2010 US PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Rickie Fowler has added further fire power to the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola confirming he will be part of the 2011 line up from November 24- 27.
22-year-old Fowler, one of the hottest young prospects in world golf, will bring his unique style to the Hyatt Regency Coolum adding strength to an already exceptional field that includes Greg Norman, Bubba Watson, Darren Clarke, Y.E. Yang, Adam Scott, Jason Day, Geoff Ogilvy, Robert Allenby, John Senden and Aaron Baddeley.
The Sunshine Coast tournament will be Fowler’s only playing appearance in Australia this summer.
The announcement that Fowler will play at Coolum comes only weeks after he claimed his first professional title at OneAsia’s Kolon Korea Open in Cheonan where he beat second placed Rory McIlroy by six shots.
Watch a recap of Fowler’s maiden victory at OneAsia’s Kolon Korea Open here.
“It was really great to get my first win on the board in Korea and now I’m looking forward to a few more,” said Fowler who has previously played in Australia as an amateur.
“I won the World Amateur in Adelaide in 2008 and also played well in the 2009 Master of the Amateurs at Yarra Yarra, but it’s going to be very different this time. I’m looking forward to getting back to Australia and spending some time in Queensland. It will be a great way to finish off my year.”
At World Number 23 Fowler has already won over US$5.5 million during his short career on the US PGA Tour.
He has had four top-10 finishes this year, including a fifth at The Open and runner-up at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, but perhaps he is better known for his bright and brash sense of style and his involvement with the ‘Golf Boys’ film clip.
“Rickie Fowler has fast become an icon for the next generation of golfers and we are delighted to add his name to the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola,” said Brian Thorburn, CEO of the PGA of Australia.
“Our theme this year is ‘turn up the heat’ and with the likes of Rickie, Jason Day, Bubba Watson, Darren Clarke, Y E Yang, Greg Norman, Geoff Ogilvy and Adam Scott in the field I’m sure we will see record galleries visit the Sunshine Coast.”
Queensland Sport Minister Phil Reeves said having the young golf star play at Coolum this year added to the excitement of the tournament, which is a signature event on the Queensland calendar.
“This year’s Australian PGA Championship at Coolum has already attracted an impressive line-up of star players and today’s confirmation of Rickie Fowler is more great news for golfing fans,” Mr Reeves said.
“This event is also set to attract thousands of visitors delivering a real boost to the Queensland tourism industry and the local Sunshine Coast community.”
“That is why the Bligh Government, through Events Queensland, is investing in the Australian PGA Championship as part of our record investment in events over the next four years, and reinforces our reputation as the Champions State, and the Events State as well.”
The Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola is co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and OneAsia, Asia Pacific’s professional tournament destination for elite golfers.
Tickets are now on sale via Ticketek while complete travel packages to suit all budgets are available via Flight Centre at www.flightcentre.com.au/golf
The tournament will be showcased on OneAsia’s television platform across all four tournament days, broadcast to over 400 million homes in more than 40 countries.
Full coverage of the event will be broadcast domestically on Network Ten, as well as internationally on ESPN Star Sports, Jupiter Golf Network, SBS Golf Channel, Fox International and Sky Sports NZ among others.
Commercial and corporate hospitality opportunities are also available – see the below commercial contact to get involved today.
The Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola will be played at the Hyatt Regency Coolum on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast from November 24-27, 2011.
For all the latest news and information on the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola visit http://championship.pga.org.au
A four-time winner of the Australian Golf Media Awards, including Best Photojournalism, Best Opinion, Best Column and Best Photographic Presentation, Inside Golf Group Editor Richard Fellner is the quintessential Golf Tragic, having played the game for over 50 years (but has never gotten any better!) He has played and reviewed courses all over the world, and has interviewed many of the great players of the game (including Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Greg Norman). Richard is a member of both the Australian Golf Media Association and the Golf Society of Australia, and has been a featured guest on many Australian "sports talk" radio shows and networks, including ABC Grandstand, SEN 1116, Melbourne Talk Radio 1377, 2GB and others.
Follow 
