Following Elvis Smylie’s stunning win in the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland, we head to Melbourne’s revered sandbelt and Kingston Heath for the time-honoured Australian Open, an event won by the likes of Sarazen and Player, Palmer and Nicklaus, Watson and Norman, McIlroy and Spieth and so many more.
Key Stats/Skill Set Required
- Putting Average
- Strokes Gained: Putting
- Scrambling
- Strokes Gained: Around The Green
- Driving Distance
- Strokes Gained: Off The Tee
- Bogey Avoidance
Kingston Heath is one of the great courses in the world. While it is not an overly long course, former winners at the venue have noted how strong form off the tee is critical to finding the right position. As with all sandbelt courses, an ability to scramble is a must. The winning score is not expected to be super low so bogey avoidance is a key number to look at.
Key Correlation Courses/Tournaments
- Alfred Dunhill Links
- Open Championship
- Scottish Open
There is absolutely no doubt that Joaquin Niemann is the best player in this field, a two-time PGA Tour and two-time LIV winner. He won this tournament in Sydney last year and followed it up with two LIV wins in Mayakoba and Jeddah. He is tremendous off the tee with distance and accuracy and is wonderful on the greens and around it, ranking Top 14 in LIV in both categories. Short but the one to beat.
It is hard not to be super impressed by David Micheluzzi, who has enjoyed a strong year on the DP World Tour and was right in contention at Royal Queensland last week before finishing T-5. Has 10 Top 22s this year and his putting has been so strong, something that will serve him incredibly well. Only concern with him is his aggression with Kingston Heath renowned for rewarding smarts over attack.
A three-time winner on the DP World Tour and a golfer who finished 3rd in the Canadian Open and 4th at the Olympic Games this year, Victor Perez was desperately unlucky in the Australian PGA Championship when on the very wrong side of the draw. Ranked 4th in three-putt avoidance and is typically a strong iron player so Kingston Heath will suit his skillset.
Dutchman Darius Van Driel is not the most consistent of players but he knows how to win, as he did in Kenya back in February. He has not won since but has four Top 21 finishes and did finish T-28 in the DP World Tour Championship.
Rising Australian youngster who has been outstanding this summer with two wins and four more Top 13 finishes. Forget his T-53 at the Australian PGA Championship – he was in the Top 10 through two rounds until a final round 76 saw him tumble down the leaderboard. He is once again a quality bet to finish inside the Top 20.
Expect plenty of money for the little-known Ryggs Johnston to be top American. He had a strong year on the PGA Tour of the Americas after turning pro and just qualified for the DP World Tour. He is on the up and a better bet than favourite Ryggs Johnston.
Four Germans tee it up this week and the value is certainly with Freddy Schott. He is a big hitter who was a touch unlucky to miss out on a Top 10 finish at Royal Queensland last week. Suspect Kingston Heath will suit him more.