FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN STARTING AT THE LAKES GOLF CLUB ON THURSDAY
* After a six-year absence, the Open returns to The Lakes, the second-most used course on the rota in the tournament's 104-year history behind only the neighbouring Australian Golf Club. A series of demanding tee shots and forecast windy conditions are expected to favour an accurate player with tactical nous, similar to past champions here - Peter Senior (2012), Greg Chalmers (2011) and Geoff Ogilvy (2010).
* American world No.29 Matt Kuchar, a winner last week on the US PGA Tour and 2017 British Open runner-up, is the highest-ranked player in this year's 144-player field. The other top-100 stars teeing up are Kuchar's countrymen, 2011 US PGA champion Keegan Bradley and 2007 Open runner-up Brandt Snedeker, leading home hope Cameron Smith, Korean Byeong Hun An plus exciting Mexican Abraham Ancer.
* There are nine former champions in the field including reigning Stonehaven Cup holder Cameron Davis plus Peter Senior (1989, 2012), Greg Chalmers (1998, 2011), Robert Allenby (1994, 2005), Peter Lonard (2003, 2004), Craig Parry (2007), John Senden (2006), Stephen Allan (2002) and Peter Fowler (1983).
* The absence of any former world No.1s for the first time in almost a decade has created some unwanted headlines for officials, with no-shows this year from regulars including Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Aussie big guns Adam Scott and Jason Day and US PGA Tour superstars Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose.
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*Apart from the Stonehaven Cup, a trophy featuring many of the legends of golf including Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Norman Von Nida, Kel Nagle and modern-day greats Greg Norman, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Adam Scott, the top three on the leaderboard on Sunday night otherwise not exempt will earn a ticket to the 2019 British Open at Royal Portrush.
