Jan. 12, 2005 – The golfing year started in spectacular style for the Heineken Classic when Stuart Appleby successfully defended his Mercedes Championship crown at Kapalua in Hawaii and brilliant youngster Jason Day accepted a sponsors invitation to join the topnotch field.

"Jason will really know he has played in a serious event if the results of this morning are anything to go on." said SFX President of Golf, Tony Roosenburg. "It is one thing to win a Queensland Junior Title by ten shots and perform well in various senior events, but when four of our field; Appleby, Els, Scott and Parry have finished in the top ten of such a prestigious event as the Mercedes, he will have his work cut out. Get past these players and he runs headlong into Norman, Faldo, Montgomerie, Bjorn or Campbell. It is a pretty tall order, but we wouldn't invite him if we didn't think he was up to it," said Roosenburg.

"After Stuart's shaky start with 74 in round 1, and I heard that even before the event he was one no certainty to play, this must rate as one of the finest, if not the finest win of his career. We all congratulate Stuart, trust that he returns safely to Melbourne to join his wife Ashley for the birth of their first child and then brings this form to Royal Melbourne."

Source: PGA Tour