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Cape Town - Home favourite Lucas Herbert is targeting a first professional win as he returns to familiar territory at 13th Beach Golf Club for the Vic Open.
The 23-year-old enjoyed a successful rookie campaign on the European Tour in 2018, finishing in 46th place in the Race to Dubai Rankings thanks to five top five finishes and seven top tens - including a career-best tied second place finish in the Portugal Masters.
"I felt like in Abu Dhabi and Dubai I probably played a little better than scores indicated in the end. Hopefully I can continue that form into this week and next week. Give myself a good chance to be up near the lead and back in front of the cheering crowds," said Herbert.
As the highest ranked local player in the field this week, Herbert is aiming to capitalise on that run of form and his knowledge of the course in Barwon Heads, just outside Melbourne, where he came close to victory two years ago, eventually finishing in a tie for sixth place after falling away over the last four holes.
"I nearly won here in 2017, just finished off badly in the last four holes. I think back to then, I was a pretty different golfer. I made a lot of big changes and big steps since then, but then obviously the event's grown as well. It's good to get the LPGA involved as well as the European Tour. Shows how big the event's gotten," said Herbert.
He is joined in the field by another local hero in Major Championship winner Geoff Ogilvy, who tees it up in the Vic Open for the first time since 1998.
The 2006 US Open champion is aiming to claim a maiden victory in his home state Open after finishing as leading amateur in each of his three previous appearances in 1995, 1997 and 1998 - and runner-up overall to Stephen Leaney at Victoria Golf Club in 1997.
"I want to play better than I've ever played. I've still got an itch to scratch, there's a golf feeling in me that I haven't felt probably consistently. I know there's better golf in there. Whether it translates into better scores and winning tournaments, it's not really about that. I just want it to feel great," said Ogivly.
The 41-year-old former world No 3 and four-time European Tour winner is the first men's Major champion to play the event since Ian Baker-Finch in 1997.
"This is two real golf tournaments played at the same time. You need 36 holes do it, I guess. I want to be part of that. Equal money on both sides, spectators on the fairways, alternating groups, cool venue," said Ogilvy.
"They're ticking every box on what you really need. They're just running a quality event and the field is getting better every year because of that, because everyone leaves and says it's a great tournament."
The Vic Open was first played in 1957 but appears on the Race to Dubai for the first time this season. It's a unique format in professional golf with men and women playing on the same courses at the same time, for equal prize money.
The men's event is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia, while the women's championship is co-sanctioned by Australian Ladies Professional Golf and the Ladies Professional Golf Association.
All rounds will be played in alternating men's and women's groups on the Beach Course and Creek Course at 13th Beach Golf Club. A field of 156 men and 156 women will play one round on each of the first two days on both courses. There will be two cuts - after round two and round three - with all of the weekend action taking place on the Beach Course.
