Men’s Vic Open has extra incentive

THE Vic Open tees off tomorrow (Thursday, February 10), and there’s an extra incentive on offer for the top three finishers on the men’s side of the tournament at 13th Beach Golf Links.

The men’s field for the February 10-13 event includes 2006 US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy and rising star Jed Morgan, who claimed a dominant victory at last month’s Australian PGA at Royal Queensland.

Morgan, 22, was the leading amateur in seventh spot overall the last time the Vic Open was contested at 13th Beach in early 2020.

Other Australians in the field include Brad Kennedy, Dimi Papadatos, Brett Rumford, Matthew Griffin and Jake McLeod.

All will be chasing a spot at the 150th edition of the men’s British Open at St Andrews in July, with the top three finishers at the Vic Open to be rewarded with automatic starts.

The Vic Open has been included in The Open qualifying series for the first time, replacing the New Zealand Open, which was cancelled this year due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

No-one in the Vic Open field already has a guaranteed start at this year’s British Open.

The men’s and women’s Vic Opens are played concurrently at the 36-hole 13th Beach layout.

World no. 30 Hannah Green is the highest-ranked player in the women’s field, which also includes Fortinet Australian WPGA champion and LPGA star Su Oh, rookie professional Grace Kim, and rising stars Stephanie Kyriacou and Karis Davidson.

G

olf Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the Vic Open’s inclusion in The Open qualifying series was a massive opportunity for players in Australia.

“To think that it’s the 150th Open, played at the home of golf, not to mention the oldest and most famous golf tournament on the planet.

“We’re absolutely rapt that it was able to happen, albeit that we feel sympathy for our friends in New Zealand who unfortunately had to cancel their own Open.”

A minimum of 46 places in The Open are available through the qualifying series, taking in events on a number of tours around the world also including the PGA Tour, the Japan Tour and the Asian Tour.

The men and women’s field warmed up today for tomorrow’s tournament with a pro-am on both of 13th Beach’s courses.

The pros teed off alongside amateur golfers, including England cricket legends Sir Ian Botham and John Emburey, in a teams format.