They’re three of the hottest young golfers on the planet, they’re Aussies and they’re coming home for summer! Michael Sim, Marc Leishman and James Nitties will line up at the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola and all have one intention – to win the PGA Tour of Australasia’s season-ending event.
In a massive bonus for Aussie golf fans the aussie young guns announced that they will compete at the PGA of Australia’s flagship event to be held at the Hyatt Regency Coolum from December 10-13.
News of the talented trio’s inclusion in the field is a further boost to the event which most recently announced the inclusion of three time Major Champion Vijay Singh and defending champion, Australia’s number one golfer Geoff Ogilvy.
Twenty four year old Michael Simhas been a revelation on the world golf scene in 2009 and it’s not hard to see why. The West Australian broke just about every Nationwide Tour record on his way to gaining a ‘Battlefield Promotion’ to the USPGA Tour two months ago. In August, in just his 12th event Sim claimed his third Nationwide Tour victory for 2009 at the Christmas in October Classic and became the first player on the Nationwide Tour to top the half million dollar mark. He has held the number one place on the Money List for a record breaking six months and made history by being the first Nationwide Tour player to crack the world top 100 on May 18. To top it off Sim made his Major debut at both the US Open and USPGA Championships with the highlight partnering world number one Tiger Woods for the final round at Bethpage where he finished in 18th place.
Now ranked 66th (a year ago he was 312) the former world number one amateur, whose best result in three appearances at Coolum was a tie for third place in 2007, said he was looking forward to capping off his incredible year with a strong performance in front of a home crowd.
“I really enjoy going to Coolum, it’s a fun event and will be a great way to finish off the 2009 season,” said Sim. “I’ve had a few wins overseas this year and it would be great to close out the season with a victory on home soil so I’ll be gearing up to give it a shot and finish the year on a high note.”
Similarly, Marc Leishman has wowed the US crowds as his star rises, but typical of the boy from Warrnambool in regional Victoria, it’s all been done in his own quiet way. Winner of six tournaments in Australia the unassuming 25 year old won his USPGA Tour card via finishing in the Top 25 on the Nationwide Tour in 2009 and is widely touted to take out “US Tour Rookie of the Year” honours. Like Sim, Leishman has been paired with Woods along the way and finished second to the world number one at the BMW Championship last month. Amassing over $2 million this year Leishman, currently 44th on the US Tour Money List heads back home with the aim of winning the Kirkwood Cup to cap off a magic 2009.
“This year has been an amazing year for me and I can’t wait to get home to play in front of a home crowd and some familiar faces. The PGA Championship is in one of my favorite places in the world so what a great place to finish off the year - hopefully with a win.”
“The final event it could see everything come down to the wire and make for a really exciting conclusion to the Australasian Tour season and the Order of Merit.”
Completing the trio is 27 year old New South Welshman James Nitties. Of the three Nitties came closest to claiming the Australian PGA title when he finished runner up to Peter Lonard in 2004 in just his fourth professional appearance. He followed that with a tie for eighth place in 2006. After his form was affected by a debilitating case of reactive arthritis first diagnosed in 2005 Nitties bounced back earning his 2009 US PGA Tour card after finishing second at Qualifying School. His consistency in 2009 has seen him claim two top ten finishes and seven top 25’s and he will safely retain his card for 2010 as he currently sits in 89th place on the Money List.
With a year in the US under his belt the popular Novacastrian will head home for the summer for his fifth appearance at Coolum.
“The Australian PGA Championship holds very fond memories for me as it was like my ‘breakthrough event’ on the Australasian Tour,” said Nitties. “I finished second in 2004 which was my first season so I came close to claiming a win there. I missed last year for the first time since I turned pro because of a clash with US Tour School so it will be great to return home knowing that I have my US TOUR card for next year and that I can concentrate on putting all my energies in to making another grab at the title.”
The 2009 Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola is the final event on the Australasian Tour and OneAsia Super Series calendars for 2009. It will be played at the Hyatt Regency Coolum on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast from December 10-13.
Tickets for the 2009 Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola go on sale from October 6th . Tickets can be purchased by calling the PGA Hotline on 1800 009 499.