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Grace Kim has only just turned 18 but in golfing terms, she's quickly coming of age.
Key points:
- This year's Vic Open features a $3 million prize pool, for the first time split equally between men and women
- The Vic Open is the only one of its type in the world where men's and women's tournaments are played side by side
- Australian Minjee Lee will attempt to defend her title at 13th Beach golf links
Last year, the talented amateur won a gold medal for Australia at the Youth Olympics, starred at an ANNIKA Invitational event and finished runner-up at the coveted NSW Amateur tournament.
This week she's one of two entries nominated by Golf Australia, to gain playing experience at the Vic Open, a tournament where men and women compete side by side.
"They are getting the same in everything, they have got the same access to everything, whether it's the physio, the players lounge, the same invites, they are absolutely treated equally," says Golf Australia's Female Pathways manager Stacey Peters.
Vic Open rundown
Dates: February 7-10
Venue: 13th Beach golf links, near Barwon Heads, Victoria
Fields: 156 men, 156 women
Prizemoney: $1.5 million for each event, $3 million in total
1st prizes: Approximately $250,000
Rds 1 + 2: Beach + Creek courses (both events)
36-hole cut: Top 60 plus amateurs plus ties
Rd 3: Beach course for both events
54-hole cut: Top 35 pros or amateurs, plus ties
Rd 4: Beach course for both events
The Vic Open starts tomorrow, with the male and female fields playing at the same time, on the same course — 13th Beach golf links, 20km from Geelong, near Barwon Heads — in alternate groups, in different tournaments.
It's the only event of its type around the world.
"I have been telling girls the last few years what a cool experience it is," says Swedish world number 41 Pernilla Lindberg, who is coming off a win at the 2018 Dinah Shore, a major title in women's golf.
"There are guys in the group in front of you and guys in the group behind you. It is just nice to show other big tours around the world it is possible to do an event like this."
The women's event at the Vic Open started out with a meagre $150,000 prize purse in 2012 and this week for the first time in history, it is 10 times that amount.
Peters, herself a former LPGA pro, believes the concept is doing great things for the future of women's golf and especially some of Australia's rising stars.
"Finally the girls are being treated equally", says Peters.
"I just look at it now and am wrapped for the up-and-coming girls."
For Kim, who grew up idolising the likes of Australia's world number 6, Minjee Lee, her focus remains on working towards turning professional in 2020.
"I just want to be ready when I get out there," she says, with a confident smile.
Should she reach her goal, Kim's playing career is likely to be different from some of the women who have gone before her, with 2019 showing potential as a game-changing year for Australian women's golf.
For the first time, Australia has a reigning female Greg Norman Medal winner in Minjee Lee, who is part of an outstanding women's field at this week's event.
"I have come here for many years and I am just seeing the tournament grow and the players taking an interest in the tournament, is really great," says Lee.
"I think a lot of the girls and the LPGA are really excited for this opportunity [playing] with the European men's tour. It's something we have never had before [this tournament].
Australia is also expected to have a representative when Augusta National hosts the final round of the inaugural women's Amateur, the weekend before the Masters.
One of the country's leading amateurs, Julienne Soo — who plays collegiate golf in the United States for the University of Oklahoma — has received her invitation to play in the tournament.
The opening two rounds will be played at the Champions Retreat course near Augusta. The final round will be played at the famous Augusta National, home of the Masters.
"Julienne is very excited about it and if you make the last 30 [of the women's Amateur], then you play Augusta," says Peters.
Peters, charged with overseeing the development of Australia's best women's golfers, believes Minjee Lee could also breakthrough for her first Major title in 2019.
"A lot of players have come along in leaps and bounds over the past couple of years," says Peters.
"She [Minjee Lee] has come close and she has contended [before]. I really believe she can win a major."
ABC TV will be covering every round of the Vic Open. Rounds one and two will be 3pm-6pm in all states. Rounds three and four will be broadcast nationally — check your local guides.
Topics: sport, golf, barwon-heads-3227, vic, australia