Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler are a pair of Americans making a rare start in this week’s Australian PGA Championship.
Two weeks ago, the bulk of the American Presidents Cup team teed it up in Sydney for the Aussie Open. Tiger Woods was in the field for the first time in 15 years after spending the last two at the JBWere Masters.
To keep the Yanks coming, International captain Greg Norman said organizers of the Triple Crown in the Down Under need to start working on players now, as they’re setting their 2012 schedules.
‘I’ve spoken to a lot of the American players and they all love Australia and they all say they’d come back here in a heartbeat and spend a week, or more,’ said Norman, according to Sportal in Australia.
‘The younger players I’ve spoken to all love this country. They’ve loved it.’
Norman himself is returning to the Australian PGA for the first time since 2004. Speaking from his prodigal experience, Norman is aware of the salesmanship required by events to make their tournament appealing.
‘If the tournament directors approached it correctly, immediately, and didn’t wait four or five months, immediately, knowing where the dates are next year, and said guys, if you want to come back next year, we’ll do this, we’ll give you this...You’ve got to entice them somehow,’ he said.
Money, tours and accommodations all seem to work on players of all ages, but there may be historic incentive as well. An American has not won the Aussie PGA since Hale Irwin in 1978, while Brad Faxon last took the Aussie Open for the U.S. in 1993.
