When The Open starts on Thursday afternoon, 10 Aussies will take to the Royal Liverpool Golf Course in the hunt for the Claret Jug and a $4.4m AUD winner’s cheque.
Here’s what you need to know about every one of them – with tee times and tournament details at the bottom.
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THE AUSSIES
Cameron Smith (world No. 7)
The reigning champion and last year’s Players Championship winner, Cameron Smith says he was in tears when he gave back the Claret Jug. No one has gone back-to-back at the Open since Padraig Harrington in 2006-’07.
“It‘s incredibly difficult to do,” Masters champion Jon Rahm said.
“And I can understand how when you get on a roll like that and win one, next time you’re in position you win another, well, it’s only fair to believe that the next one you’re going to be ready to handle the moment as well.”
Smith remains in very strong form – a fourth-place finish at the US Open last month is proof enough of that.
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Jason Day (No. 26)
A new coach, a reprieve from years of niggling injuries, and 13 career wins around the world. 35-year-old Jason Day is back into the world top 30 and in fine form.
Day was in contention early at the Masters before fading away, but boasts a best Open finish of tied-fourth (2015) and could be in the mix after adjustments to his game under a new mentor.
“He’s a big time player,” former Australian pro golfer Paul Gow told Fox Sports. “I can see him contending because he’s now brought his game back to where he can hit different types of shots.”
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Adam Scott (No. 38)
The 43-year-old has been in hot form in recent weeks after some teething issues earlier in the season following a change in ball and clubs.
The former major winner has been a professional since 2000 but his game is continually “maturing”, Gow says. There have been constant criticism of his putting, but Gow believes it’s a “lot better than people think”, particularly in the last two years.
“His form in 2023, he’s been there or thereabouts. In the last month it’s been getting better and better and better … He’s a big occasion guy.”
Scott was 2012 runner-up after a tough final four holes, before winning the Masters the next year. He certainly learned from that painful defeat and could finally make amends this time out, in his 23rd appearance at the Open.
Min Woo Lee (No. 47)
The 24-year-old is fresh off a fifth place at the US Open and a top 10 at the Canadian Open.
He finished in a tie for 21st in 2022 but is growing stronger by the day.
Gow says: “This kid is just getting better and better … we know he’s got the power but all the other shots that are required … that you need when you play a major championship.”
Lucas Herbert (No. 56)
Described as having an ‘X-Factor’ by Braith Anasta, the 27-year-old is growing in confidence on the big stage.
An aggressive mindset and some wins in the DP World Tour this season has him poised for a potential breakout campaign.
Haydn Barron (No. 937)
A former greenkeeper who turned pro in 2019, the Australasian tour Rookie of the Year is making his debut at a major.
He’s a big hitter and an intelligent golfer at 27, who earned his place in the Open through a tied-fourth finish at the Australian Open.
He said this week: “I’m going to tackle it with the best mentality that I can every day, and do the best I can every day. Whatever will be will be, and as long as I’m proud of myself at the end of the week, that’s my main goal.”
Barron added of his debut: “It’s only as big as you make it in your head.”
Travis Smyth (No. 310)
The 28-year-old has been on the LIV Tour and hasn’t played a lot of golf this season, but is another to make his Open debut.
He’s made the cut in all six events in the Asian tour this season with three top-10 finishes, and earned a spot through the qualifying series with a 3rd place at the World City Championship in Hong Kong.
A six-year pro settling into his game on a course that might just suit him – especially if it’s windy. “He knows how to flight his ball,” Gow said.
Connor McKinney (No. 1,140)
The 21-year-old only qualified for his first major a few weeks ago thanks to a brilliant run at Dundonald Links.
Born in Scotland, he moved to Australia aged 13 and grew up in WA.
Only a recent professional, he boasts a strong amateur pedigree and is one to watch as his game develops. He’s made all five cuts this season on the European Challenge Tour with a single top 10 appearance.
He almost earned a DP World Tour card in qualifying but is becoming more confident every tournament he plays.
David Micheluzzi (No. 363)
The 26-year-old is yet another making his debut at the Open, but is in hot form with a top 20 finish in Denmark on the DP World Tour just last week.
A professional since 2019, he’s firmly on the rise and has already won twice this season on the Australasian Tour while also playing on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour in a globetrotting campaign.
Gow says: “He’s just a gritty bulldog, he’s a tough competitor and really gets down dirty with the game. That’s what you need at the Open Championships. This kid never complains.”
Harrison Crowe (a)
The 2022 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship winner has already played at the 2023 Masters and is set to produce a more comfortable and settled performance in his second major. A five-title winner as an amateur, he’s set up to turn professional in the near future – and the 26-year-old has plenty of ability.
