Golf: O'Malley pleased with form

Familiarity does not breed contempt when it comes to Australian Peter O'Malley and one of his favourite playgrounds.

O'Malley feels at home at Clearwater Resort, where he today begins the defence of his US$600,000 ($919,960) New Zealand PGA Championship crown, won in dramatic fashion last year when he outlasted compatriot Steven Bowditch in a play-off which dragged on for four extra holes.

Twelve months later, O'Malley has returned to a course which for him, at least, has all the comfort value of an old pair of socks.

The 6513m Clearwater layout on the outskirts of Christchurch has rewarded him with two career titles, last year's success following his victory in the 2002 Clearwater Classic.

He was prominent again when he shared sixth place in 2003 before the classic made way for the New Zealand PGA Championship, which had been removed from the Australasian circuit from 1988 until being resurrected in 2004.

Recent form does not recommend O'Malley this week: a missed cut at the Jacob's Creek Open in Adelaide last week followed a tie for 21st at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth and a tie for 63rd at the Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates.

However, O'Malley, 40, is happy enough with how he is striking the ball to consider himself in with a chance - and there would be few brave enough to bet against him due to his track record in Christchurch.

"I'm hitting the ball good," he said yesterday - golfspeak for a player waiting only for some putts to drop.

O'Malley has any number of rivals capable of relieving him of the title.

Among them are compatriots Paul Sheehan and Michael Sim, the winner and runner-up from the Jacob's Creek Open, New Zealand young gun Brad Iles, a battle-weary Phil Tataurangi, who is in the throes of resurrecting an injury-plagued career, and his US-based countrymen Michael Long, Steve Alker and Grant Waite.

O'Malley spoke glowingly of West Australian Sim, a rookie pro who has attracted much favourable comment.

Sim, the 2005 New Zealand amateur strokeplay champion, could develop into something special.

"He could possibly be the next [Australian world No 8] Adam Scott," O'Malley said, tipping a huge future for Sim.

O'Malley had yet to clap eyes on Iles, 22, who has introduced himself to the pro circuit by making five successive cuts in Australia since early December.

However, he admitted he had heard a lot of good reports regarding Iles and looked forward to seeing what the fuss was all about.

Iles had a good take on the challenge of Clearwater, which has wind and water as its defences.

"It's a great course. I think it's been set up for someone who can hit it [the ball] dead straight and then roll the dimples off it."

The tournament was dealt a blow by the no-show of American duo Notah Begay and Matt Kuchar, whose travel schedules were grounded by snow in New York, meaning they missed their connections to Australia for the Jacob's Creek Open.

- NZPA