The new year heralds a new tournament to the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia schedule with this week’s inaugural Webex Players Series Perth at Royal Fremantle Golf Club.
Hosted by Australia’s most accomplished golfing siblings – and Royal Fremantle members – Minjee and Min Woo Lee, Webex Players Series Perth is the third event of the season in WA and the first of the mixed-field Webex events to take place in the state.
Headlining the women’s field is LPGA Tour-bound Cassie Porter, established Ladies European Tour player – and WA local – Kirsten Rudgeley, recent LPGA Tour players Robyn Choi and Su Oh, and Vic Open winner and Paris Olympian Ashley Lau.
A member of Royal Fremantle from a young age, Minjee believes the layout provides the opportunity for one of the women in the field to join Hannah Green, Sarah Jane Smith and Min A Yoon in beating the boys in a Webex Players Series event.
“It’s always fun beating the boys,” said Minjee. “Obviously they’ve gone really low and played really well to win. You still have to hit the shots and hole the putts.
“It will be nice to see where they’ve set the tees, where they’re hitting from and what kind of approaches they have in.”
The men’s field is similarly stacked, with the winners of five events this season along with local favourites Jason Scrivener, Haydn Barron, Jarryd Felton, Brett Rumford, Hayden Hopewell and Connor McKinney.
With his season to begin next week in Dubai, Min Woo won’t be teeing it up at Royal Fremantle but is getting a kick out of seeing a tournament set-up at the course he has called home from a young age.
“There’s a lot of different scenery,” said Min Woo. “There’s a grandstand and flags up, so it’s got a little special feeling to it.
“It’ll be very exciting for the players to come out here and enjoy our home course.”
Play begins on Thursday morning with the final two rounds broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo. The event has a prize fund of $250,000 and you’ll be able to follow live scores on the PGA of Australia website.
Spectators get in free, and there are numerous activations throughout the event, including golf clinics and a long drive competition. Don’t miss it!
TV COVERAGE
Webex Players Series Perth is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
Round 3: Saturday 1pm-4pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
Round 4: Sunday 11am-4pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