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R1 AUSSIE TEE TIMES (Thursday-Friday AEST)
3.57pm Ryan Fox (NZ), Lucas Herbert (Aus), Byeong Hun An (Kor)
6.14pm Jordan Spieth, Matt Fitzpatrick (Eng), Jason Day (Aus)
6.47pm Scottie Scheffler, Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Adam Scott (Aus)
6.58pm Cameron Smith (Aus), Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark
7.42pm Dan Bradbury (Eng), Oliver Farr (Wal), Haydn Barron (Aus)
9.20pm Brendon Todd, Romain Langasque (Fra), Travis Smyth (Aus)
9.42pm Min Woo Lee (Aus), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (Rsa), Harrison Crowe (amateur) (Aus)
10.15pm Zach Johnson, Matt Wallace (Eng), David Micheluzzi (Aus)
FRIDAY
12.43am Guido Migliozzi (Ita), Oliver Wilson, Connor McKinney (Aus)
R1 COMPLETE TEE TIMES (AEST)
3:35 PM: Matthew Jordan, Richie Ramsay, Branden Grace
3:46 PM: Russell Henley, Jazz Janewattananond, Graeme Robertson
3:57 PM: Ryan Fox, LUCAS HERBERT, Byeong Hun An
4:08 PM: Riyuka Hoshino, Charl Schwartzel, Alex Maguire (a)
4:19 PM: Adrian Meronk, Pablo Larrazabal, Hiroshi Iwata
4:30 PM: Patrick Reed, Connor Syme, Jose Luis Ballester Barrio (a)
4:41 PM: Darren Clarke, Victor Perez, Thomas Pieters
4:52 PM: Louis Oosthuizen, Joost Luiten, Christo Lambrecht (a)
5:03 PM: Stewart Cink, J.T. Poston, Trey Mullinax
5:14 PM: Henrik Stenson, Harris English, Andrew Putnam
5:25 PM: Scott Stallings, Jordan Smith, Thorbjorn Olesen
5:36 PM: Ernie Els, Kurt Kitayama, Takumi Kanaya
5:47 PM: Sam Burns, Sepp Straka, Chris Kirk
6:03 PM: Jordan Spieth, Matt Fitzpatrick, JASON DAY
6:14 PM: Padraig Harrington, Seamus Power, Talor Gooch
6:25 PM: K.H. Lee, Davis Riley, Taiga Semikawa
6:36 PM: Patrick Cantlay, Brooks Koepka, Hideki Matsuyama
6:47 PM: Scottie Scheffler, Tommy Fleetwood, ADAM SCOTT
6:58 PM: CAM SMITH, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark
7:09 PM: Shane Lowry, Rickie Fowler, Robert MacIntyre
7:20 PM: Cameron Young, Si Woo Kim, Bryson DeChambeau
7:31 PM: Nicolai Hojgaard, Bio Kim, Kazuki Yasumori
7:42 PM: Dan Bradbury, Oliver Farr, HAYDN BARRON
7:53 PM: Marcel Siem, Martin Rohwer, Tiger Christensen (a)
8:04 PM: Lee Hodges, Antoine Rozner, Richard Bland
8:15 PM: Yannik Paul, Sami Valimaki, Laurie Canter
8:36 PM: Rasmus Hojgaard, Matthew Southgate, Alex Fitzpatrick
8:47 PM: Daniel Hillier, Kyung Nam Kang, Kensei Hirata
8:58 PM: Callum Shinkwin, Kazuki Higa, Michael Kim
9:09 PM: Zack Fischer, Taichi Kho, Kyle Barker
9:20 PM: Brendon Todd, Romain Langasque, TRAVIS SMYTH
9:31 PM: Gary Woodland, Adrian Otaegui, Alexander Bjork-
9:42 PM: MIN WOO LEE, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, HARRISON CROWE (a)
9:53 PM: Corey Conners, Billy Horschel, Alex Noren
10:04 PM: Tom Kim, Tom Hoge, Abraham Ancer
10:15 PM: Zach Johnson, Matt Wallace, DAVID MICHELUZZI
10:26 PM: Sahith Theegala, Emiliano Grillo, Dustin Johnson
10:37 PM: Francesco Molinari, Denny McCarthy, Mateo Fernandez De Oliveira (a)
10:48 PM: Brian Harman, Thriston Lawrence, Thomas Detry
11:04 PM: John Daly, Taylor Moore, Danny Willett
11:15 PM: David Lingmerth, Ben Griffin, Ockie Strydom
11:26 PM: Adri Arnaus, Ewen Ferguson, Keita Nakajima
11:37 PM: Keegan Bradley, Sungjae Im, Joaquin Niemann
11:48 PM: Viktor Hovland, Tony Finau, Justin Thomas
11:59 PM: Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Justin Rose
FRIDAY
12:10 AM: Collin Morikawa, Max Homa, Tyrrell Hatton
12:21 AM: Phil Mickelson, Nick Taylor, Adam Schenk
12:32 AM: Nacho Elvira, Marc Warren, Alejandro Canizares-
12:43 AM: Guido Migliozzi, Oliver Wilson, CONNOR MCKINNEY
12:54 AM: Kalle Samooja, Shubhankar Sharma, Gunner Wiebe
1:05 AM: Jorge Campillo, Brandon Robinson Thompson, Michael Stewart
1:16 AM: Hurly Long, Seungsu Han, Marco Peng
HOW TO WATCH
Wednesday
10pm-4am Live From The Open (Fox Sports 505/Kayo)
Thursday
3.30pm-5am Round 1 (Fox Sports 505/Kayo)
Friday
5am-7am Live From The Open (Fox Sports 505/Kayo)
3.30pm-5am Round 2 (Fox Sports 505/Kayo)
Saturday
5am-7am Live From The Open (Fox Sports 505/Kayo)
7pm – 5am Round 3 (Fox Sports 505/Kayo)
Sunday
5am-7am Live From The Open (Fox Sports 505/Kayo)
Final Round 6pm – 4am (Fox Sports 505/Kayo)
Monday
4am-6am Live From The Open (Fox Sports 505/Kayo)
