Perth International Puts Western Australia On The Map

With prize money of $2 million, the event will become Australia's richest and world number nine Jason Dufner is another who will appear at Lake Karrinyup.

With prize money of $2 million, the event will become Australia's richest and world number nine Jason Dufner is another who will appear at Lake Karrinyup.

"It's the biggest purse in Australia and we are pushing for more big names in the run-up to the event," spokesperson Janine Pittaway told Reuters on Friday.

"The event is supported by the tour of Western Australia and the plan is for it to become a long-term tournament for Western Australia, like the Heineken Classic and Johnnie Walker Classic."

South African Schwartzel has already won seven times on the European Tour, culminating in his stunning victory at the 2011 U.S. Masters, where he became the first player to birdie the final four holes to win at Augusta.

The 27-year-old will be bidding to emulate countrymen Gary Player, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, who are all past champions at Lake Karrinyup.

"I have always enjoyed the people and the culture (in Australia) and the great sporting rivalry between our countries in cricket and rugby," Schwartzel said in a statement.

"I am looking forward to visiting Perth and hopefully I can continue the South African success at Lake Karrinyup."

Dufner has been a model of consistency this year, the 35-year-old runner-up at the 2011 U.S. PGA Championship and boasting seven top 10 finishes this season.

"I have a real affinity for Australia and have heard a lot of great things about Perth and Western Australia," said Dufner, set to make his Ryder Cup debut next month.

"Hopefully I can continue my good play Down Under," added the American. "I am excited to have the opportunity to play in Western Australia for the first time."

The event is co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and the European Tour and the winner of the event will receive an exemption to the World Golf Championships, the HSBC Champions.

On Course for a Thrilling International Championship

Approximately $3.5million has been spent rebuilding the course since the international Johnnie Walker Classic was held at Lake Karrinyup back in 2003.  Holes have been both lengthened and shortened and every green and bunker has been rebuilt to enhance Lake Karrinyup’s world-class reputation.

Course architect and former European Tour player Mike Clayton said the quintessentially Australian golf course had its own character and would provide new challenges to players when they arrive in Perth for Australia’s richest golf event – the Perth International (18 to 21 October).

“Lake Karrinyup is a course that asks players interesting and quite obvious questions.  The answering of those questions is what makes it an enduringly interesting course to play,” Clayton said.

“The course’s character is distinguished by expansive fairways and holes that require the player to execute a wide variety of tee shots. Those with the skill to shape the ball to fit the hole, to fly it through the ever-present seaside winds and who hit to the best part of the wide fairways on their approach to the flag will earn the rewards and shoot the lowest scores.”

Course superintendent Trevor Strachan agreed the new layout would challenge the most seasoned pros in the new US$2million tournament.

“The course is now more open and the bunkering is closer to the greens. We now have a course that requires a different type of golf to be played,” Strachan said.

“The surface of the greens is harder and faster and there are more subtle undulations which I think will make it tricky for players returning to the course or experiencing it for the first time.

“Spectators will have a better experience with the new layout as well.  It’s easier to get around the course and there are some great new vantage points.

“You can see eight holes within a 500 metre walk and around the lake will be a terrific place to see a range of holes including the back of the 8th to the 11th and even the 3rd hole.  Plus there will be grandstands set up on the 12th and 17th,” Strachan said.

Strachan will lead a team of 18 grounds keeping staff plus a team of volunteers in the busy lead up to the springtime championship.

“We’ve got to get through winter and then get the grass into place for spring, turfing out the weak areas and getting presentation right.

“Coming out of winter there’s less growing time, so it’s going to be busy.”

Lake Karrinyup is widely acknowledged as Western Australia’s premier private golf club and is ranked the state’s number one course by Australian Golf Digest.  The course rebuild has ensured it will provide a world-class experience for the European Tour and Australasian Tour players when they land in Perth in October.

Tickets for the Perth International will be available from July.  For more information visit www.perthinternational.com,

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Perth to Host Australia's Richest Golf Tournament

Eventscorp today launched its 2012 events calendar, featuring a record 84 events including Australia's richest golf tournament.

The US$2 million 'Perth International,' held in October next year at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, is expected to attract some of the world's best golfers.

The Perth International is a joint initiative of Eventscorp and International Management Group (IMG) to bring another major international golf event to Perth. IMG will be the owner and promoter of the tournament, which will be sanctioned by the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia. The European Tour is currently experiencing unprecedented success and boasts the top four ranked golf players in world.

The Perth International will be the only tournament in Australia to be sanctioned by the European Tour, and is expected to generate more than 1,000 hours of television coverage around the world, which is great exposure for Western Australia.