Australian Masters promoters have defied what seemed a crippling scheduling blow by securing the world's top-ranked golfer, Luke Donald, for this year's tournament.
Charismatic fellow Englishman Ian Poulter, the world No.14, has also committed to the December 15-18 event at Melbourne's Victoria Golf Club, along with Australian defending champion Stuart Appleby.
The marquee signings, with an expectation of at least one more overseas star and some big-name Australians, ensure the Masters will not waste the huge public interest built up over the past two years.
That was driven largely by the presence of 2009 winner Tiger Woods, who will not return this year.
The opportunity to secure a third straight visit by the former world No.1 was denied the Masters when the PGA Tour of Australasia decided last December to shift the event from its regular November slot.
Instead, the Australian Open in Sydney and PGA Championship in Coolum, were handed the coveted dates immediately before and after the Presidents Cup, to be held at Royal Melbourne in mid-November.
That decision left the Masters with no chance to attract the top Americans and non-Europeans, who will be in Australia for the prestigious teams event.
Masters owner and promoter IMG weighed up shelving the tournament, before turning to Europe to further bolster what shapes as a bumper Australian golf summer.
"We're obviously thrilled at the announcements this morning, there's been a fair bit of work behind the scenes to get us to this point," IMG Australia golf director David Rollo said on Wednesday.
Rollo said it would have hurt the tournament to go into hiatus but it would equally have devalued the event to deliver a low-quality field.
The Masters will return to its November slot for the next three years, with promoters hoping Woods will return, but Rollo was confident the event's drawing power would withstand his absence.
"Obviously you read about the changing of the guard in golf. Everyone would have seen last week what Rory McIlroy did, Luke Donald's had a phenomenal year."
McIlroy is also on the Masters wish-list but is considered a long shot.
While born of necessity, the European slant for this year's event is well-timed, as European golfers hold the top four world ranking spots and have won the past five majors.
The Victorian government will financially support the Masters until at least 2013, because it boosts the state's economy by luring rich tourists.
Tourism and Major Events Minister Louise Asher said the backing also helped fend off attempts to poach the state's major events by her NSW counterparts, who she labelled "aggressive beyond belief".
