The World number one Tiger Woods has turned down a reported £870,000 sterling appearance money offer to play in Australia's top tournament, which starts tomorrow. The Australian Open at Kingston Heath is the first of 11 tournaments down under over the next three months.
But for many American and European golfers the pummelling of the Australian dollar has not made the Open purse appealing enough to justify a long trip at the end of a tiring season.
A further problem is the tournament's perennial clash with the final stages of European and US Tour qualifying schools.
But while the field at the 85th Open is not the classiest ever assembled, big guns such as Mark O'Meara, Nick Faldo - making his first Australian appearance in 11 years - and Greg Norman, chasing his sixth Open title, should ensure full galleries.
Sweden's Pierre Fulke, winner of the Volvo Masters in Spain earlier this month, will play but Padraig Harrington will not be competing.
Reigning champion Aaron Baddeley, the youngest player and first amateur to win the event in 39 years, will be back to defend the crown he took in a tussle with Colin Montgomerie.
