Tiger Woods: one of the seven international golfers to watch this summer

Common among the great performers on any stage is the panic they instil in us when their journey is almost done. Whether it’s Springsteen or Serena, we’ll queue around the block to witness their genius in the flesh one last time, fearing they’ll never pass this way again.

The forthcoming summer of Australian golf offers much to tickle a fan’s fancy, not least the trailblazing Vic Open at Barwon Heads in February, whose trail-blazing mixed field format – where men and women compete for the same trophy and prizemoney – is being aped on the European Tour.

But one name casts a shadow over all – Tiger Woods, who returns to Australia next month for the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne from December 9 to 15. For all the stars and storylines teeing up Down Under this summer, nothing comes close to Tiger.

TIGER WOODS

Ten years ago he flew home from Melbourne (after winning the Australian Masters) into one of sport’s greatest-ever scandals. His body has since fallen apart almost as spectacularly as his personal life, requiring multiple surgeries, including a fusing of his spine. A drink-driving charge landed him in the “celebrity mugshot hall of fame”. Less than two years ago, his ranking was 1199. In April, he won the US Masters for a fifth time, his first major victory in 11 years. In October, he equalled Sam Snead’s record of 82 PGA Tour wins. Turning 44 in December, Woods selected himself as captain the Presidents Cup team in December at Royal Melbourne. In many eyes he’ll never be redeemed, but fans at Royal Melbourne will witness the central figure in arguably the greatest sporting comeback ever.

BROOKS KOEPKA

In a flash, golf has evolved from pear-shaped men in baggy polo shirts (and John Daly leaving his cigarette burning on the grass while he putts) to chiselled beasts with fitness regimes that seem better suited to playing ruck rover for Richmond. Koepka is in the vanguard of the athlete-golfers, who haul dead lifts, smash stair masters, heave medicine balls and pound push-ups, all in the hope of a better outcome when hitting a small, stationary ball. It seems to be working – Koepka will stride out among Woods’ Presidents Cup team as the current No.1 player in the world.

NELLY KORDA

There was something novel and quirky about Petr Korda, the Czech with the spiky buzzcut hair and scissor-kick celebration, straight out of John Cleese’s Ministry of Silly Walks, who lifted our national tennis trophy at Melbourne Park in 1998. The only peculiarity among his offspring is the sublime sporting talent that has since sent another three Australian Opens straight to the Korda pool room. Teenager Sebastian won the junior boys’ tennis title in 2018, Jessica our women’s golf crown in 2014 and, last year, it was Nelly’s turn in the Australian Open. She’s back to defend her title, limbering up for another leap, just like Dad.

CAMERON CHAMP

While purists favour a “drive for show, putt for dough” ethos, there’s no doubting the raw appeal of golf’s monster drivers. Champ is the freshest face in the gallery of huge hitters, a 24-year-old whose numbers – for clubhead speed, ball speed, pure distance – are off the charts. Winning a second PGA Tour title in September showed his all-round game is growing. In December, he’ll make his Down Under debut in the Australian PGA at Royal Pines. Cue crowds of head-shaking onlookers, jaws agape, eyes squinting to follow a ball that’s just been sent into orbit.

HANNAH GREEN

For the casual golf watcher, it could seem like the spotlight on Australian women has dimmed since Karrie Webb was piling up wins in the early 2000s. By holding her nerve in Minnesota in June, Green became the first Australian to win an LPGA Tour major since Webb 13 years earlier. Webb was among a mob of greenside Aussie supporters as the 22-year-old – who four years ago honed her game on a Karrie Webb Scholarship to the US – sank the winning putt. The West Australian’s next mission? “To win on home soil,” Green says. At the Australian Open at Royal Adelaide in February, she gets her chance.

CAMERON SMITH

Cameron Smith, the golfer, admits he might have followed Cameron Smith, the Melbourne Storm legend, down a rugby league path, only he didn’t want to get hurt. Smith made the right call, and heads to the Gold Coast in December aiming to become the first person in more than a century to win three consecutive Australian PGA Championships. He looks younger than his 26 years, and presents as wise beyond them, and wears his Queensland heart on his sleeve by donning maroon on the final day of each tournament. A PGA hat-trick would cement his place in history.

ADAM SCOTT

The fluffy hair poking out from beneath his cap, and the awe as he accepted the 2009 Stonehaven Cup from childhood hero Greg Norman, are rings in the tree trunk of Scott’s fine career. Now 39, he is determined his 14th Australian Open tilt will bring a second success. He’ll have to work for it, as the cast also teeing up at The Australian Golf Club from December 5 to 8 includes compatriots Jason Day, Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith, and overseas stars Louis Oosthuizen, Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey and veteran Ernie Els.

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