Today, Paul McNamee, Executive Chairman of the Australian Opens extended a hearty welcome to the 2006 MFS Australian Open as he presented many of the marquee player groupings for Day 1 (Thursday 16th November) and announced the field for the star-studded Pro-AM draw on Tuesday 14th November. Starting off the day at 7.40am from the 10th tee will be 2006 US Open Champion Geoff Ogilvy, two time winner of the Australian Open Aaron Baddeley and Bob Estes, multiple PGA Tour winner from the USA followed by Craig Parry, John Senden and Richard Green. Mathew Goggin will join New South Welshman Peter O&aposMalley and Stephen Leaney, with Brett Rumford, Michael Sim and newly crowned 2006 New South Wales Open Champion and National Squad member Rick Kulacz grouped together. But possibly the most exciting grouping of the morning lies with Matthew Giles, the current 2006 World Junior Champion and local Sydney boy, being paired with one of the game s greatest champions, Greg Norman. It has always been a dream of 17 year old Giles to play alongside Norman, who had already won four Australian Opens and one British Open before Giles was born. Looking to the afternoon session at 12.05pm, Adam Scott, fresh from his victory at the 2006 PGA Tour Championship and current world number four, will be given the honour of teeing off first at the 1st Tee. Scott will be paired with former Australian Open Champion Stuart Appleby and USA s Kevin Stadler, current leader of the Australasian PGA Tour 2006 Order of Merit. The following group on the first tee includes defending champion Robert Allenby paired with two 2006 PGA Tour winners, Australia s Rod Pampling and USA s Will MacKenzie. The next group sees Nick O Hern partnered by Paul Sheehan and Queenslander Scott Draper, making an extraordinary transition from tennis to professional golf! Also in the afternoon, spectators will be able to take advantage of twilight ticketing and view some of Australia s best golfers, including former Champions Peter Lonard and Peter Senior partnered by Paul Gow. Following play Apr s Golf will feature Pot-Pourri presenting Broadway on the Fairway in the public village area. The complete draw will be finalised tomorrow (Tuesday 14 November) post today s final qualifying at Long Reef Golf Club, Monash Golf Club and St. Michaels Golf Club. Tickets are from $20 and are available at the gate. PRO AM Tuesday 14th is Pro-AM day and it is free to the public. It’s the ideal opportunity to see the Open s best alongside Australian dignitaries, sports stars from the worlds of rugby, AFL, tennis, TV and music personalities. His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffrey SC CVO MC Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Charles Baillieu Chairman of Opis and MFS, CEO Phil Adams will be sure to have a day to remember as they set off with Greg Norman. Others famous Aussies taking up the challenge alongside the Open stars include a man needing no introduction Bob Hawke, rock legend Jimmy Barnes, keen golfer and household name Kerri-Anne Kennerley, And showcasing their sporting skills in a different way will be Pat Rafter (who plays off an impressive five), Todd Woodbridge (off seven) and John Alexander for the tennis fans, Jude Bolton and Adam Goodes, for the AFL passionate, George Gregan (also off five) and Nick Farr-Jones of rugby fame. 2006 MFS Australian Open ROUND 0NE Thursday 16th November AM 10th Tee 7 .40 Ogilvy, Baddeley, Estes 7 .50 Parry, Senden, R Green 8 .00 Goggin, O&aposMalley, Leaney 8 .10 Rumford, Sim, Kulacz 8 .20 Norman, N. Green, Giles 9 .10 Grady, Painter, Lyle PM 1st Tee 12 .05 Scott, Appleby, Stadler 12 .15 Allenby, Pampling, MacKenzie 12 .25 Sheehan, O&aposHern, Draper 12 .35 Dartnell, Flanagan, Wall 1 .35 Lonard, Senior, P Gow
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