Big driver Lincoln Tighe among golfers to watch at this year’s NT PGA Championship in Palmerston

There will be a variety of players to watch at this year's NT PGA Championship, from popular locals to well-known Australian golfers. Here is the whole roster of rivals you should keep an eye on.

A number of professionals from the Top End are gearing up to compete in a four-day golf tournament at the Palmerston Golf and Country Club for a purse of $200,000.

On Thursday, 112 golfers will tee off in the first round of the four-day competition, hoping to advance to the weekend's final two rounds, where the top 50 players, including ties, will compete for medalist honors.

At the second tournament of the PGA Tour of Australasia season, four players will be making their professional debuts among several seasoned professionals.

Lincoln Tighe, from New South Wales, is one to keep an eye on because he has finished in the top 10 of the event on three out of the last five occasions.

The 33-year-old is one of the longest drivers on tour, and he plans to use it to his advantage right off the bat.

Tighe boasted, "I can reach all the par fives in two." He also predicted that he would be able to reach a few of the par fours in one or close to the mark.

To paraphrase, "So it's definitely an advantage around here to have the length off the tee," but you've got to match that up with tight dispersions."

The Wollongong native added that he was confident in his chances because of his course history.

"I think around here, you have to know if the risk-reward is worth it, and especially if you have been heartbroken on a couple of holes before, that can come into play," Tighe remarked.

That being said, it's important to know when to go for it and when to lay up, as well as how to leave your ball on the right side of the green, to maximize your chances of making birdies and pars.

Therefore, it is true that local experience is useful.

Tighe is only one of several interesting competitors you should keep an eye on there.