From little things big things grow.
When David Greenhill originally suggested a combined men’s and women’s Vic Open back in 2011, it was considered a radical concept.
But the bold vision was given life by what was then Golf Victoria and over the course of the last decade has morphed into one of the best tournaments on the Australian calendar (Covid permitting).
Fast forward just over a decade and the world’s biggest Tours have also adopted the idea and variations of it, this week’s ISPS Handa World Invitational in Northern Ireland the latest example.
Co-sanctioned by the DP World, LPGA and Ladies European Tours the format will follow the same one used in Australia each year with two trophies played for concurrently.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn won the women’s title last year while England’s Daniel Gavins took out the men’s, but in dramatically different fashion.
RIGHT: Leona Maguire gets a chance to play close to home this week after a good finish at the AIG Women's Open. PHOTO: David Cannon/Getty Images.
Anannarukarn needed extra holes to defeat American Emma Talley at Galgorm Castle in Northern Ireland while Gavins stormed from seven shots back to post a one stroke victory over fellow Englishman David Horsey.
Anannarukarn parred the second hole of sudden death to defeat Talley, the pair finishing one shot ahead of reigning Chevron Championship winner Jennifer Kupcho.
COURSE: Double the field requires double the courses with the event being played at Galgorm Castle and the nearby Massereene Golf Club.
Galgorm is the ‘main’ course and will host the final two rounds of the tournament, the layout the centerpiece of a resort of the same name.
Built in the 1980’s and carved through heavy woodland, the land boasts two rivers and five lakes which between them feature on 14 of the 18 holes.
Nowhere is that more obvious than the short par-4 4th where, despite measuring less than 300 meres on the scorecard a lay-up is required over one water hazard so a second which fronts the green can be negotiated.
Massereene is a more historic course dating back to 1895. Another parkland layout, it is considered the tighter of the two course though is also shorter and more vulnerable to low numbers.
Results last year suggest the pros found both courses playable enough with 13-under winning on the men’s side and 16-under on the women’s.
RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week
PLAYERS TO WATCH: As has often been the case at the Vic Open the women’s field boasts more high-profile players than the men’s event and an overall stronger field.
Headlining the LPGA side of the draw is Ireland’s own Leona Maguire, fresh off a blistering finish at the AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield where her final round 66 jumped her 15 places in the field.
Maguire didn’t play this event last year but given her form not only on Sunday but for much of 2022 she will start favourite with both the crowds and likely the bookies.
Former Women’s Open winner Georgia Hall is also making the trip to Northern Ireland as is last year’s runner-up Emma Talley.
The Australian contingent also won’t be without hope this week after both Sarah Kemp (T8) and Su Oh (T11) proved the courses were to their liking last year.
On the men’s side Marcus Kinhult and John Catlin stand out in a field lacking much in the way of star power.
Catlin came close at the Irish Open at Mount Juliet a month ago and while he has missed two cuts and finished bottom of the field in three starts since will be more comfortable on this course and in this company.
Kinhult’s form is following the opposite trajectory with a T3 last outing at the Hillside Golf Club in England.
Kinhult didn’t play this event last year but as a proven winner on the DP World Tour will like his chance this week.
Australian young gun Elvis Smylie has also earned an invite this week and while he has played little tournament golf recently is a prodigious talent with plenty of game to contend at this level.
Like many, the Queenslander’s career has been thrown into disarray by the Covid 19 pandemic and he will know as well as anyone the value of any and all opportunities.
A missed cut last week in Wales was disappointing but he will be better for having played.
72-HOLE RECORD: Women: 275 (-16, Pajaree Anannarukarn, Emma Talley, 2021); Men: 267 (-13, Daniel Gavins, 2021)
PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: No Australians have won this event.
AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Elvis Smylie, Maverick Antcliff, Zach Murray, Jake Mcleod, Dimi Papadatos and Jordan Zunic
TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 505 11.30pm – 5am)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 505 11.30pm – 5am)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 505 7.30pm – 12.30am)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 505 7.30pm – 12.30am)
*AEST, check local guides
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