Date: July 19, 2007
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Aussies Around The World: Weekend Preview

By Alistair Hogg PGA TOUR/European Tour A 20-strong field of Australians is in Scotland ready to tackle the formidable Carnoustie layout for the 2007 Open Championship. Last played at this venue in 1999, the course became an infamous struggle as the world&aposs best failed to come to terms with the challenging setup. Organisers have assured the field and golf fans worldwide that the course won&apost play as tough this year which should result in more scoring opportunities and as a result, less shattered dreams and broken egos. Household PGA Tour names such as Adam Scott, Aaron Baddeley and Stuart Appleby will be walk-up starters; however there is a smaller, lesser-known contingent that has flown under the radar through international qualifying. Ben Bunny, Ewan Porter and former National Squad member Won Joon Lee are among those that earned their stripes competing in events throughout Australasia and will line up among the world&aposs best at Carnoustie. Within that group of the world&aposs best, Tiger Woods is returning to defend the crown he won at Liverpool last year. There has been much talk and debate over the world number one&aposs form since becoming a father last month but rest assured, Woods will be looking to put that to bed with his third consecutive, and fourth overall British Open crown. Australians entered in the Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Club, Scotland Robert Allenby Stuart Appleby Aaron Baddeley Ben Bunny Peter Fowler David Gleeson Richard Green Adam Groom Mark Hensby Scott Laycock Won Joon Lee Geoff Ogilvy Nick O&aposHern Rod Pampling Terry Pilkadaris Ewan Porter Adam Scott John Senden Paul Sheehan Matthew Zions NATIONWIDE TOUR While the high-flyers on the PGA Tour are in the United Kingdom competing for the British Open, a small group of Aussies head to Montana to continue their pursuit up the Order of Merit and hopefully, into PGA Tour contention. Nick Flanagan leads the pack of six Aussies which also includes Steven Bowditch and Scott Gardiner – who posted a second place finish to compatriot Jason Day a fortnight ago. Australians entered in the Price Cutter Charity Championship at Highland Springs Country Club, Montana Steven Bowditch Steve Collins Nick Flanagan Scott Gardiner Matthew Jones Richard Swift LPGA TOUR Number two seed Karrie Webb, Rachel Hetherington and Katherine Hull will spearhead the Aussie attack at the HSBC Women&aposs World Match Play Championship at Wykagyl Country Club in New York. They will also be joined by Wendy Doolan and Lindsey Wright to add a strong Australian flavour to the event. The LPGA Tour&aposs top 64 players will gather for just the third staging of the event since its inception in 2005. Dark horse Marisa Baena won the inaugural title at Hamilton Farm Golf Club while American Brittany Lincicome was crowned champion at the same course last year. In 2007 the event moves across to New York for the first time and will begin on Thursday evening (AEST). All the tour&aposs hot-shots are there including Lorena Ochoa, Se Ri Pak, Morgan Pressel and Annika Sorenstam, as well as glamour girl Natalie Gulbis and tour veteran Laura Davies. Webb begins her campaign against Charlotte Mayorkas while Wendy Doolan faces 10th seed Mi Hyun Kim. Rachel Hetherington has a first round meeting with Shi Hyun Ahn, Lindsey Wright plays Brittany Lang while Katherine Hull will have a moment to remember when she is pitted against Swede Annika Sorenstam. Click here to view the HSBC Women&aposs World Match Play Championship bracket Australians entered in the HSBC Women&aposs World Match Play Championship at Wykagyl Country Club, New York Wendy Doolan Rachel Hetherington Katherine Hull Karrie Webb Lindsey Wright LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR No tournament this week.