The ISPS HANDA Australian Open is poised to return to Sydney, gracing The Australian and The Lakes golf clubs from Thursday, November 30, to Sunday, December 3.
The 2023 edition will be the continuation of the joint tournament format, allowing golf fans to witness top-tier men and women golfers compete simultaneously for different titles on the same course.
The four-day men's Open tournament marks its return to Australia for the first time since 2019 at the Australian Golf Club, with The Lakes Golf Club co-hosting the initial two days of play.
The dual ISPS HANDA Australian Opens boasts minimum prize money worth $3.4 million, and the men's event will be co-sanctioned by the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and DP World Tour.
Golf Australia's Chief Executive Officer, James Sutherland, expressed delight at the return to Sydney and emphasised the positive impact of the mixed-format event.
“We’re incredibly excited to return to Sydney for this national event, and thankful to our partner, the NSW Government, for their long-standing support for the sport and the ISPS HANDA Australian Open,” Sutherland said.
“With fantastic golfing facilities and a city that features some of Australia’s most well-known icons and tourist destinations, we will enthusiastically welcome golf fans and event-goers to this unique event in Sydney.

“Last year the world-first national open format pushed boundaries and broke new ground for golf – the event will be further enhanced this year and will again talk to our commitment to growing golf as a sport for all.”
Anticipation is building for a robust field of top Australian and international players, with Cameron Smith and Adam Scott emerging as the front-runners to lift the trophy in the eyes of bookmakers.
Smith, Australia's top-ranked golfer, is set to defend the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane before aiming to secure his first ISPS HANDA Australian Open victory on home turf.
Ranked number eleven in the world, Smith will defend the PGA title when the championship returns to Royal Queensland in Brisbane from November 23-26.
He will also attempt to clinch his maiden victory at the national Open when The Australian and The Lakes golf clubs play host to the ISPS HANDA Australian Open the following week.
Meanwhile, Scott, having established himself as a seasoned golfer with Australian Open and Australian PGA victories on his impressive CV, will also have his sights set on the grand prize.
The 43-year-old, who has recorded six victories in the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, adds another layer of excitement and competition to the two prominent Australian majors.
Aiming to add to his PGA titles, Scott will kick off his summer appearances at the Australian PGA Championship. Having finished runner-up behind Poland’s Adrian Meronk, who is also participating in the Australian Open, at the Victoria and Kingston Heath golf clubs in Melbourne, Scott will be determined to claim victory on home turf.
Despite already having a national open trophy in his illustrious cabinet, the ISPS HANDA Australian Open event offers Scott a promising platform to pursue further glory.
Smith and Scott are considered favourites by the bookmakers to clinch victory and will likely attract significant attention in the outright market, but they will face formidable competition from several top European players.
Ireland's Ryder Cup duo Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are unlikely to compete in Australia, but a quartet of players from neighbouring Scotland are travelling to Australia.
They are headed by Robert MacIntyre, who will attract plenty of interest on the best Irish golf betting sites as he bids to climb back into the world’s top 50. A third DP World Tour career victory would not only deliver a tasty winning return to sports bettors who wager on MacIntyre but also guarantee his place in all four of golf’s major championships in 2024.
Participation from three-time DP World Tour winner and Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts, as well as DP World Tour and PGA Tour winner Lucas Herbert, adds to the competitive field in the Australian Open.
American golfer Michael Block will aim to build on his stellar year at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open following an impressive performance at the United States PGA Championship at Oak Hill in May.
Perth’s Min Woo Lee returns to his homeland as one of the headline performers in the event and will garner plenty of interest on leading sportsbooks.

Pictured above - 2017 Australian Open winner Cam Davis at The Australian GC