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Last November, all eyes were focused on Melbourne, Australia as many of the top stars in men’s professional golf gathered to compete at Royal Melbourne in the 2011 Presidents Cup.

Now, it’s the women’s turn to take on the storied links.

For the first time in the course’s 120-year history, Royal Melbourne will be hosting a women’s professional golf event.  And having the best women golfers tee it up on one of the world’s most stunning courses is certainly a perfect way to showcase women’s golf, as the LPGA returns to Australia following a 12-year absence.

The test that the players will face during next week’s ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open will be virtually the same that the men had back in November, as they’ll also be playing the Composite layout at Royal Melbourne.

The Composite course is made up of 12 holes from the West Course and six from the East, contained within the more compact clubhouse precinct of the property. Both of these courses are, in their own right, ranked in the top 100 courses globally while their child, the Composite, is considered one of the world’s ten best courses.

The Composite has hosted many important events, including the Presidents Cups of 1998 and 2011, but never a women’s event, either professional or amateur.

The course used for the Women’s Australian Open will differ from the Presidents Cup by only one hole ? the 16th (4th East) ? as it resumes its regular place in the Composite. The order of the front nine order is the same but the back nine has been altered to enable the famous 18th hole to revert to its classic finishing position.

Golf Australia’s Director ? Championships, Trevor Herden, believes the course will be an exciting test for the girls. In setting it up, Herden assessed each hole based on the shot in to the greens, while a mix of men’s and women’s tees will bring Alister Mackenzie’s bunkering into play. The greens will be firm and fast but true.

Women have roamed the fairways of Royal Melbourne since Associates were admitted to the then Melbourne Golf Club in 1892, one year after the formation of what is Australia’s oldest continuous golf club. But now the time has come for the best women golfers to showcase their skills on this great test of golf and this time, all eyes will be on the women as they get their chance to make history at Royal Melbourne.

Looking ahead to 2012

Coast star moves to keep it simple
By Steve Zemek

THE Sunshine Coast's Sarah-Jane Smith says she is getting back to basics.

After a disappointing 2011 LPGA season, Smith is seeking to simplify her short game, believing she has let herself become bogged down in an avalanche of advice.

Smith started the year in promising fashion, finishing in a share of 10th at the season-opening RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup in March before missing the cut in seven of her past 11 events. Read more>>

Battling Celiac disease

Sarah Jane Smith: Taking a swing at Celiac disease
By Gina Roberts-Grey

Ever since she was a little girl, Australian-born pro golfer Sarah Jane Smith, 26, has had two passions: Golf and food. A slew of golf titles Down Under lead to the links phenomenon turning professional and qualifying for the LPGA at age 22. But the diagnosis of Celiac disease a year later derailed the pasta and pizza lover’s palate.

Sarah started playing when she was 12, and immediately fell in love. “My parents raised me to believe I could do anything, so I set my sights on becoming a pro golfer and never looked back.” At 15, her swing and approach helped her land a spot on the Australian Junior Team.

In 2002 Sarah won both the Australian Junior Championship and the Queensland Junior Championship, and was ranked the top junior in Australia that year. She went on to be the top-ranked amateur in 2003. Read more >>

On Other Tours: Kenyon wins on Duramed FUTURES Tour

Kenyon Completes Wire-To-Wire Win In Season Finale At ILOVENY Championship
SymetraTour.com

ALBANY, N.Y., Sept. 7, 2008 - Sarah-Jane Kenyon of Queensland, Australia, earned her second professional win in wire-to-wire fashion at the $100,000 ILOVENY Championship, finishing with a final-round score of 2-under-par 69.

Kenyon carded a three-day total of 9-under-par 204 and had a three-stroke cushion over three-time Tour winner Mindy Kim (67) of Diamond Bar, Calif., who finished at 6-under-par 207.

Sophia Sheridan (69) of Guadalajara, Mexico, moved up into the top 10 of the season money list, finishing third at 4-under-par 209.

Rookies Vicky Hurst (73) of Melbourne, Fla., and Jenny Suh (72) of Fairfax, Va., tied for fourth at 2-under-par 211. Read More>>

Q&A with Sarah-Jane Kenyon

Sarah-Jane Kenyon Points Aim At Five LPGA Cards
SymetraTour.com

Fourth-year Duramed FUTURES Tour member Sarah-Jane Kenyon of Queensland, Australia, is having the best season since her rookie year with four top-five finishes in seven events this year. Kenyon won the Tour's 2005 tournament in Tampa, Fla., in her inaugural professional season in the United States, but has wrestled with the ups and downs of a young pr