The winning combination of Cameron Smith and Jonas Blixt is headed Down Under for the Emirates Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship.
Queenslander Smith, 24, was the toast of Australian sport when he teamed up with Swede Blixt to win the US PGA Tour’s inaugural team-format Zurich Classic.
It was a stunning victory in which the pair defeated Americans Scott Brown and Kevin Kisner in a Monday playoff.
Now the duo will return to Australia to celebrate their victory.
“Winning on the PGA TOUR was a dream come true for me,” Smith said.
“I am excited to come home this year as a PGA Tour winner and play in the Emirates Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship.
“It is great that Jonas (Blixt) is coming, too. I am sure that he is going to enjoy playing in front of the Australian crowds.”
It will be the first time three-time PGA Tour winner Blixt, 33, tees up in the Emirates Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship. The last time he played in Australia was the 2013 World Cup of Golf.
“Cameron and I won this year’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, so hopefully that Aussie connection will translate into more success,” Blixt said.
Event organisers are thrilled to have Smith and Blixt adding to the depth of talent attracted by each of the tournaments.
Smith and Blixt will join defending champion Jordan Spieth and Jason Day at the Emirates Australian Open to be played from 23-26 November at The Australian Golf Club.
“We watched last year when Cameron came so close to toppling Jordan in the playoff at Royal Sydney and I’m sure there are a lot of Aussie golf fans who’d love to see him go one better at The Australian,” Golf Australia chief executive Stephen Pitt said.
“And it’s great that Jonas is coming down for both tournaments – he won an instant soft spot in Aussie hearts in New Orleans and it’s always great to have recognisable international faces visit Australia.”
The pair will then join Masters champions Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott on the Gold Coast for the Australian PGA Championship to be played at RACV Royal Pines Resort from 30 November-3 December.
“Queensland golf fans will have another local favourite to cheer on at the Australian PGA Championship in Cameron Smith,” said Gavin Kirkman, CEO of the PGA of Australia.
“We loved watching Cameron realise his dream of winning on the PGA Tour and I am sure that Australian golf fans will adopt his teammate Jonas as an honorary Aussie.
“We are assembling an excellent line-up of talent for the Australian PGA Championship and alongside Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott, Cameron and Jonas add some real depth.”
