THE CONTENDERS BRANDT SNEDEKER Classy American joked that course redesigner Graham Marsh had done a great job of making him look inept when he played his first holes on the new course. Slow greens and local winds all new to him. 
JOHN SENDEN Hungry for a home state win and grabbed four or five birdies in yesterday's pro-am. Big chance but he's already had one this summer at the Masters (tied 2nd) where he tailed away.
BRETT RUMFORD Locker room tip for his short game wizardry because players will be called on to make numerous saves from the hollows around the firm greens. Recent WA PGA winner.
NICK CULLEN Has proved himself a good wind player with high recent finishes at the Fiji International and Australian Open. Seems to be finding a way to deal with a hand injury.
JASON SCRIVENER Strong, confident European Tour form and top five at the Australian PGA last year until a 79 blowout in the final round. A rising star of Australian golf.
GREG CHALMERS Defending champion who showed nerves of steel to beat Adam Scott in last year's epic play-off. Missed the cut at last week's Australian Open but has an affinity with this course.
THE ROUGHIE RYAN FOX The long-hitting Kiwi is 33-1. He won the Jeep Pro-am at Royal Pines in 2013 so he has positive vibes about the course, can bomb it over some of the new water and bunker troubles and he is desperate to win a European Tour card.
SCAR TISSUE HOLE 209m Par 3 14th - Tough hole and the front-to-back tilt of the relaid green is a grumble for many of the pros with balls bouncing through to the back hollow. Water right and plenty of bogeys in store.
THE BETTING $12 Brandt Snedeker, John Senden $17 David Lingmerth $19 Brett Rumford, Cameron Smith $23 Peter Uihlein (US) $26 Jason Scrivener $29 Rod Pampling $31 Nick Cullen $33 Ryan Fox $41 Greg Chalmers $67 Peter Senior $126 Robert Allenby(Courtesy UBet)