#VicOpen on the world stage, says Ogilvy

The ISPS Handa Vic Open enters a new era from Thursday and Geoff Ogilvy, one of the most thoughtful players in the game, says the tournament will capture the imagination of the world.

Six years ago, when Golf Victoria chose to bring the dual male / female event to the 13th beach on the Bellarine Peninsula, it was a contagious regional event with a unique format that made a difference worth only $ 300,000 in prize money.

That handful of years it is worth 10 times more for a combined amount of $ 3 million, and for the first time is also approved by the European Tour (men) and the LPGA Tour for women. Live broadcasts on ABC and Fox Sports (as well as the Golf Channel in North America and Sky in Europe and Asia) is another big bonus added in 2019.

Ogilvy, who plays his home state Open for the first time since he was the best amateur in 1998, says that it is the formula that caused growth: the same prize money, the duel men's and women's tournaments, the lack of a border ropes next to the fairways and greens.

"The Vic Open is a relevant tournament in the world this week," he said today. "People are being noticed because of the same prize money and the LPGA and the boys 'and girls' thing, which is a big problem, and we would have the same effect if it was the Australian Open."

Ogilvy did not play the event from 1998 until this year because he was on tour in the US, but he jumped into the opportunity now that he and his family have moved to Melbourne, now a part-time golfer and with a strong interest. in course architecture that he strives for.

"These two real golf tournaments played the same thing at the same time … like the Australian Open tennis is a bit, as if it were logical, right? You need 36 holes, I think," he said. "So I want to be part of that. Equal prices on both sides, spectators on the fairways, you come to this rural-like – not rural, but rural relative to Melbourne communities – which always embraced tournaments. Always are the big locations in smaller communities because everyone jumps in and everyone volunteers.

"You usually feel like a tournament is good, because people come back, the boys come back to the locker room the following week or the weekend, and everyone has just been praised for that in the last four or five years." If you get the chance, it's a great tournament, Vic Open's amazing, Vic Open's great. That's all you've heard in the locker room.

"So I wanted … I'm glad I had a chance and I would never miss that chance if I was here to do, so I think hopefully it's going to be a pretty good trend with some of the things they do. # 39; & # 39;

Ogilvy, one of Australia's best players with a big championship and three World Golf Championship titles to prove it, said Golf Australia (and formerly, Golf Victoria) was "ticking every box" with the tournament on 13th beach. "They just have a quality event and the field gets better every year because everyone leaves and says it's a great tournament."

He said that an Australian Open with both male and female titles that would run simultaneously would also work in February. "I think you can easily perform them now, for sure, and this is a bigger tournament than the Australian Open for a long time, maybe not in prestige, but in every other factor, every other measure, so it can work so clearly."

Ogilvy is one of the bigger names to participate this year, but Karrie Webb is also here, and Perth's Minjee Lee, the world number 7 and now the best player in Australia at just 22 years old. Lucas Herbert, one of Australia's best young male players, is in the field and looking for his first title at home.

Webb, who brings her back to the 13th beach after a period of two years, was pleased to make the commitment, especially now that she spends more time in Australia.

"I think we all here in Australia have known how great this event is since the idea of equal prize money for men and women," she said. "And the way it's done, because many people think:" Oh, the women will be on one course, the men will be on the other. "

"The way it is alternately groups of men and women, I think it's great for the golf enthusiast who comes to watch because they can see the best of both men and women and sit on one hole and watch the whole day. I think now that it has reached the level at which the LPGA has co-judged it and the European Tour, it has picked up the world media, the attention of the golf media. "

The first tee-off is at 07:00 with playing on both the Creek and the Beach course on the 13th beach.

TELEVISION SCHEDULE

ABC

Thursday 7 February: 15:00 – 18:00

Friday, February 8: 15:00 – 18:00

Saturday 9 February: 13:00 – 19:00

Sunday 10 February: 13:00 – 18:00

You can also view the broadcast on your computer, tablet, smartphone and other devices via ABC's streaming platform iview.

Fox Sports Australia

Thursday 7 February: 15:00 – 18:00

Friday, February 8: 15:00 – 18:00

Saturday 9 February: 13:00 – 19:00