By Andrew Both
BALLARAT (Australia), February 17, 2017 (Reuters) – Australian golf is looking to revive its flagship championship to its former glory by forming partnerships with the U.S-based PGA Tour, or the fledgling Saudi backed Super Golf League.
James Sutherland, the chief executive of Golf Australia says that there are several options available for the Australian Open. It was cancelled the previous two years due to travel restrictions by the coronavirus.
The event will be held at Melbourne’s famous Sandbelt course, Victoria course.
Sutherland spoke to Reuters about the recent figures that show a 21% rise in the number of Australians golfing. She said there were pros to teaming with a foreign tour for a co sanctioned event.
He said that he had high hopes for the Australian Open, and that he would continue to support it as an event.
“If co-sanctioning is something that is conducive, then we’re really interested in that and will certainly entertain it.
“Sure, it’s great to see high-profile players, but that can also add a significant cost to the overall strategy, which is about growing golf and getting more Australians to play golf.
Sutherland stated that he had not spoken to Greg Norman, the public face for the Saudi-backed Super Golf League, which, if it is successful, could transform the game.
“I think that we all need to open up to all of the possibilities that might present from occasion to time,” he stated when asked whether Golf Australia would be interested in partnering with the WGL.
“Big picture, we want people to talk to us. But everything we do must fit into our strategy. It’s about making sure it works in Australia as a whole.
During its golden age of the 1960s, 1970s, six Australian Open titles were won by Jack Nicklaus and seven by Gary Player.
However, the field quality has suffered in recent decades due to the decline in prize money and the escalating purses of the United States.
The Women’s Australian Open on the other hand, has seen a change in direction. Since 2012, it has been co-sanctioned by the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and boasts a top-notch field.
It has also been cancelled in the past, but Sutherland said that he hoped to return next summer’s championship as a co-sanctioned competition, although it was not a done deal.
Rumours have also circulated that the women’s and men’s Opens could be held simultaneously on the same course with different tees. This format has worked well at the Vic Open. Sutherland didn’t comment on this.
Sutherland is also calling for more professional tournaments for women and to increase participation numbers at all levels. This includes dispelling the perception that the sport can be too stuffy.
While male golfers increased sharply in 2019-20, women’s participation was almost flat. Only 2% of the population over 15 was able to join a club.
Sutherland stated, “There is no short-term solution but we must start from the bottom up to attract more girls into this game.”
“It’s no secret that women and young men don’t like the game of golf. We just haven’t made the game more attractive to them than we could or should have.
(Reporting from Andrew Both in Ballarat Australia Editing by Toby Davis
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