2016 Australian Open: What you need to know

We answer these big questions about this week’s Emirates Australian Open: Where is it? When is it? Who is playing and how can I watch it?

It’s Australian Open week and it kick-starts a big, three-week stretch of professional golf in Australia that will be followed by the PGA Tour’s World Cup of Golf in Melbourne, and culminating with the Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast.

Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott headline this week’s Emirates Australian Open at Royal Sydney Golf Club that looks in absolute mint condition. Worth the price of entry alone.

So to bring you up to speed on who else is playing, when and where to watch it, and course conditions here is what you need to know about the 2016 Emirates Australian Open.

Huge crowds follow the final pairing of McIlroy and Scott at Royal Sydney in 2013.

Where is it being played?
Royal Sydney in Rose Bay will host The Australian Open for the 15th time this week with past winners including  Rory McIlroy, Tim Clark, john Senden, Aaron Baddeley, Robert Allenby, Gary Player and Marc Calcavecchia.

The last time it was played at Royal Sydney in 2013, Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott went head-to-head on the final day with the Northern Irishman pipping Scotty on the final hole.

This may be the last time you will see Royal Sydney looking like this. Olympic Golf Course designer Gil Hanse has been called in to renovate the place and if rumours are correct, he has been the nod to do whatever he likes to the place.

What’s at stake?
In addition to the prestigious Stonehaven Cup and the $225,00o winners cheque, three spots in The British Open are up for grabs. The three highest finishing players at The Australian Open who haven’t already got themselves a spot in the field to play the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale next year will have one on Sunday evening.

forecast
Sydney weather forecast for 2016 Australian Open. Source: SMH Weather

What is the weather going to be like?
As of late on Monday, the forecast for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday is looking good. Some patchy rain may be on the cards but it’s temperature-wise, it’s looking perfect. There doesn’t look to be a huge amount of wind either, so scores could go low. Lots of birdies!

Who is playing? Check out the full field
World number 5 and 6 Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott headline the Australian Open this year along with 10 other former Stonehaven Cup winners including John Senden, Geoff Ogilvy, Aaron Baddeley, Peter Senior and Greg Chalmers.

PGA Tour player Cameron Smith is back to play (he tied for 13th last year and you’d be mad not to watch some more of Australia’s best young talent on show too. Eisenhower Trophy winners Cameron Davis, Curtis Luck and Harrison Endycott will all be playing at Royal Sydney this week. Cameron Davis made his pro debut on the PGA Tour last weekend and finished 14th! These lads will win big tournaments in the coming years. Perhaps even this week.

ausopentvHow can I watch it?
Tickets are available through Ticketek or get along and grab yourself one at the gate ($44 for an adult on the weekend).

Channel 7 will be broadcasting all four days of the Australian Open (click here for further details) but if you can’t get to a TV or be at Royal Sydney, there are a number of other cool ways to follow along.

Australian Open TV will feature lots of great videos through the official website and make sure you don’t miss AO Radio, it’s a must-listen every year.

The best way to keep on top of it all would be to download the official Australian Open golf app for Android and iPhone users.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *