ID :
94123
Thu, 12/10/2009 - 15:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/94123
The shortlink copeid
Big hopes state Australian PGA cases
(AAP) - Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy, instant millionaire Robert Allenby, drought-busting Adam Scott and the player considered most likely, Michael Sim, have put up strong cases for victory in this week's Australian PGA Championship at a revamped Coolum.
Ogilvy, Australia's highest ranked golfer, wants to prove to himself he can defend a
title.
Three-time PGA winner Allenby is still on a huge high following his play-off victory
at Sun City at the weekend.
It ended a four year wait and provided him with a payout of more than $US1 million
($A1.11 million).
For Scott, who finally shook the home soil monkey off his back in last weekend's
Australian Open, it's about keeping the momentum going into 2010 when he jumps back
on the expectation train yet again.
Sim's motivation will be to secure a shot at playing all four majors in 2010 after a
stunning year in which he was named the US Nationwide Tour's player of the year.
Scott has toughed out the past 18 months with his world ranking crashing from No.3
to No.54 as he lost his way.
"I know certainly that I have been humbled by the game this year," he said.
Since winning the 2008 Byron Nelson Classic, he went through a dark period, missing
10 cuts in 14 PGA events.
However Greg Norman's faith in selecting him to play for the Internationals in the
Presidents Cup in November turned things around.
"I guess it wasn't rock bottom," said Scott on Wednesday.
"Without being a kick in the pants, although it was a little bit, I couldn't go
there and let Greg down and the rest of the team down.
"I didn't want to just be the token captain's pick.
"I think Greg wanted me to realise I was a good player and that I had it in me.
"At the time it was the right motivation for me."
Ogilvy, Scott and Sim will play in the same grouping in the first round on Thursday
and the odds are the winner will come from that trio.
Sim, who drew much from playing the final round of this year's US Open at Bethpage
Black alongside Tiger Woods, has found a strong belief in himself and a tougher
mental approach since linking with sports psychologist Angela Pampling, whose
husband, Rod, also plays on the tour.
Sim plans to use the experience this week of playing with two of the world's best to
soak up as much knowledge as he can before embarking on his US Tour debut next year.
"I'll watch both of them play and learn as much as I can," said Sim who has become
friends with Ogilvy since setting up a base in Scotsdale, Arizona.
"Adam was my childhood idol. It will be nice to walk the ropes with him."
Ogilvy, who has taken Sim under his wing, said the 25-year-old definitely had the
talent to strike pay dirt in the US next year.
"We live five minutes apart in Scotsdale," said Ogilvy.
"We play a few rounds of golf, have a few hits of tennis and have a beer now and then.
"I'm more of a friend than a mentor.
"A tournament like the (US) Masters would on his radar, I definitely think he can
win in America.
"He played the last round of the US Open with Tiger in New York with the fans
yelling and screaming, it doesn't get much tougher than that.
"He hasn't missed a beat this year. Every time he's been challenged he's come up
trumps."
Ogilvy, Australia's highest ranked golfer, wants to prove to himself he can defend a
title.
Three-time PGA winner Allenby is still on a huge high following his play-off victory
at Sun City at the weekend.
It ended a four year wait and provided him with a payout of more than $US1 million
($A1.11 million).
For Scott, who finally shook the home soil monkey off his back in last weekend's
Australian Open, it's about keeping the momentum going into 2010 when he jumps back
on the expectation train yet again.
Sim's motivation will be to secure a shot at playing all four majors in 2010 after a
stunning year in which he was named the US Nationwide Tour's player of the year.
Scott has toughed out the past 18 months with his world ranking crashing from No.3
to No.54 as he lost his way.
"I know certainly that I have been humbled by the game this year," he said.
Since winning the 2008 Byron Nelson Classic, he went through a dark period, missing
10 cuts in 14 PGA events.
However Greg Norman's faith in selecting him to play for the Internationals in the
Presidents Cup in November turned things around.
"I guess it wasn't rock bottom," said Scott on Wednesday.
"Without being a kick in the pants, although it was a little bit, I couldn't go
there and let Greg down and the rest of the team down.
"I didn't want to just be the token captain's pick.
"I think Greg wanted me to realise I was a good player and that I had it in me.
"At the time it was the right motivation for me."
Ogilvy, Scott and Sim will play in the same grouping in the first round on Thursday
and the odds are the winner will come from that trio.
Sim, who drew much from playing the final round of this year's US Open at Bethpage
Black alongside Tiger Woods, has found a strong belief in himself and a tougher
mental approach since linking with sports psychologist Angela Pampling, whose
husband, Rod, also plays on the tour.
Sim plans to use the experience this week of playing with two of the world's best to
soak up as much knowledge as he can before embarking on his US Tour debut next year.
"I'll watch both of them play and learn as much as I can," said Sim who has become
friends with Ogilvy since setting up a base in Scotsdale, Arizona.
"Adam was my childhood idol. It will be nice to walk the ropes with him."
Ogilvy, who has taken Sim under his wing, said the 25-year-old definitely had the
talent to strike pay dirt in the US next year.
"We live five minutes apart in Scotsdale," said Ogilvy.
"We play a few rounds of golf, have a few hits of tennis and have a beer now and then.
"I'm more of a friend than a mentor.
"A tournament like the (US) Masters would on his radar, I definitely think he can
win in America.
"He played the last round of the US Open with Tiger in New York with the fans
yelling and screaming, it doesn't get much tougher than that.
"He hasn't missed a beat this year. Every time he's been challenged he's come up
trumps."
