Perfect conditions are forecast for the opening of the 101st Emirates Australian Open at Royal Sydney Golf Club tomorrow.
Today was pro-am day as amateurs of all skill levels teamed with the country's top professionals to take on the Rose Bay course on the shores of Sydney Harbour.
World No.5 Jordan Spieth of the United States and Adam Scott of Australia, the world No.7, will headline the field when the event begins at 6.50am tomorrow. Spieth tees off at 7.10am from the 10th tee alongside Australia's Geoff Ogilvy and brilliant West Australian amateur Curtis Luck.
The 2009 Australian Open champion Scott, who begins at 12.10pm, said today he was seeking redemption for his 2013 defeat by Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, when a 72nd-hole bogey cost him the title.
The Queenslander said he needed no motivation to play in his home Open, despite a long year overseas.
See Adam Scott’s press conference and story here: http://www.ausopengolf.com/news-display/95020
Another Australian hell bent on winning the title again after a long gap is Aaron Baddeley, the Victorian who won the Open as an amateur way back in 1999, one of the biggest shock results in the history of the tournament.
Baddeley has been resurgent in the US recently and believes that his best golf is ahead of him at 35.
See Aaron Baddeley’s press conference and story here: http://www.ausopengolf.com/news-display/95018
Trying to follow in his footsteps as the most recent amateur champion are three young Aussies in the world’s top 20, Luck, Harrison Endycott and Brett Coletta. The trio faced the media today, but not before they competed in another challenge.
To find out who’s the real king of the greens, check out this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cYxRJWa6p8&list=PLjpG5PJMpCpQgFfhPZ4EufZDtn4JOC5Mr&index=3
Or to watch the young guns face the media, check out this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1R965WDYLk&list=PLjpG5PJMpCpQgFfhPZ4EufZDtn4JOC5Mr&index=1
Gates open at 6am tomorrow with the first groups off the first and tenth tees away at 6.50am.
For full Round 1 tee times: http://www.ausopengolf.com/tee-times
There is a live radio broadcast from 11am through earpieces to be distributed at the course. AO Radio can also be heard through the tournament website, or apps of either the tournament or SEN 1116, AO Radio’s broadcast partner.
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The Emirates Australian Open has been secured for Sydney by the NSW Government, through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, in partnership with Golf Australia.
The Emirates Australian Open is a flagship tournament on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia. The winner will receive a minimum of 32 Official World Golf Ranking points.
The event will be telecast all four days on Channel 7.
Tickets are on sale now from Ticketek at www.ticketek.com or by calling 132849.
The 2016 Emirates Australian Open will be played at the Royal Sydney Golf Club from Thursday through Sunday.
Website: http://www.ausopengolf.com/
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