An 11 strong collection of Australians head to Royal St. George’s this week to attempt to claim the Claret Jug. Here are their full details, how they got there, why they can win and why they might not.

JASON DAY
Age: 33
Appearances: 9
Best finish: T4 (2015)
Last start: T14 – Rocket Mortgage Classic
How he qualified: US PGA Championship winner (2015).
Why he can win: The Queenslander is a proven major championship performer, and has a very good record at The Open Championship. A major winner in 2015, Day had a chance to win at the Old Course the same year, before finishing T4. Day has missed just one cut at the game’s oldest major (2019), and has recorded two of his best finishes of the year in his two most recent starts.
Why he might not: Day’s struggles with his game over the past 12 months are well documented. Ongoing issues with his troublesome back are a concern, so too inconsistency since beginning work with swing coach Chris Como. However, of greatest concern is the diminished effectiveness of his once greatest strength. The former World No.1 currently ranks 91st in Strokes Gained: Putting on the PGA Tour, and has experimented with multiple putters and admitted to struggling with visualisation. High ball flight also a question.
Odds: $67

LUCAS HERBERT
Age: 25
Appearances: 1
Best finish: T51 (2018)
Last start: T4 – abrd Scottish Open
How he qualified: Won the Irish Open.
Why he can win: Herbert arrives in red-hot form, and possesses a fearless attitude that will hold him in good stead this week. The wire-to-wire winner in Ireland two weeks ago, the Victorian returned to Europe having made three straight PGA Tour cuts and performed admirably over the weekend. Herbert is now decently experienced in the majors (this is his seventh start) and has a game well suited to this championship. Power in excess, a creative short game and ability to flight the ball all bode well for success at St. George’s. Great working relationship with English caddie Nick Pugh and backed up his win with a share of fourth on the links in Scotland, where he finished one shot out of a play-off.
Why he might not: Still only 25 and learning what it takes to contend in a major championship, with a best finish of T31 at last year’s US Open, winning would be a big jump for Herbert. Balancing his aggression with taking the medicine required on major setups will be a test, and accuracy off the tee is the weak point of his game, and can show up under the pump. This is his fourth tournament on the trot.
Odds: $67

MATT JONES
Age: 41
Appearances: 4
Best finish: T20 (2015)
Last start: T52 – Rocket Mortgage Classic
How he qualified: Won the Australian Open in 2019.
Why he can win: The winner of the Honda Classic earlier this year on the PGA Tour, Jones is having one of his best seasons on the PGA Tour and has made the cut in all three majors so far in 2021. A quality ball-striker who thrives when control from the tee is required, Jones’ short game has been rock solid so far this year and he is clearly playing with confidence. The Open shapes as his best major chance and is a proven winner in Opens.
Why he might not: Still relatively inexperienced at the majors at 41 years of age, and has never found himself in the thick of things in one of the game’s big four. Accuracy off the tee is a concern, and in the bottom half of the greens in regulation stats on the PGA Tour, Jones will rely heavily on his scrambling to keep tabs this week.
Odds: $201

BRAD KENNEDY
Age: 47
Appearances: 2
Best finish: Missed Cut (2011 & 2012)
Last start: Missed Cut – US Open
How he qualified: Winner of the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit 2020
Why he can win: Having considered retirement from Tour life in 2019, Kennedy has since won twice on the PGA Tour of Australasia and earned numerous PGA Tour starts and played solidly around the world. Experienced in this part of the world, Kennedy is a terrific game manager and outstanding putter, both elements that can lead to success on linksland, particularly if the weather plays a part. Plus, played here in 2011.
Why he might not: At 47, Kennedy has only played three majors and never seen the weekend action, and it is hard to imagine if he does so this week that the pressures of competing for the Claret Jug wouldn’t have an effect. Lacking some of the firepower of the big guns, Kennedy is very lightly raced when it comes to tournament golf over the last two years.
Odds: $501

DEYEN LAWSON
Age: 30
Appearances: Debut
Best finish: N/A
Last start: Missed Cut – Kaskada Golf Challenge
How he qualified: Via final qualifying.
Why he can win: The Gold Coast-based Victorian has the ability to make plenty of birdies and something of an uncanny knack for a hole-in-one. Having regularly recorded high finishes at home, Lawson has occasionally shown his best on the European Tour and clearly found some form at Final Qualifying. Perhaps his biggest asset is his formative golfing years on the windswept Bellarine Peninsula of Victoria in links-like conditions.
Why he might not: A win in a first major championship start doesn’t happen often for good reason. Despite his good showing at Prince’s to earn his place, Lawson’s form of late does not make for good reading. After a strong start to the year, including a share of second at the Queensland Open and T5 in South Africa, Lawson has missed 10 straight cuts.
Odds: $1,001

MIN WOO LEE
Age: 22
Appearances: Debut
Best finish: N/A
Last start: Won – abrdn Scottish Open
How he qualified: Win at the Scottish Open.
Why he can win: Form is clearly outstanding after his win in Scotland last week and will be brimming with confidence as he makes his major championship debut. Lee has consistently been one of the longest drivers on the European Tour since joining the old world circuit and power is always an advantage at major championships. Beyond his distance, Lee is a shot shaper, and alongside Gary Woodland arguably the best exponent of the stinger in professional golf, a shot that could come in very handy around Royal St. George’s this week. Lee was also rock solid with the putter last week, and didn’t seem phased when completing the biggest win of his career under immense pressure at The Renaissance Club.
Why he might not: Contending, let alone winning a major, the week after a win is a huge ask and a very rarely achieved feat. Lee will have celebrated his win well, but will need to refocus quickly as he attempts to put his best foot forward on the biggest stage. Debutants also don’t win majors often, and Lee is still wet behind the ears at just 22. Although a confident player and well aware of the major pressures via his sister Minjee, Lee has yet to face a test anything like this.
Odds: $101

