Day, Leishman and Smith confirm to play 2019 Australian Open in Sydney
Three of the biggest names in Australian golf will contest the 2019 Emirates Australian Open.
Australians Jason Day, Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith have all confirmed as starters for the 2019 Australian Open to be held at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney, December 5-8.
It’s great news for a tournament that has lacked star power over the past few years and had trouble enticing some of Australia’s best golfers to come and play.
Jason Day’s confirmation is a welcome and interesting one.
It means he’s foregoing a start in Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge on the same week in The Bahamas.
The event will most likely feature many of the American golfers who will play in the Presidents Cup in Melbourne the week after, making travel across the globe a tight schedule. Not to mention limited preparation at Royal Melbourne.
(We still don’t know why Woods has that event scheduled for that particular week given the week before is clear from any golf tournaments).
Day’s appearance also lends more weight to being one of Ernie Els’ captain’s picks for the International Presidents Cup team. The top eight automatic selections in the Presidents Cup teams were finalized earlier this week. Day finished ninth.
There will be more big name announcements to come in the coming weeks but for Australian golf it’s great to have these three guys playing in front of Australian golf fans.
The full press release:
Fresh from runs into the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs, Jason Day, Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith will each attempt to win their first Stonehaven Cup in Sydney from 5-8 December.
“This is great news for golf fans around the country,” Golf Australia chief executive Stephen Pitt said.
“All three players are really popular with Aussie crowds and continue to achieve so much when representing us on the PGA Tour and in events around the world.
“It’s fantastic that they have committed to playing in front of their home crowds in what promises to be a deeply talented Australian Open this year.
“We’re really excited about the field that’s being assembled and will announce more big names in coming weeks.”
The Open returns to The Australian Golf Club for a record 21st time – and the Aussie trio can’t wait for their shot at history.
“It’s the tournament we all grew up watching and I’ve said before that I want to win a few of them, so there’s no better time to start than December,” Day said.
“I nearly got one at The Australian a couple of years ago and it’s a course that really sets up well for me.”
Leishman, who with Smith almost won the World Cup for Australia last year, always looks forward to playing in front of enthusiastic fans.
“It will be great to have the big crowds supporting us again. I know all the guys are dead keen to win the Aussie Open, so we’re all pumped to get back to Sydney.”
Smith, the dual and reigning Australian PGA champion has been 10th, fourth and runner-up the past three years, so is hell bent on taking that next step this year.
“I’ve been really close and it’s something I would love to win,” Smith said.
“I know it’s going to be a great field, plus it’s a great rush playing in front of your home crowd.”
New South Wales Minister for Tourism, Stuart Ayres said the Open was the perfect event to once again showcase Sydney as home to some of the country’s most prestigious sporting events.
“New South Wales plays host to some of Australia’s most spectacular golf courses, so it goes without saying that our top talent are always thrilled to tee off in our picturesque city,” Mr Ayres said.
“Major sporting events such as this play a huge role in boosting tourism our state’s tourism. With tickets on sale next week, I encourage everyone to get in early and plan their stays and look forward to seeing all the fans show up in droves to welcome our players back home.”
The Emirates Australian Open is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
The Emirates Australian Open is a flagship tournament on the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia. The winner will receive a minimum of 32 Official World Golf Ranking points.
