“The bigger events you have and more of them,the more people come and visit,” Andrews said.
“It’s just another showcase to a global audience that will be hundreds and hundreds of millions of people strong.
“Today,the fact that there’s not been a venue nominated,I would say that’s proof positive that the Sandbelt has many different options when it comes to running a tournament of this scale and this size,and that’s to our credit.
“There are some places that wouldn’t have one option,let alone three or four,and we certainly do.”
Paul Guerra,chief executive of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce,lauded the announcement.
“Another day,another major sporting coup for Victoria,” Guerra said.
“What a sensational week for Victoria’s global event credentials. The Victorian Chamber has been vocal in our support for securing the 2028 President’s Cup,and we are delighted with today’s announcement.
“We do major sporting events better than anywhere else in the world,and they are priceless in enhancing our global reputation and attracting visitors and businesses to Victoria.”
Rumours had swirled in early February that the Victorian government had secured the event for 2028,but no details had emerged until Andrews’ announcement on Thursday.
The biennial event,which was postponed in 2021,will be held in America in 2022,2026 and 2030,while Royal Montreal Golf Club in Canada has secured the 2024 fixture.
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Mexico had been campaigning to host the 2028 tournament before Melbourne secured the event.
Of six Presidents Cups hosted outside of America,Australia has hosted three – all at Royal Melbourne (1998,2011 and 2019) – while the others were held in South Africa (2003),Canada (2007) and South Korea (2015).
While Royal Melbourne would be in the driver’s seat to host the tournament again,Heath Wilson,chief executive at Peninsula Kingswood,toldThe Age in February that his two-course club would be willing and eager to host the event if given the opportunity.
“We haven’t been spoken to,but our aim is to host a major tournament here now we’ve done all our work,” Wilson said.
“It makes sense if Royal Melbourne weren’t to host it,it would be down here. We’ve got the space with two courses and the infrastructure. It is something we’d look at,but that’s the first I’ve heard about it.
“I think if it comes to infrastructure and courses,we’d be in the same conversation,that’s for sure.”
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