GOLF:Australian Open

[Beejayville]

Re: GOLF:Australian Open Allenby set for defence TRIPLE-crown king Robert Allenby can't wait to produce some innovative and creative play after another year of "boring" target golf in the US. Allenby, who defends his Australian Open title this week, was upbeat after practising at Royal Sydney yesterday. Allenby created history last summer with his hat-trick of victories in the Open, Australian PGA Championship and Masters, a feat he says can be repeated. Allenby said it was unrealistic for the public to expect players of the calibre of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson to contest an Australian Open. "Tiger played in China last week and it would have cost $2.5 million appearance money," Allenby said. The Open field this week is one of the strongest ever. Australian golf is fantastically strong right now. We'll have close to 30 players on the US Tour next year. Players had their practice rounds interrupted when a storm hit Royal Sydney at 11am, but the course was bone dry an hour later. Young Sydney golfer Matthew Giles, 17, received the thrill of his golfing lifetime when told he had been paired with five-time Open champion Greg Norman for the opening two rounds. Giles, a product of the Jack Newton Foundation, won the world junior championship in San Diego this year. US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy will play with Aaron Baddeley and American Bob Estes, Adam Scott is paired with Stuart Appleby and Kevin Stadler, while Allenby's group includes Rod Pampling and Will MacKenzie.

[koi_saisei]

Re: GOLF:Australian Open Yeh I think the bookies have it right at the moment, its a contest between R. Allenby and Scott. Also, 11 players have managed back to back wins. Perhaps Allenby will make it a 12th.