Australian Open: What you need to know

Adam Scott returns to Sydney this week to defend his Australian Open title. If you’re watching on TV or thinking of getting along to The Lakes Golf Club this week, here is what you need to know.

Official Australian Open Website

TV Schedule
Network Ten and One HD have live coverage all week. Click for Australian Open broadcast times in detail.

The Field
The field includes Adam Scott, Stuart Appleby, John Daly, Dudley Hart, Greg Norman, John Senden, Fred Couples and Geoff Ogilvy but click here for the full Australian Open list.

History
The first Australian Open was held in 1904 with the winner being Michael Scott as an amateur. Subsequent winners to hold Australia’s oldest golf trophy aloft include Gary Player (7 times), Jack Nicklaus (6), Greg Norman (5). Last year’s winner Adam Scott won the event for the first time and returns this week to defend his title.
While the days of being considered the world’s fifth major are long gone, as a ‘national open’ tournament it has special status when it comes to golf’s world rankings. A certain level of points are guaranteed for the winner regardless of the strength of the field.

Par-3, 18th at The Lakes Golf Club. Image source

The Course
The Lakes Golf Club has hosted three previous Australian Open championships (1964 Jack Nicklaus, 1980 Greg Norman, 1992 Steve Elkington) as well as a host of other world events including the Australian PGA and the Greg Norman International event.
The course is now drastically different to the way it was back then. Over the past few years Mike Clayton has kept the existing layout but drastically redesigned the course taking it back to the very early links appearance it once was. Many trees have been removed, elephants buried under larger greens and bunkers given that wild, windswept look.
Click here for a hole-by-hole course tour of the Lakes Golf Course.

Who will win?
Adam Scott must be outright favourite but there’s a few guys who are looking to get some form up before the world tours start again. Andrew Dodt, Scott Strange and John Senden could be chances this week but click here for my full prognosis.

Coming to the course?

Here is the link to buy tickets to the Australian Open as well as spectator map and transport information.

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