Perth International gets into swing

• The $1.75m Perth International is Australia's richest golf tournament

• Only Australian tournament co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the PGA

The global spotlight will be on Perth this week as Australia's richest golf tournament, the Perth International, returns to Lake Karrinyup Country Club.

Acting Tourism Minister John Day said last year's event attracted more than 31,000 spectators and about 2,379 hours of television coverage was transmitted into 473 million homes in 46 countries.

Now in its third year, the 2014 ISPS HANDA Perth International boasts its strongest field to date with 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, former US PGA winner Jason Dufner and 2006 US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy in Perth for the event.

Mr Day said Lake Karrinyup Country Club had received plenty of praise from players and was ranked ninth in Australian Golf Digest's Top 100 courses for 2014.

"Course superintendent Trevor Strachan and his 26-strong team have worked hard to prepare a course that will certainly test the likes of Charl Schwartzel, Jason Dufner and Geoff Ogilvy," he said.

"That trio will face tough competition from defending champion Jin Jeong, Ryder Cup debutant Victor Dubuisson, WA's own Brett Rumford as well as Steven Bowditch."

The Acting Minister said the State Government was proud to support the ISPS HANDA Perth International through Tourism WA.

"Hosting international sporting events is vital for WA's economy and forms an important part of the State's strategy to grow the value of tourism to $12 billion by 2020," he said.

       Fact File

• The Perth International will be held from October 23 to 26

• For tickets and more information, visit http://perthinternational.com

• Last year's winner Korean Jin Jeong scored 278 to win the title

Tourism Minister's office - 6552 5900