Australian Open golf key facts
AUSTRALIAN OPEN KEY FACTS
When: December 5-8
Where: The Australian Golf Club, Sydney
Who: Adam Scott, Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey, Louis Oosthuizen, Abraham Ancer
Prize money: $1.5 million
Course record: 61 (Rod Pampling, 2015 Australian Open final round)
Defending Champion: Abraham Ancer
Former champions in field: Abraham Ancer, Cameron Davis, Matt Jones, Greg Chalmers, Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott, John Senden, Robert Allenby, Stephen Allan, Craig Parry
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Adam Scott (AUS)
World ranking: 15
Best Australian Open finish: champion 2009
The former world No.1 starts as tournament favourite after enjoying his most consistent season in years, highlighted by eight top-10 finishes in 2019 including in all three FedEx Cup playoff events on the US PGA Tour.
Marc Leishman (AUS)
Ranking: 27
Best Australian Open finish: T11th 2007
Back issues and a bout of pneumonia slowed his hot start to the year in which the one-time British Open runner-up posted three top-four results in his first four events of 2019. Has shed eight kilograms since August to be lean and hungry to lift the Stonehaven Cup for the first time.
Cameron Smith (AUS)
Ranking: 52
Best Australian Open finish: T2nd 2016
The US PGA Tour regular has become a household name having won the past two Australian PGA Championships but he's hungry to lift the Stonehaven Cup, which has eluded him since losing to Jordan Spieth in a playoff three years ago.
Paul Casey (ENG)
Ranking: 14
Best Australian Open finish: debut
Veteran Casey, making his Australian Open debut, is the highest-ranked player in the field. The Englishman has been resurgent in the past two years, winning twice on the US PGA Tour and once on the European Tour.
Louis Oosthuizen (RSA)
Ranking: 24
Best Australian Open finish: on debut
The 2010 British Open champ has never been to the east coast of Australia but is a past winner of the now-defunct Perth International tournament. Could join illustrious South African names on the Stonehaven Cup including record seven-time Open winner Gary Player.
Sergio Garcia (ESP)
Ranking: 35
Best Australian Open finish: on debut
The colourful Spaniard has played in Australia before but never the national championship. Garcia, who bagged his first major at the 2017 Masters and has won three European events since, has the ball-striking prowess to tame the lengthy test at The Australian GC.
Abraham Ancer (MEX)
Ranking: 38
Best Australian Open finish: champion 2018
Ancer returns to Sydney to defend the Stonehaven Cup he lifted at nearby The Lakes GC, when he became the first Mexican-born player to win the Australian Open. Ancer is in form, coming off top-eight results in his past two US PGA Tour starts.
Ernie Els (RSA)
Ranking: 438
Best Australian Open finish: Third (2001)
The four-time major winner will wow fans at The Australian GC with his silky smooth swing before captaining the International team at next week's Presidents Cup. But he has not been in good form on the US or European Tours.
