Slow greens, strong winds and a demanding Royal Melbourne course await Yannik Paul and Freddy Schott in Australia.
The DP World Tour kicks off this week with two tournaments: the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa and the Crown Australian Open at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Black Rock, near Melbourne. Alongside a strong field of Australian players, German golfers Freddy Schott and Yannik Paul are also teeing it up.
Wind forecast and unique green setup
Yannik Paul, 31, began his practice rounds early in the week at the historic course, which was completed in the early 1930s. On social media, he shared his impressions of the course and expressed excitement about the challenge ahead. Although summer is approaching in Australia, stronger winds are forecast for Thursday’s opening round, expected to ease as the tournament progresses. Paul noted on X.com that the tournament organizers had informed players that, due to the weather, the greens would be prepared differently—likely not mowed or rolled before the first round, resulting in slower putts than usual.
In a follow-up post, Paul described the course as firm but not yet rock-hard. Depending on pin positions and wind, some holes could become extremely difficult. He characterized Royal Melbourne as a course that rarely requires a driver off the tee but demands precise approach shots. Numerous doglegs create semi-blind shots over bunkers or corners. The greens are among the toughest features: ‘It’s extremely hard to hit them,’ Paul said. Long putts between 9 and 24 meters are common, often leaving tricky second putts from 1.5 to 3 meters.
Paul embraces the challenge
Despite the tough conditions, Paul is excited about the opportunity. He called Royal Melbourne ‘an incredible golf course’ and concluded, ‘I’m looking forward to a great challenge’—sounding ready to take on whatever the wind throws at him on Thursday.
The Crown Australian Open is played on the Composite Course at Royal Melbourne, which combines holes from the West and East Courses. Notably, the West Course was designed in 1931 by legendary architect Alister MacKenzie, who created or redesigned around 100 courses worldwide, including the Old Course at St. Andrews. His masterpiece is considered to be Augusta National, home of the Masters Tournament.