NEWS

Donald and Poulter confirmed to play in Australian Masters in December

By Associated Press
Published on
Donald and Poulter confirmed to play in Australian Masters in December

World No. 1 Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and defending champion Stuart Appleby will headline the Australian Masters, which will be played the week before Christmas at Victoria Golf Club.

Tiger Woods has played the Australian Masters the past two years, winning in 2009 at Kingston Heath when he was No. 1 in the world. That was the last tournament Woods won before his personal life fell apart.

Australasian Tour officials gave the Masters' old date -- one week before the Presidents Cup -- to the Australian Open, confirming Wednesday that the Masters was shifting to Dec. 15-18. The tournament still managed to sign up Donald and Poulter, along with Appleby, who closed with a 65 to win last year.

The Victorian state government also said it would extend its agreement with the tournament for three more years.

The PGA of Australia says 2011 is shaping as the biggest season ever on the tour.

Greg Norman, Jason Day and Bubba Watson were confirmed Tuesday as starters in the Nov. 24-27 Australian PGA at Coolum in Queensland state.

Norman, who won the Australian PGA title in 1984 and '85, will return to his home state for the tournament a week after his International team plays the U.S. for the President Cup at Royal Melbourne.

Day, runnerup at the last two majors, will also play at the Nov. 10-13 Australian Open in Sydney.