The Plantation Course at Kapalua would never be confused for a classic Australian sand belt layout but considering the list of recent winners at the SBS Championship it’s easy to make a connection between Oz and the rolling season opener.
Geoff Ogilvy’s victory on Sunday ran the Australian record at Kapalua to five triumphs in the last seven playings, dating to Stuart Appleby’s three-peat starting in 2004. Like Ogilvy, Appleby is a product of the Victorian Institute of Sport and the area’s renowned golf courses.
“That type of course (Kapalua) is similar to what we play in Australia,” said Ogilvy’s long-time swing coach Dale Lynch. “It’s windy with a lot of undulation and we kind of bounce the ball more. Australia is a perfect training ground for that course.”
Note to self: next year’s pick for the season opener begins and ends with an Australian passport.
