Retief Goosen, the two-time US Open Champion, the 2002 Johnnie Walker Classic winner and the current World Number Four, is the latest player to commit to the star-studded field competing in the 15th Johnnie Walker Classic at The Vines Resort and Country Club, Perth, Australia, from February 9-12, 2006.
Two of world golf’’s rising stars, Paul Casey and Ian Poulter, will also be in Western Australia chasing the £1.25 million prize money, together with Europe’’s Ryder Cup Captain, and former Johnnie Walker Classic winner, Ian Woosnam.
They join three other former winners of the Johnnie Walker Classic who have already confirmed to play at The Vines Resort; defending champion and world number eight Adam Scott, reigning US Open Champion Michael Campbell and six-time Major winner Nick Faldo.
The 2005 European Tour Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie and World Number 23 Thomas Björn will also be competing in the tournament that is co-sanctioned by The European, Asian and Australasian Tours.
Commenting on the announcement, Ben Anderson, Global Brand Director for the world’’s leading Scotch whisky brand said: “Having five former winners already confirmed to play at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth is fantastic news, and it reflects the world-class status of our tournament. These players aren’’t happy to just win this event once. In the true spirit of the Johnnie Walker brand, we encourage these stars to Keep Walking and wish them the best of luck chasing a second or even third Johnnie Walker Classic title.”
”I'm really looking forward to coming back to Perth for next February's Johnnie Walker Classic,” said Goosen. “Perth has always seemed to be good to me, I enjoy the city and look forward to getting back to The Vines, I only hope it will be as kind to me as Lake Karrinyup was in 2002!”
The Johnnie Walker Classic will provide the biggest prize in Australian Golf, with a total purse of £1.25 million (over A$3 million) and a winner’’s cheque of £208,333 (over A$500,000).
