The ISPS Handa Australian Open, part of the DP World Tour season, is taking place this week with top golfers competing for a purse of AUD$1.7m, and the opportunity to secure a place at next year’s Open at Royal Troon; the tournament is being held at the Australian Golf Club and the Lakes Golf Club in Sydney.
At Glance
‣ The ISPS Handa Australian Open, dating back to 1904, is one of the prestigious national opens in the new DP World Tour season.
‣ Top-quality players, including defending champion Adrian Meronk, are competing for a purse of AUD$1.7m, which is one of the smaller purses being offered on the DP World Tour during the 2023/24 season.
‣ Players are also competing for a $200,000 bonus for winning the DP World Tour’s Opening Swing phase of the season, and the top three will earn slots at the July Major.
‣ The tournament is being played across two courses – the Australian Golf Club and the Lakes Golf Club in Sydney, with men’s and women’s events alternating between them.
The DP World Tour season is in its second week. The highlight of this week is the ISPS Handa Australian Open, one of two prestigious national opens. The other is the Investec South African Open Championship.
The ISPS Handa Australian Open has a rich history dating back to 1904. Over the years, some of the world’s best players have won the tournament. Notable winners include Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth.
This week, many of the world’s top-ranked players are competing at the Hero World Challenge. However, the Australian Golf Club and the Lakes Golf Club in Sydney still boast a field of top-quality players. Among them is the defending champion, Adrian Meronk.
The players are competing for a purse of AUD$1.7m (approximately $1.1m). This sum is identical to the 2022 tournament. Despite the event’s long history, this is one of the smaller purses offered on the DP World Tour during the 2023/24 season. The season promises a whopping $148.5m in prize money.
The winner of the tournament will receive AUD $270,000 (approximately $178,000). The runner-up will claim $179,500 (approximately $118,600). There’s also a $200,000 bonus for winning the DP World Tour’s Opening Swing phase of the season, which concludes on 17 December.
The tournament offers more than just prize money. Players also have the opportunity to secure a place at next year’s Open at Royal Troon. This incentive was also offered at last week’s Joburg Open. The top three finishers, like Dean Burmester, Darren Fichardt, and Dan Bradbury, will earn slots at the July Major.
The biggest name in this week’s field is Cameron Smith. The Australian was close to tears after missing the cut at last week’s Australian PGA Championship. He is determined to make amends.
He will likely face strong competition from another Australian, Min Woo Lee. Lee recently eased to a three-shot victory in a tournament – his second win in five weeks. Can he make it three in six here?
Other local players hoping to perform well include 2017 winner Cam Davis and 2009 champion Adam Scott. Two-time winner Matt Jones, who played alongside Smith for LIV Golf team Ripper GC last season, also participates. The other two members of his team, Marc Leishman and Jediah Morgan, are also in the field.
The defending champion is Adrian Meronk. He returns in the hope of claiming his fifth win on the Tour. Another player to watch is Japanese star Ryo Hisastune, the newly crowned DP World Tour Rookie of the Year.
Team Europe Ryder Cup player Robert MacIntyre and PGA Championship sensation Michael Block are also playing. The women’s tournament will be played simultaneously, with each round alternating between men’s and women’s groups across the two courses. Big names in the women’s field include Minjee Lee, Hannah Green, and Ashleigh Buhai.
The tournament is being played across two courses – the Australian Golf Club and the Lakes Golf Club in Sydney. The men’s and women’s events will alternate between them.
