American Kevin Streelman, Australians Matt Jones, Stuart Appleby and Marcus Fraser are the latest players to confirm their places at next week s Emirates Australian Open at Royal Sydney Golf Club. World Number 43 Streelman won the 2013 Tampa Bay Championship on the PGA Tour among five top-10 finishes this season. Jones has had a breakout year on the PGA Tour with five top 10 finishes including a tie for second at the Greenbrier Classic. Appleby, the 2001 Australian Open champion, joins compatriot Fraser who is hunting his first Stonehaven Cup following a tie for second at The Ballatine s Championship in Korea earlier this year. World Number 2 and Masters champion Adam Scott will be aiming to complete his Triple Crown at Royal Sydney with World Number 6 Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy and World Number 20 Jason Day heading the players to halt Scott s charge and take the title from defending champion Peter Senior. The Emirates Australian Open will host the strongest field of Australian players this summer with John Senden, Geoff Ogilvy, Aaron Baddeley, Greg Chalmers, Robert Allenby, Nick O Hern, Scott Gardiner, Cameron Percy, Craig Parry and Rod Pampling all joining Scott, Day, Fraser, Jones, Appleby and Senior in the final tournament of the PGA Tour of Australasia 2013 season. Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris, said: It’s a very special year for Australian golf and it s great to see Sydney host this world-class event. Visitors coming to the Australian Open Golf in Sydney are in for a real treat to indulge in their golfing passion. The NSW Government remains committed to the long term vision of showcasing the historic Australian Open and highlighting Sydney and NSW s stunning, world-class golf courses to the world. Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said there was tremendous depth in the field and the fans were in for a sensational week as Adam Scott aims for the triple crown. Wherever you are, if you can get to Royal Sydney Golf Club next week, you re in for a fantastic four days of golf action as the Adam Scott hype reaches fever pitch, Pitt said. The strength in this field is its depth and the international flavour. While we ll all be cheering Adam on to the triple crown, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and the multitude of leading Australian players will all have their own plans for the Stonehaven Cup, Pitt said. Adding to the week s excitement will be The Open Qualifying Series Australia with the top three players not already exempt earning their place at The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) in July 2014. This adds further prestige to Australia s most coveted title and gives our competitors a wonderful opportunity to earn direct qualification into golf’s oldest Major, Pitt said. The Emirates Australian Open will be broadcast live on the Seven Network across all four days and the championship will again be sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and OneAsia. The Championship is owned by Golf Australia and is managed by World Sport Group in conjunction with the PGA of Australia, with the assistance of TRP Sports. Tickets are on sale via Ticketek at www.ticketek.com or by calling 132 849.
Author: Golf Australia