The breakthrough dual-gender concept being championed by the Australian Open could do wonders for women’s golf if replicated around the world, according to defending champion Ashleigh Buhai.
The South African star, and two-time defending champion, has confirmed she’ll return this year for a history-making hat-trick attempt when the tournament returns to the sandbelt, with Chilean LIV star Joaquin Niemann also locked in to defend his crown.
Niemann was granted a special invitation to the Masters at Augusta on the back of his victory, in front of massive crowds at The Australian Golf Club last year, and put a return high on his agenda with the tournament being played across Kingston Heath and Victoria Golf Club from November 28 to December 1.
“To have the opportunity to defend a title, especially a national Open, is something truly special that I am greatly looking forward to. I thoroughly enjoyed the Australian Open experience last year and think it will be a fantastic way to end a successful year,” Niemann said.
“Having played on the Melbourne Sandbelt previously, I can’t wait to try and go back-to-back across Kingston Heath and Victoria at this year’s tournament.”
Major champion Buhai won the first of her two Australian titles at Victoria in 2022, the first incarnation of the dual-gender event where the men’s and women’s tournaments are played on the same courses at the same time.
Declaring her Australian Open experience was behind only this year’s Olympics in Paris for crowd size and support, Buhai said, while acknowledging the difficulties, the world-leading concept could be used in other tournaments as a boost for the women’s game.
“I think it’s amazing. We know the men are the drawcards and bring in the crowds, but for us to be able to play in between them, have crowds all the way around, it brings such an unbelievable atmosphere,” she said.
“I remember walking up the 18th hole last year and the embankment was full of people. It brought goosebumps to my skin and I wish we did do it more often around the world.
“I think from a women’s side we’d like to see it, but with the men’s schedule and the women’s schedule, there’s not may free weeks available.
“I would like to see more of it, even if we did a men’s and ladies mixed teams event, it would be exciting to see.”
The two defending champions join Min Woo Lee among the confirmed players for the 2024 Australian Open, with Jason Day also set to join the likes of Adam Scott and Cameron Smith in the men’s field.