Defending champion Joaquin Niemann has been announced as a confirmed starter for November’s ISPS Handa Australian Open in Melbourne.
Niemann, who plies his trade on the LIV Golf tour, won the 2023 event in a playoff against Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino at The Australian course in Sydney’s east.
That win earned Niemann an invitation to this year’s Masters, where he finished in a tie for 22nd.
In addition to Niemann, Aussie star Min Woo Lee will also take his place in the tournament at the Kingston Heath and Victoria golf clubs on Melbourne’s Sandbelt beginning on November 28.
“To have the opportunity to defend a title, especially a national Open, is something truly special that I am greatly looking forward to,” Niemann said.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the Australian Open experience last year and think it will be a fantastic way to end a successful year.
“Having played on the Melbourne Sandbelt previously, I can’t wait to try and go back-to-back across Kingston Heath and Victoria at this year’s tournament.”
The Chilean says he always enjoys competing in Australia, praising the country’s ability to produce talent and labelling it one of the “leaders” in world golf.
“I feel like a good golf tournament and a proper tournament has to have a great golf course, and Australia (is) always the leader in that. A great crowd, always the leader in that as well,” Niemann said.
“Golf in Australia has always been amazing and they always try to live up to the standard, but yeah, obviously you can’t say it’s a major, but if you look around, I mean you got the US Open, it’s still an Open, then you got the British Open, which obviously they are majors.
“Yes, I don’t think you can put the Australian Open as a major, but it’s one of the Opens that it has to be up there. I don’t think there is any other open in any other country that come near close to that.
“And I think it’s because the amount of good players they have because of so many good players (are) coming out from Australia and the golf and how powerful is golf in Australia, you have this amazing program from Golf Australia.
“They deliver great players. I remember being a junior golfer and always seeing Australia being the hardest team to beat. They always have a strong team, the way they look on the uniform, the coaches, they have a great system for the game of golf.”
Once again, the Australian Open will have the men, women and all abilities players all competing alongside each other.
Last year’s women’s champion Ash Buhai will also return to the tournament to defend her crown.
Buhai denied Australia’s Minjee Lee to win by a single shot at The Australian last year.
“I have a long history with Australia and have always loved visiting, and especially competing in the Australian Open which I’m thrilled is returning to the Melbourne Sandbelt,” Buhai said.
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