Hensby to play 'big three'

MARK Hensby has confirmed he will play in Australia's 'Big Three' golf tournaments later this year, including the Australian Open, which he has never before contested.Hensby said today that he would return home to tee up in the Australian PGA, Australian Open and Australian Masters.
The Tamworth, New South Wales-born player had already confirmed he would join fellow US PGA Tour-based Australians Peter Lonard and Robert Allenby in contesting the December 1-4 Australian PGA at Coolum.
But he has now indicated he will tee up in the Australian Open at Moonah Links from November 24-27.
Hensby, however, indicated there was one sticking point to him making a maiden Australian Open appearance.
"The AGU (Australian Golf Union) has asked (me to) play and I have said yes but a lot depends if I qualify for the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa, which is being played the same week," he said.
"I am about fourth or fifth reserve at present but if I do qualify, I will be contesting the Nedbank Challenge - and for no other reason that it is a big event with huge world ranking points.
"But I really doubt I will qualify so I will play the Australian Open.
"It is sad to say but we have to play where we know we will get good world ranking points because this game is all about improving, and I need to improve my current world ranking."
Hensby looked set to contest his first Australian Open last year, but he revealed soon after finishing 11th in the AMEX Championship in Ireland that the AGU had not contacted him to invite him to The Australian Club in Sydney.
"I wanted to play the Australian Open so much last year, particularly after the year I had, but I want to travel to Moonah Links this year, whilst I will also contest the Australian PGA and the Australian Masters.
?So I will be in Australia later this year for all three major Australian tournaments, and I am very much looking for to it."
Hensby has this year been one of the best-performed Australians competing on the world stage, finishing fifth in his maiden US Masters appearance and then ending equal third behind New Zealand's Michael Campbell in the US Open.
A fortnight after the British Open, Hensby clinched a first-ever European Tour title with victory in the Scandinavian Masters in Sweden.