Golf Australia today announced a three year deal with the NSW Government to hold the Australian Open in Sydney over 2007 2009. Making the announcement from the picture perfect backdrop of the Park Hyatt rooftop was New South Wales Premier the Honourable Morris Iemma and Executive Chairman of the Australian Opens, Golf Australia Mr Paul McNamee. Premier Iemma said, “The MFS Australian Open is one of the great showpiece events on the national sporting calendar and I am delighted that it will call Sydney home for another three years. “2006 was a magnificent tournament and the Sydney fans responded in droves. I look forward to that tradition continuing and the MFS Australian Open becoming one of the real signature major events this city has to offer.” McNamee said, “It&aposs a great moment for golf in Australia. We are thrilled to have the NSW Government s support and greatly appreciate their commitment to our national championship for the next three years. “It&aposs important to be able to lock into a market place. It gives us an opportunity to grow the event with a sustainable economic model and build on the record breaking success of the 2006 MFS Australian Open at Royal Sydney. “What&aposs also ideal is that at the same time we have the opportunity to rotate the event on a range of world class courses which Sydney has to offer.” It was also announced that the 2007 MFS Australian Open will be held at the prestigious The Australian Golf Club, Bannerman Road in Rosebery, December 13-16. The Australian Golf Club has hosted no less than 15 Australian Opens, including the first ever Open in 1904. The most recent Open at The Australian was in 2004 when Peter Lonard shot a final round 68 to hold off Stuart Appleby by one stroke. “With the NSW Government&aposs backing, ongoing commitment from our naming rights sponsor MFS, the opportunity to hold the Open at The Australian Golf Club matched with the immense Australian talent on golf&aposs world stage, I can say that we are well on the road to building the Open into a marquee event for the region,” added McNamee.