Perth Golf Classic Rearranges World Map
THE SUNDAY AGE
Sunday January 28, 1996
FIRST a little geography, golf style. Last week the European Tour began its season in Singapore with an event that is also part of the Australasian Tour. This week, the Australasian Tour begins at a resort near Perth with the Heineken Classic, a tournament that also belongs to Europe.
Confused? Don't be. That Australia is now part of Europe is just another consequence of the global buck-chasing that has golf tours worldwide bursting out of their continental boundaries. Golf's version of Europe now also includes Dubai, Morocco and South Africa.
Not to be left out, a few years ago the Australasian Tour went searching for some new ground itself, and now claims events such as the Singapore Open as its own. Meanwhile, a savvy golf promoter named Tony Roosenburg realised there would be more benefits for his tournament - better fields, more overseas interest - if he brought Europe to Australia.
For almost three years Roosenburg extolled the benefits of his Heineken Classic to Ken Schofield, director of the European Tour until, in April last year, his event was finally embraced by the continentals.
The benefits have been immediate. A deal between the European and Australasian Tours meant that 90 European and 60 Australasian Tour members were exempt for the Johnnie Walker Classic in Singapore. Those numbers will be reversed for the Heineken Classic.
So as well as the marquee names such as Greg Norman and Ian Woosnam, and the heavily subsidised American guest John Daly, the Heineken Classic will boast accomplished Europeans such as Anders Forsbrand, Peter Baker, Paul Broadhurst, Alexander Cejka, Andrew Coltart and Ronan Rafferty - perhaps not household names here, but as well-performed in Europe as Peter Senior, Craig Parry, Peter O'Malley and Wayne Grady have been in Australia.
In most Australian tournaments, there are perhaps a dozen possible winners. At the Heineken Classic, that number can be multiplied three times. There were 12 first-time winners in Europe last year, and most of the Europeans will be trying to make a flying start on the annual money list.
But golf fans in Melbourne will be disappointed. The best tournament in Australia will not be seen live on free-to-air television on the east coast.
© 1996 THE SUNDAY AGE
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