Travis Smyth has spent his practice rounds at Royal Birkdale imagining packed galleries as he walks down the 18th fairway aiming to join the list of Open Championship winners at the course.
The Australian circuit’s Order of Merit winner earned DP World Tour status to book his second Open appearance as one of seven countrymen in the year’s final golf major.
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“I want to win. I want to play well. I want to be in contention,” he said ahead of Thursday’s (AEST) first round.
“I want to have that walk down the 18th with the grandstands full. I think that would be so cool. That’s what I’ve been envisioning during the practice rounds.”
Smyth drained a long eagle putt on the 72nd hole to win the International Series Japan in April and then helped Crushers GC to a team win as a late-call up for LIV Golf Korea.
“I still feel like I’ve got a lot to prove because I haven’t played well in majors on this stage yet,” he said of his next goal.
“I’ve played well on the Australian and Asian tours, but in terms of this world stage, I feel like I’m yet to put my name out there and put my hand up.”
History is on his side at the classic Southport links course in England’s northwest, where holes wind their ways through towering dunes near the Irish Sea.
Peter Thomson won at Birkdale twice, in 1954 and 1965, and Ian Baker-Finch lifted the Claret Jug there in 1991.
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“The course is incredible,” Smyth said. “When the wind gets up, it’s tough. It’s really firm, which we all like, and this golf course asks so much precision from you. You’ve got to hit some really quality shots if you want to play well around here.”
World No.24 Min Woo Lee arrives after a runner-up finish at the Scottish Open, a tournament he won in 2021.
“I’m really excited,” he said of his form line. “I don’t think I missed too many shots out there which was great to see.
“Of course, you’re nervous on some shots, but I seem to get on the better side of it, and I think that’s a lot of maturity and a lot of good stuff with technique.”
Cameron Smith, who sizzled with the putter to win the Open four years ago, broke a run of six-straight missed cuts at majors when he tied for seventh at the PGA Championship in May.
With no LIV events since last month’s US Open, where Smith missed the cut at the brutal Shinnecock Hills, he’s been playing practice rounds at courses near his Florida home.
Ripper GC teammate Lucas Herbert will join him at Birkdale thanks to his runner-up finish at the New Zealand Open, while Cameron John – qualifying courtesy of a runner-up finish at the Singapore Open – will make his major debut.
Major winners Adam Scott and Jason Day round out the Australian contingent, while Elvis Smylie was a late withdrawal due to a rib injury.
AUSTRALIAN ROUND ONE TEE TIMES (AEST):
* 5.47pm (Thursday) — Michael Thorbjornsen, Kota Kaneko, Travis Smyth
* 6.25pm — Ben Griffin, Hideki Matsuyama, Min Woo Lee
* 6.47pm — Justin Thomas, Alex Noren, Jason Day
* 9.14pm — Cameron Smith, Keith Mitchell, Stuart Gregan
* 11.09pm — Bud Cauley, Jayden Schaper, Lucas Herbert
* 11.31pm — Chris Gotterup, Sam Burns, Adam Scott
* 12.59am (Friday) — Cameron John, Austen Truslow, Sam Bairstow
