as much as the usual, however yeah, clearly you’ll be able to’t say it’s a serious, however for those who go searching, I imply you bought the US Open, it’s nonetheless an Open, then you definately bought the British Open, which clearly they’re majors.
“Sure, I don’t suppose you’ll be able to put the Australian Open as a serious, however it’s one of many Opens that it must be up there. I don’t suppose there may be some other open in some other nation that come close to near that.
“And I believe it’s as a result of the quantity of fine gamers they’ve due to so many good gamers (are) popping out from Australia and the golf and the way highly effective is golf in Australia, you’ve got this superb program from Golf Australia.
“They ship nice gamers. I bear in mind being a junior golfer and all the time seeing Australia being the toughest group to beat. They all the time have a robust group, the best way they give the impression of being on the uniform, the coaches, they’ve an incredible system for the sport of golf.”
As soon as once more, the Australian Open can have the boys, girls and all talents gamers all competing alongside one another.
Final 12 months’s girls’s champion Ash Buhai will even return to the event to defend her crown.
Buhai denied Australia’s Minjee Lee to win by a single shot at The Australian final 12 months.
“I’ve an extended historical past with Australia and have all the time liked visiting, and particularly competing within the Australian Open which I’m thrilled is returning to the Melbourne Sandbelt,” Buhai mentioned.