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John Senden joins record number of Australians at Hoylake

John Senden's one-stroke victory at the John Deere Classic on Sunday ensured a record Australian contingent in this week's British Open.

His last-minute qualification means 22 players will bid to end Australia's long wait to lift the Claret Jug, which dates back to Greg Norman's second title at Royal St George's in 1993.

Norman will not be at Hoylake as he recovers from knee surgery, but with five players claiming seven titles on the U.S. PGA Tour in 2006, Australian players should mount their strongest challenge for many years.

"It has been exciting for Australian golf. The U.S. Open was extra special for Australia," said Senden of Geoff Ogilvy's one-shot victory at Winged Foot last month. Ogilvy, who had also snapped up the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship in February, ended Australia's long wait for a major win since Steve Elkington's PGA Championship triumph in 1995.

Aaron Baddeley, Rodney Pampling and Stuart Appleby have all tasted success in the U.S. this year while world No. 6 Adam Scott has been runner-up twice in pursuit of his fourth PGA Tour title.

"Every week we just get better and better over here this year," Senden said after his win in Chicago. "It is going to be a good second half of the year."

Pampling, who won the Bay Hill Invitational in March, said Ogilvy's victory in New York had given Australian golf a shot in the arm.

"I've only played a couple of British Opens but we've grown up on hard, fast courses in Australia," said Pampling, who memorably led the Open after the first round at Carnoustie in 1999, only to miss the cut with a dismal 86 on the Friday.

"I think we have a good chance of repeating what Geoff did at Winged Foot.

"It's already playing very bouncy and there's a lot of fire in the course but I think it's going to be a great British Open and I'm looking forward to it."

Australia's previous record Open contingent was 21 players at Royal Troon in 2004, and with Andrew Buckle as first reserve the entry from Down Under could yet get bigger.

July 18, 2006