One-time major winner Charl Schwartzel will be desperate to prove a point this week when he lines up at the $1.75 million Perth International at Lake Karrinyup, starting on Thursday.
Schwartzel was the headline act at the inaugural Perth International two years ago, but the 2011 Masters champion flopped badly on the way to missing the cut.
The world No.24 is eager to make amends for that performance by winning this week, but he knows it will be tough in a field including rising French star Victor Dubuisson, 2006 US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy and 2013 PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner.
“It’s great to be back. I didn’t play very well in 2012 when I was here. I feel like I’ve got something to prove out here,” Schwartzel said.
“I wasn’t really happy about my performance previously.
“The memories – I try to forget when I miss cuts.
“I was talking to my caddie about it at the time, and I said, ‘I don’t think I played that badly’.
“I just had some really shocking breaks out there.
“I just remember walking off and thinking, ‘I can’t believe that I just missed the cut’.
“I’m looking forward to playing a little better this year.”
On form, Dubuisson looms as Schwartzel’s biggest threat after the world No.22 produced sizzling displays at the Ryder Cup and World Match Play Championship.
But the 24-year-old Frenchman will enter the tournament battling a major case of jetlag after arriving from France on Tuesday.
“It was a long flight – 22 hours,” Dubuisson said.
“In the morning it’s fine, but it starts to be difficult two or three in the afternoon.”
“I will just try to do my best, and if my putting is good, I can win.”
Defending champion Jin Jeong is rated a $201 outsider to win despite last year’s heroics, while Dufner is just hoping for a pain-free outing in his first competitive hit-out since succumbing to two bulging discs in his neck in August.
The Australian charge will be led by Ogilvy, Steven Bowditch, Marcus Fraser, Greg Chalmers and Brett Rumford.
Schwartzel welcomed a baby girl into the world seven months ago, and he said the experience had helped him put any golf disappointments into perspective.
“I think you get over it much quicker,” Schwartzel said.
“There she is smiling at you. She has no idea that you maybe just lost or had a bad day.”
PERTH INTERNATIONAL FACTS AND FIGURES
*Dates: October 23-26 at Lake Karrinyup Country Club
*Prize money: $US1.75million
*Co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and European Tour, with the winner earning a one-year exemption on the European Tour.
*Previous winners: Jin Jeong (2013), Bo van Pelt (2012)
*TAB odds
$11 Charl Schwartzel
$15 Victor Dubuisson
$16 Danny Willett
$17 Jason Dufner
$21 Geoff Ogilvy
$26 Edoardo Molinari
