European Tour Insider: Australia's star-studded field
By Nick Dye, European Tour Insider
Editor's note: Nick Dye is going to be giving PGATOUR.COM viewers an inside look at what's happening on the European Tour. Dye, who works with European Tour Radio, will be at more than 30 events this year and will file weekly columns on Wednesdays.
World No. 9 Camilo Villegas is the highest ranked player at this week's Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth in Western Australia.
The smouldering Colombian says he's determined to be seen as a world player.
Having graced his friend Sergio Garcia's own tournament -- the Castello Masters -- last year, Villegas has become a European Tour member and is looking to blend his play both in the United States and overseas. The surge in the Officila World Golf Ranking after the two superlative wins at the end of last year has opened more doors.
"People think I play the European Tour because of the Race to Dubai," Villegas said. "It's not true. I've always wanted to be a world player. The problem is that when you're not top 50 in the world, it's tough to set a schedule. You have to put your priorities in order."
KANGAROO KIM
Anthony Kim, who is ranked No. 11 in the world, joins Villegas in Perth and is making his first visit to Oz. He's no different from any first-time visitor.
"I'm looking forward to seeing some more kangaroos," he said. "Hopefully, I'll be looking at them from a distance and not in the bushes with them."
KING KANG
Kim was the big draw at the Malaysian Open last week, but he was off the beaten track at times and certainly struggled to come to grips with the grain of the greens in an opening 78. He called it an "embarrassment ... on a very short golf course". Though he shone with a 65 on day two, there was no getting into contention.
While the previews were all about one Anthony, someone with the same initials came out on top -- another American of Korean descent, Anthony Kang.
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It had been eight years since his last wins -- in the Philippines and Myanmar -- for the 36-year-old from Phoenix, Ariz. The Oregon State graduate plans to continue to play in Asia, too. He feels a move to the European Tour could be premature, because he's not a strong player in the cold or the wind.
MAMA'S BOY
Regardless of the number of photographs of Anthony Kim and his girlfriend, you get the distinct impression another woman still rules the 23-year-old: His mother.
"She's tough" he says "My mom is still my boss, so I have to listen to her."
He -- like Villegas -- wants to be seen as a world player. "It's important to her, and it's important to me," Kim said. "There's plenty of good players everywhere, but you know, it's not usual for Americans to go playing around the world. I feel like I can take that step and keep it moving forward."
His mom has been instrumental in keeping a smile on his face when he plays, too.
"When I was a youngster and went out with 14 clubs and walked back with 11, then I knew my clubs were going away for a week," Kim said. "So I've changed to being a lot more relaxed out there. When that putt doesn't go in, I want to put it over my knee, but it's not somebody that I would want to watch on TV. If I was a kid, that isn't somebody I would want to look up to, and it's really important for my mom for me to be that person."
NORMAN CONQUEST
While Kim and Villegas are the best-ranked players on show, the former world No. 1 Greg Norman is conquering the headlines in his home country. He said he would be "surprised" to win, but the 54-year-old is never going to "just come and play."
His run at last year's Open Championship seems to have reinvigorated him, and Norman acknowledges that he's made a lot of people sit up and take notice.
"I've probably got more recognition and accolades from people just saying, you know, thanks for doing something for the 50-year-olds," Norman said.
MUTUAL APPRECIATION
Both Villegas and Kim had praise for the Shark.
"I never thought I would be playing a tournament with him," Kim said. "He was somebody that I looked up to very much, and my Dad wore his hats all the time, so it was hard not to notice around the house."
Villegas agreed.
"He was awesome," he said. "We had some great chats. I asked a bunch of questions about life, golf, etc, and he was very open and very sincere just giving me advice."
Norman, who will captain the International Team for The Presidents Cup in October, clearly enjoys their company.
"I love what I see in some of the younger players nowadays," he said. "I think these two guys have got the opportunity to take the bull by the horns and not get intimidated by anybody or any golf shot or any golf tournament."
SURFER DUDE
The Johnnie Walker Classic, of course, has other contenders.
It's one of the most popular tournaments on the calendar with various evening functions, and the organizers are going that one step further to ensure a good time. One night, to raise money for charity, players get to work behind a bar, and Paul Casey, for one, has been given a surfing lesson.
He's never surfed, and to be honest didn't have time to ride a wave, but an Aussie state champion put him through his paces on Trigg Beach, and he's keen to give it a go for real.
Maybe he'll make it to a tournament in Hawaii some time.
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