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By John Reger PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
HOUSTON (Ticker) - No other event on the PGA Tour has had asmany different Australians win as the Shell Houston Open.
Six different Aussies have won the event over the last fourdecades and last year, Adam Scott outdueled fellow countrymanand two-time tournament winner, Stuart Appelby to win the event.
Finding a reason for the dominance is difficult.
"Robert (Allenby) won at the Woodlands once, that's a golfcourse somewhat similar to Australian golf courses, but thenStuart (Appleby) has won here and I've won here as well," Scottsaid. "It's hard to pinpoint when those kind of things happen,but I think the courses are somewhat similar to what we find inAustralia."
Appleby, who has won twice on two different courses here,agrees.
"It's probably a coincidence," Appleby said. "A mix of that andmaybe the golf course and the conditions that they're playedunder."
Bruce Devlin was the first Australian to win here, claiming thetitle in 1972, defeating Tommy Aaron, Lou Graham, and DougSanders.
Countryman Bruce Crampton won it the following year, winning bya stroke over Dave Stockton. Crampton won again in 1975, beatingGil Morgan by two strokes.
David Graham downed Lee Elder, Jim Thorpe and Lee Trevino byfive strokes in 1983.
The Australians were quiet for 16 years until Appleby won in1999 by a stroke over John Cook and Hal Sutton. Robert Allenbywon the next year, downing Craig Stadler in a playoff.
Appleby won again in 2006, running away with the event by sixstrokes over Bob Estes.
Appleby was involved in a duel with another Australian, AdamScott, before Scott prevailed.
This week there are 18 different Australians in the event;Allenby, Appleby, Scott, Aaron Baddeley, Jason Day, SteveElkington, Nick Flanagan, Mathew Goggin, Nathan Green, MarkHensby, Matt Jones, Stephen Leaney, Peter Lonard, Nick O'Hern,Geoff Ogilvy, Rod Pampling, Brett Rumford and Michael Sim.
There are 25 tour members claiming Australian roots and three,Scott, Ogilvy and Baddeley are in the top 20 of the OfficialWorld Golf Rankings.
"I think recently it has worked pretty well for us," Baddeleysaid. "You see a lot of young guys come out. You see guys thatyou used to play golf with and they are finishing in the top 15on the money list and you beat them when you played in Australiaand you think you can do that out here too."
One advantage Australians may have is the philosophy the countryhas towards sports. Rather than a college program that mixesacademics and athletics, Australians have the option of going tosports specific facilities that focus on becoming aprofessional athlete.
"I wouldn't say it was golf crazy," Baddeley said. "It is moreAustralia is a sporting nation and we have institute of sportsthat really hone golfers and really teach you how to become aprofessional golfer as opposed to just letting a person go outthere and saying good luck."
Scott went to the Victorian Sports Institute and learned allaspects of the game.
"They teach you everything to be a professional golfer,"Baddeley said. "It's not just playing golf, it's the mentalside, eating, the gym, how to practice properly."
Ogilvie, who is one of four Australians to win a majorchampionship, went to the same academy as Baddeley.
"I would say Australian maximizes its talent," Ogilvy said. "Noone falls through the gaps. If you have any talent at a youngage you are given every opportunity to make it.
"I don't think that's the case in a lot of other countries. Wedefinitely get the best out of our ability. If every country gotthe best out of their ability we wouldn't have as many golferson tour, there is no question about it."
Impressive coming from a country the size of Australia andOgilvy believes more young golfers will have success on the PGATour.
"Considering the small population we have a lot of good golfersat the moment," Ogilvy said. "You have 15-20 guys playing on thetour that is pretty incredible with the size of Australia.
"Australian golf is pretty strong and very deep at the moment."
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