COVID and travel restrictions saw the tournaments put on ice after 2019 for the men and 2020 for the women, the three years since allowing tournament organiser Golf Australia to retool the event in the mould of the Vic Open.

Fields boasting the likes of Cam Smith, Adam Scott, Minjee Lee and Hannah Green have created plenty of excitement, while the Saturday second cut to 30 players in each field has been a constant talking point on the grounds of both co-hosting courses.

The opening two days are played across both courses, with three balls of men followed by the same of women before the weekend’s play is held at Victoria, which returns as host of the Australian Open for the first time since 2002.

Adding another element to the week, the Australian All-Abilities Championship will be played over 54-holes from Friday.

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS: Matt Jones won a second Australian Open at his home course The Australian in late 2019, while Inbee Park claimed the Patricia Bridges Bowl at Royal Adelaide.

RIGHT: Matt Jones won a second Stonehaven Cup when the Australian Open was last played in 2019. PHOTO: PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images.

Jones thought he had more of a buffer than he actually had playing the 72nd hole based on some bad information from a journalist, and proceeded to find the fairway bunker. He still managed to hold onto his 15-under total and a one stroke win over South African Louis Oosthuizen.

On the women’s side, Mike Clayton described the final day in 2020 at Royal Adelaide as Park “Inbeeing” her way around the course and defeating the rest of the field with her relentless consistency.

Park won’t defend this week, however, Jones is in Melbourne, his first trip home since that win in 2019 and All-Abilities winner from 2019 Johan Kammerstad is back to defend his crown.

COURSES: You would be hard pressed to find a multi-venue tournament played across two better courses in world golf.

Ranked No.20 in the country, Victoria Golf Club is the primary host this week, while Kingston Heath sits at fifth in this publication’s Top-100 Ranking for 2022.

Oscar Damman, William Meader and Dr Alister MacKenzie are credited with the original 1927 design that was renovated on by OCCM (Ogilvy, Clayton, Cocking and Mead) in 2019, with the now OCM the ongoing consulting architects.

A classic Sandbelt gem, the stretch of 16, 17, 18 to close is a tough trio anytime, let alone with a tournament on the line.

Kingston Heath will only be on each player’s dance card once, but they are sure to enjoy one of the best courses in the world.

Dan Soutar and MacKenzie shaped ‘The Heath’ with the OCCM and OCM crews once again engaged to look after the course.

The par-3 15th is the standout at Kingston Heath, while conditions at that venue are slightly softer than at Victoria based on player feedback so far this week.

PRIZEMONEY: $1,700,000 each field.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: In the men’s field Cam Smith once again is the star of the show as he continues his Claret Jug tour of Australia following his win at home in Brisbane at last week’s Australian PGA.

Smith is surely a little weary after celebrating hard at the Brekky Creek Hotel on Sunday night, but he loves Sandbelt golf where he won his Australian Amateur title.

Adam Scott and Minjee Lee chat during a Tuesday practice round. PHOTO: Australian Golf Media.

After opening with a bang last week, Adam Scott will be more at home on the pure rolling greens of Melbourne.

Despite growing up in Queensland, Scott has spent most of his life away from the Sunshine State and noted struggling on the grainy surfaces at Royal Queensland but said “it might have been the week I needed to warm up” at Victoria on Wednesday.

Scott’s ball striking was on point last week and has looked very solid in the lead in.

Similarly hitting the ball well this week, Geoff Ogilvy has been a member of Victoria for decades and showed his form is on the up with a closing 65 in Brisbane.

Of the younger brigade, keep an eye on Min Woo Lee who was close to putting some low rounds together last week.

Another player looking forward to the putting changes of Melbourne surfaces, Lee is admittedly running on the edge of empty after a busy year travelling the globe.

Playing a Tuesday practice round with Scott and her brother Min Woo, Minjee Lee has had a banner year winning a second major and one other LPGA title in 2022.

She hasn’t had her best stuff of late, but seems to be truly embracing the week and would love the chance to record a sibling double act with a win alongside Min Woo.

Lee’s fellow Aussie major winners Karrie Webb and Hannah Green will have their eyes on upsetting any chance of a Lee-Lee double.

Webb has won Australian Opens at both of this week’s venues, and despite being in semi-retirement will use her course knowledge and experience to her advantage.

Green will no doubt have leant on the former World No.1 for some advice on how to tackle the Sandbelt, and finished her LPGA season with some solid performances.

A winner of two mixed events earlier this year, clearly playing alongside the men is something the West Australian enjoys, so she must be a big chance.

The overseas contingent is stronger on the women’s side, major champions from this year Jennifer Kupcho and Ashleigh Buhai somewhat under the radar this week but both likely to be in the mix on Sunday.

Another major winner So Yeon Ryu got a Sandbelt education from Ogilvy and Mike Clayton on Tuesday and is a proven winner around the world.

MEN'S 72-HOLE RECORD: 264 (Gary Player, 1965)

WOMEN'S 72-HOLE RECORD: 270 (Karrie Webb, 2000)

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports, Kayo, Channel 9 12pm – 5pm)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports, Kayo, Channel 9 12pm – 5pm)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports, Kayo, Channel 9 12pm – 5pm)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports, Kayo, Channel 9 12pm – 5pm)
*AEDT, check local guides