Smith comes into Masters month after a three-week break from tournament golf following his runner-up finish in the LIV Golf event in Hong Kong where he was beaten in a playoff by Abraham Ancer.
Kiwi Kazuma Kobori’s chase for a third consecutive Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia title, a feat not achieved in almost two decades, and the appearance of a couple of women’s major golf champions will provide two of the major storylines at the Vic Open, which starts today.
Fresh off an outstanding 2023, Travis Smyth is kicking off the new year with high expectations at this week’s Vic Open where he arrives as the highest-ranked player in the men’s field.
He may not have completed the Aussie ‘majors’ double, but Min Woo Lee is still delighted with his work during the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship and ISPS Handa Australian Open.
The Australian All Abilities Championship “is like a major” for its players and tomorrow will see a final-round showdown at The Australian befitting any major championship.
The oldest competitor in the last eight, Atkins last won his national title in 2011 and it was only a round at his home course on Saturday that convinced him he was right to travel to Melbourne for a shot at another.