[PHOTO: Getty Images]
The feel-good story of the Open Championship just got better with Australia’s Ryan Peake given a dream grouping alongside his left-handed idol, Phil Mickelson, at Royal Portrush.
CHECK OUT OUR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE 153RD OPEN HERE
Peake, the former outlaw motorcyle gang member who won the New Zealand Open to earn a start at his debut major this week will off with six-time major winner and 2013 Open champion Mickelson at 7:19am on Thursday (4:19pm Thursday, AEST) and 12:20pm (9.20pm, AEST) on Friday.
Portrush, Northern Ireland is nine hours behind Sydney AEST time. Peake is among a nine-strong Australian contingent at Portrush including 2022 Open champion Cam Smith, Curtis Luck, Elvis Smylie, Jason Day, Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee, and Lucas Herbert.
Peake learned about the grouping just before playing a practice round at Portrush Tuesday afternoon with his childhood mate, Smith, as well as Leishman and Smylie.
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Leishman, who lost a playoff at the 2015 Open at St Andrews and is enjoying a career resurgence in LIV Golf, begins his campaign at 11:26am local time Thursday with American veteran Stewart Cink and Italian Matteo Manassero. They will switch to an early 6:35am tee-time on Friday.
Another former major winner, Scott, will look to rekindle his links magic alongside Rickie Fowler and US Amateur champion Ethan Fang. Scott tees off at 12:09pm Thursday and 7:08am Friday.
Smith, winner of the 2022 Open Championship at St Andrews, is grouped with England’s Marco Penge and amateur Justin Hastings. Smith tees off Thursday at 6:57am and Friday at 11:58am.
Lee, a.k.a. “The Chef”, who won his maiden PGA Tour title this year, has a high-profile grouping with two Ryder Cup star Tyrrell Hatton and Russell Henley. They’re off at 2:37pm Thursday and 9:36am Friday.
Herbert has been grouped with 2011 Open Champion Darren Clarke and American Davis Riley. Herbert will tee off at 7:52am Thursday and 12:53pm Friday.
Former world No.1 Day, a perennial major contender, begins at 7:08am Thursday with Canada’s Taylor Pendrith and Dane Jacob Skov Olesen, then switches to 12:09pm Friday.
Curtis Luck, a former US Amateur winner, tees off at 11:04am Thursday local time with England’s Daniel Young and fellow Aussie Curtis Knipes. Their second round begins Friday at 4:59pm.
Rounding out the Aussie lineup is Australian PGA champion Smylie, who will play with Laurie Canter and Spanish legend Sergio Garcia. They go off at 12:20pm Thursday and 7:19am Friday.
Below are the full tee-times and groupings for all nine Australians at the 153rd Open.
AUSSIE TEE-TIMES IN AEST
Player AEST Tee-Times (Thursday / Friday) Group Partners
Ryan Peake 4:19pm Thurs / 9:20pm Fri Phil Mickelson, Daniel Van Tonder
Marc Leishman 8:26pm Thurs / 3:35pm Fri Stewart Cink, Matteo Manassero
Adam Scott 9:09pm Thurs / 4:08pm Fri Rickie Fowler, Ethan Fang (A)
Cameron Smith 3:57pm Thurs / 8:58pm Fri Marco Penge, Justin Hastings (A)
Min Woo Lee 11:37pm Thurs / 6:36pm Fri Tyrrell Hatton, Russell Henley
Lucas Herbert 4:52pm Thurs / 9:53pm Fri Darren Clarke, Davis Riley
Jason Day 4:08pm Thurs / 9:09pm Fri Taylor Pendrith, Jacob Skov Olesen
Curtis Luck 8:04pm Thurs / 1:59am Sat Daniel Young, Curtis Knipes
Elvis Smylie 9:20pm Thurs / 4:19pm Fri Laurie Canter, Sergio Garcia
