Just as he did after winning the 1998 Australian Open, Greg Chalmers will bask in the glow of being champion while watching the Presidents Cup on his TV at home.
The 38-year-old left-hander won the national title for the second time on Sunday, 13 years after winning it the first time – again the week before the major teams event at Royal Melbourne.
“Fact of the matter is I played horrible this year,” Chalmers said. “At the start of the year one of my goals was to make the International team for the Presidents Cup but I didn’t play well enough.
“I’ll be watching it on TV at home like most people, hoping the Internationals can win again.”
Chalmers lifted the Stonehaven Cup for a second time when he closed out the tournament with a grinding three-under-par 69, which was enough to hold off Queensland John Senden and a fast-finishing Tiger Woods.
The win saw Chalmers surge more than 100 places in the world ranking to 104, while Queensland duo Adam Scott and Jason Day swapped places in the top 10, with Scott moving to No.7 ahead of Day at No.8. There is a now a two point spread between Scott and World No.2 Rory McIlroy.
World No.1 Luke Donald, who greeted baby Sophia into the world last week, is clear at the top of the ranking. He will be in Australia next month to play the JBWere Masters at Victoria GC in Melbourne.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN LEADERBOARD
The Lakes Golf Club, Sydney
6,290 metres, par-72
$1.5 million, November 10–13
1. Greg Chalmers (NSW) 67-72-67-69–275
2. John Senden (Qld) 70-71-63-72–276
3. Tiger Woods (US) 68-67-75-67–277
T4. Geoff Ogilvy (Vic) 70-74-70-65–279
T4. Adam Scott (Qld) 69-71-71-68–279
T4. Nick Watney (US) 66-73-68-72–279
T4. Nick O’Hern (WA) 69-72-66-72–279
T4. Jason Day (Qld) 69-68-68-74–279
T9. Aaron Baddeley (Vic) 73-71-67-69–280
T9. Ryan Haller (Qld) 70-73-65-72–280