It’s attracted only a handful of global bigwigs for its debut, but the Perth International has set its sights on significantly boosting its starpower in coming years.
Last year’s Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, world No.10 Jason Dufner, former world No.3 Paul Casey, reigning Australian Open and PGA champion Greg Chalmers and world No.24 Bo Van Pelt headline the inaugural edition of the $US2 million Perth International which began at Lake Karrinyup CC on Thursday.
But from there the talent in the field runs thin, despite the event being Australia’s richest golf tournament and co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia.
Tournament director Simon Corkill accepted the timing of the tournament made it difficult for many other top-line players to make it to Perth this year, especially amongst the top Australian contingent with so many battling to keep US PGA Tour cards.
“We would have liked a couple of the high-profile Australians to play, but the priority for them is they need to get their US tour card and we completely respect that,” Corkill said.
“They probably haven’t played as well as they would have liked this season.
“Hopefully next year they’ll be in a comfortable position and be able to come over to play.
“The tournament will certainly build from here.
“Our plan was to make a good, solid start this year, which we will, and then to make this event grow and make it bigger and bigger over the years.”
The Perth International, which is owned and run by IMG, is contracted to stay on the scene until at least 2014.
But Corkill said IMG were already eyeing off a longer-term vision for the tournament.
“We feel as if there’s the scope for an annual, world-class golf event here going forward and we hope this is the start of a very long journey,” Corkill said.
Perth last hosted a major international golf tournament in 2009, when fans flocked to see former world No.1 Greg Norman headline the Johnnie Walker Classic at The Vines.
Chalmers, who is aiming to break into the world’s top-50 by the end of the year, said Perth was a great destination for world-class players to visit and ply their trade.
“There’s a lot to be said for this city, because it’s one of the greatest, most isolated cities in the world. It’s fantastic,” Chalmers said.
“I think it’s really quite undiscovered, certainly from a tourism and golf-related point of view.
“I think it’s a great opportunity because there’s some fabulous golf courses here.”