MARC LEISHMAN
Age: 37
Appearances: 9
Best finish: T2 (2015)
Last start: 3rd – Travelers Championship
How he qualified: Top-50 World Ranking.
Why he can win: Long-tipped as a major winner of the future, Leishman has six previous top-10s at the four biggest events in men’s golf, and The Open shapes as a particularly good fit for the Victorian. Leishman lost in a play-off at St. Andrews in 2015, when his tee shot found a sand filled divot on the first hole of sudden-death, and very easily could already have the Claret Jug in his trophy cabinet. A solid all-round player, Leishman is regarded as one of the best wind players in world golf having grown up at Warrnambool Golf Club and was very impressive in his last start on the PGA Tour, where he is a six-time winner.
Why he might not: Leishman’s performance at the two most recent majors, including a disappointing 64th at Torrey Pines where has a great record, is reflective of his inconsistency in recent times. Set to make his Olympic debut in Tokyo, Leishman’s most recent win came in a teams environment and his driving, so often the key to his play, has been erratic in 2021.
Odds: $51

AARON PIKE
Age: 35
Appearances: Debut
Best finish: N/A
Last start: T62 – NSW Open
How he qualified: T3 2019 Australian Open.
Why he can win: Pike put some quality results on the board over the summer of golf in Australia in 2020/21. After winning the NT PGA in October via a play-off with close mate Michael Sim, the Brisbane-based right hander made four cuts from five starts and finished in the top-15 on three occasions. Able to work the ball with ease and a winner over the links styled Cape Schanck at the Victorian PGA in 2018, Pike owns a creative short game that should match up well at Royal St. George’s. And will have benefitted from some practise rounds with mate Jason Day in the US of late, as well as the magnificent facilities available in Ohio.
Why he might not: If he were a race horse, Pike would be considered to be coming over a significant spell. With little options for tournament starts, the Northern Territory product has not played a world ranking counting event since March, meaning four rounds will be a test of golf and focus. Also making his first career major championship, which rarely yields victory.
Odds: $1,001

ADAM SCOTT
Age: 40
Appearances: 20
Best finish: 2nd (2012)
Last start: T13 – Travelers Championship
How he qualified: Top-50 World Ranking.
Why he can win: Scott’s major championship pedigree is the most obvious indicator of success for him this week. A major winner in 2013, the Queenslander owns 19 grand slam top-10s over his career, and realistically should already have the Claret Jug in his possession. Sharing 25th at St. George’s last time The Open visited is another positive for the Masters Champion, who also played here in 2003 and likely owns more course knowledge than most, while ranking 19th in Strokes Gained: Putting on the PGA Tour and a solid hit out in his last start might be the biggest confidence boosters for Scott, whose game really suits links golf.
Why he might not: Despite the recent heroics of Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, players over 40 haven’t exactly dominated the major championship landscape in recent times and Scott has plenty of scar tissue at The Open of letting chances to emulate his idol Greg Norman go begging. Four bogeys over the final four holes in 2012 at Lytham handed Ernie Els the trophy, while a missed short putt at St. Andrews late on Sunday saw Scott limp home to a T10 finish. Scott’s play this year has been solid, but the 14-time PGA Tour winner has yet to really get in contention so far in 2021, but he does have plenty of experience contending if he does manage to do so.
Odds: $67

JASON SCRIVENER
Age: 32
Appearances: Debut
Best finish: N/A
Last start: Missed Cut (third round) – abrdn Scottish Open
How he qualified: Race to Dubai position.
Why he can win: Scrivener is having the best year of his career on the European Tour in 2021, and recorded his best major finish at the US PGA Championship at Kiawah Island just a couple of months ago. The West Australian via Cape Town has recorded four top-10s in Europe this year and was second in the desert earlier this year, while his game should match up very well with links golf. A straight driver who finds plenty of greens, the slower greens speeds might negate his relative weakness with the flatstick. Playing with more confidence than ever before.
Why he might not: The above mentioned putting is a concern if Scrivener finds himself in the mix over the weekend, so too his distance off the tee with reports of a fairly green and soft Royal St. George’s due to weather. Scrivener has only won once as a professional, the 2017 NSW Open, and not always found his best stuff when presented with a chance, and remains fairly inexperienced at the majors with just two starts, although he was the top Aussie at the PGA this year. Disappointing final tune-up at the Scottish Open. 
Odds: $251

CAM SMITH
Age: 27
Appearances: 3
Best finish: T20 (2019)
Last start: T30 – Travelers Championship
How he qualified: Top-50 World Ranking.
Why he can win: Smith has improved in each of his three Open Championship appearances, including his top-20 last time where a final round 76 undid much of his good work over the week. The Queenslander has become more and more comfortable in the majors and seems destined to win at least one of big four in his career, and is appears to be taking to being our top-ranked male comfortably. The two-time Australian PGA Championship winner claimed his third PGA Tour win earlier this year alongside Marc Leishman, and his status as one of best wedge players in the world is a good sign for this week. The moustachioed and mullet sporting Smith is also having his best season on the PGA Tour with the flatstick, and is clearly benefitting from adding some distance in recent years.
Why he might not: Smith is relatively inexperienced at The Open and more generally with links golf, which is a different animal to the PGA Tour setups and Augusta National layout where he has displayed his most impressive golf. Has played a fairly light schedule since three consecutive top-10s at The Masters, RBC Heritage and Zurich Classic, including two missed cuts (US Open and Memorial) and a disappointing T59 at the US PGA Championship.
Odds: $56

Cameron Davis earnt a spot following the withdrawal of American Kevin Na, but due to currently undergoing a Green Card application following his wedding last year was unable to travel to England.