Major champions Georgia Hall and Pernilla Lindberg will return to Adelaide in February for the opening national golf championship on the 2019 LPGA Tour’s schedule, the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open.
Hall and Lindberg are the first of what is likely to be a string of big international names to compete from 14-17 February at The Grange Golf Club in the South Australian capital.
It will be the fourth consecutive year the event has been held in Adelaide and the second time at The Grange following a successful event at the venue in 2016.
Englishwoman Hall, 22 and the world No.8, became just the third local player to win the Women’s British Open since it became a major when she triumphed in August.
In her first full year on the LPGA Tour, Hall finished in a tie for 13th at last year’s Women’s Australian Open at Kooyonga Golf Club and also won the 2016 Vic Open at 13th Beach Golf Links.
“I love coming to Australia to start my season,” said Hall, who has played the Women’s Australian Open twice previously and finished in the top 15 both times.
“It’ll be great to be back in Adelaide competing against such a strong field in a beautiful part of the world. It is always such a fun week, I’m already looking forward to it.”
Swede Lindberg, 32, made an equally huge career breakthrough in winning the ANA Inspiration last year, also for her first LPGA Tour victory.
She, too, can’t wait to kick off the quest for another in Adelaide, a place she’s become very fond of.
“February will be my 10th year in a row at the Women’s Australian Open, so it obviously shows I love it,” Lindberg said.
“It’s a great way to start my season in Australia, and every golf course on the rotation in Adelaide is in great condition and always is a great test.
“Not only that, but there’s always good weather, and good food, too, in Adelaide. There are so many different things that make me excited to come back.”
The tournament is fully sanctioned by the LPGA Tour and the ALPG Tour.
The past two Adelaide events have attracted many of the world’s top female golfers including Ariya Jutanugarn, Minjee Lee and Brooke Henderson with several more high profile players expected to be added to the starting list in the coming weeks.
Tournament director Trevor Herden said it was a great testament to the tournament to have major champions such as Hall and Lindberg continue to make Adelaide part of their schedule.
“Both Georgia and Pernilla have been really excited to get back to South Australia and I’m sure the crowds will sense that when they see them play at The Grange,” he said.
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