Royal Pines Wins Hosting Rights To Australian PGA But Course To 'Come Under Fire'

Royal Pines is "certain to come under fire for being too easy for top pros" after surprisingly winning hosting rights for the Australian PGA Championship this year, according to Jim Tucker of the COURIER-MAIL. The prospect of "birdies on a platter" at a Gold Coast layout where Karrie Webb has fired her career-low tournament total of 26-under par is "certain to rankle with traditionalists." An announcement Tuesday unveiled the RACV Royal Pines layout as the new home for the event. The RACV Royal Pines Resort has a "wonderful track record" over two decades as a host of the Australian Ladies Masters. The on-course hotel, practice facilities, welcome and vibe "are first class but where it trips up is at the most basic requirement: how much of a test will it be for the men?" It will have to "reinvent itself in a major way" to challenge the likes of former U.S. Open winner Geoff Ogilvy, the 2008 Australian PGA champion "who has been a Coolum regular" (COURIER-MAIL, 2/26).