The inclusion of Nicolas Colsaerts and Paul Lawrie make for five Ryder Cup stars teeing up in the Australian Open later this month in Sydney.
The pair joins an expanding European contingent striving for the famed Stonehaven Cup at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney.
Colsaerts, revered as one of the game’s most powerful ball-strikers, will join former Open Championship winner Lawrie in the field, along with a string of Aussies with multiple European Tour wins under their belt including Brett Rumford, Marcus Fraser, Richard Green and Andrew Dodt.
Both Colsaerts and Lawrie were part of the successful European team that rocked the United States in the Ryder Cup’s “Miracle at Medinah” in 2012.
And they join
So I hear you’re also playing in the 2015 Australian Open .. Nicholas Colsaerts seems to be saying to Scot Paul Lawrie. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
Lee Westwood who was a member of that winning side along with Darren Clarke who travelled to Chicago as a vice-captain.
Making up the five Ryder Cup stars is double Major winning and defending Australian Open champion Jordan Spieth.
Championship director Trevor Herden said their addition continued to bolster a great international contingent that boasts defending champion and dual 2015 major winner Jordan Spieth, former world No.1 Lee Westwood and 2011 Open Championship winner Darren Clarke.
“We’re delighted to have Nicolas and Paul join the field – it really shows the genuine international interest in the Emirates Australian Open,” Herden said.
“They’re both world-class players who have performed at the highest level, and their interest in our national championship, along with the other overseas competitors, shows the global attention the tournament generates.”
The visit will mark just the second time Colsaerts has played professionally in Australia after representing Belgium in the World Cup at Royal Melbourne in 2013.
Scotsman Lawrie, famously the 1999 Open Championship playoff victor at Carnoustie, hasn’t played in Australia since the 2005 Heineken Classic, also at Royal Melbourne.
Collectively, they have 10 European Tour victories and four top-10 finishes in major championships.
The 2015 Emirates Australian Open, the 100th staging of the national championship, will be played at The Australian Golf Club from November 26-29.
The Emirates Australian Open is a flagship tournament on the PGA Tour of Australasia. The winner will receive a minimum of 32 Official World Golf Ranking points.
