All of the action this week is close to home, giving the chance to watch some live golf at a reasonable hour, and keep track of the fortunes of our players hole by hole.
CIMB Classic
First up is the CIMB Classic, a $US 7.0 million event co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the Asian Tour. Danny Lee flies our flag in this one, and he will be looking to play all four rounds after having to withdraw injured last year after two rounds in the same event. The tournament is live on Sky Sports 3 from 3.30pm
Foshan Open
This is one of the more lucrative events on the European Challenge Tour, with $US 500,000 at stake. Ryan Fox drew an early tee time, and was going well early on, at -3 after 15 holes.
Japan Tour
This week’s event is the Bridgestone Open at the Sodegaura Country Club near Tokyo, for a purse of $NZ 2.0 million. Brandt Snedeker is playing as an invite in the 102 strong field, and has clearly enjoyed his week’s holiday in Fiji after winning the Fiji International, being -4 after 9 holes in Round One, just one shot behind early leader Matthew Griffin. Michael Hendry was at -2 part way through the back nine.
LPGA Tour
Lydia Ko is sitting this week out (perhaps involved in selecting her next caddy?), as the Tour moves to Hainan Island for the Blue Bay LPGA. Ariya Jutanugarn is playing, and so has the opportunity to overtake Lydia in the Race for the CME Globe, and also to pick up the World 1# ranking.
Isuzu Queensland Open
This event has been played at Brookwater in recent years, but with that course currently undergoing extensive greens’ renovations, it has moved to the Brisbane Golf Club. Nine New Zealanders are in the field, the best of these amongst those who have completed Round 1 being Mark Brown on -2, and Nick Gillespie and Gareth Paddison on -1. Also playing are Harry Bateman, Lachie McDonald, Kieran Muir, Mathew Perry, Josh Munn, Ben Campbell and Fraser Wilkin.