2014 Australian Open: What you need to know
The 2014 Australian Open has arrived and here is what you need to know for the coming week.
The 2014 Australian Open is here and we’re stoked to be in among the action and part of the media at The Australian Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy will be flying in from Dubai in the next 24 hours aiming to defend his title. The Northern Irishman beat Adam Scott to claim the 2013 Australian Open, something that still leaves a sour taste in Scott’s mouth.
The field is the best you’ll see in Australia this summer and as usual we will aim to bring you some of the off-beat stuff that you can’t necessarily get anywhere else. We will be posting updates on the website and across the social media channels including the Aussie Golfer Facebook page, Twitter feed and Instagram account.
If you like Aussie Golfer’s stuff, you may find lots of great stuff on the official Australian Open Twitter feed too. 😉
The course: The Australian Golf Club Mike Clayton’s hole-by-hole guide
The Australian will play host to the Australian Open for the 18th time and has been redesigned since the event was last held here in 2007 when Craig Parry won. Jack Nicklaus who chalked up two of his six Australian Open victories at The Australian was called in to redesign his redesign and by all reports it looks a treat.
The players – Check out the full 2014 Australian Open field
The tournament is headlines by world number one Rory McIlroy and the newly relegated world number three, Adam Scott. But there are plenty of other players not only worth watching this week but in with a good chance of upstaging the big two.
The Australian contingent is strong and includes former Australian Open champions John Senden and Geoff Ogilvy. Young American Jordan Spieth has been a sensation on the PGA Tour, notching up a victory in 2013 and a magnificent second place at the Masters in April. Several other international players will consider themselves a chance to win including Daniel Chopra, Boo Weekley and Brendan de Jonge.
What’s at stake?
As has been the case since 1904, the winner of the Australian Open will receive the StoneHaven Cup in addition to the winner’s cheque. This year the winner’s cheque is $225,000 but there is a little more at stake. Since last year, The Australian Open has become an official gateway to The Open Championship. The top-3 players who finish inside the top-10 this week, who haven’t already qualified for The Open, will earn a spot in the field at St.Andrews next July.
Where to watch
Well, obviously getting on down to The Australian is the place to be and if you still don’t have tickets you can grab some through Ticketek or at the gate. If you pre-purchase your ticket you’ll save yourself $10!
If you can’t get to the course, Channel Seven will be broadcasting the action each afternoon in high-definition. Check out 2014 Australian Open TV times for more details.
Where to listen
In addition to the plethora of information on the official Australian Open website, you can hear the exclusive broadcast of Australian Open radio. In a first for Australian golf, Australian Open radio will feature a host of golf experts keeping everyone up to date with the latest news and scores. It can be streamed through the website, through the official Australian Open app or on course via headsets.
