Golf: Open finally gets its sponsor and its man

The Australian Open has received an 11th-hour boost in the form of a three-year naming-rights sponsor and the near-certainty that the country's top golfer, Adam Scott, will tee up. Australian Golf Union chief Colin Phillips said Scott was "99 per cent" sure he would play at Moonah Links next month.

And financial fund manager MFS will offer investment packages for golf clubs and golfers.

But it appears fans will have to do without big-name international players.

The reluctance of Americans to leave the comfortable surrounds of their multimillion-dollar weekly events and competition for superstar players from cashed-up Asian events has left the dwindling Australian tour isolated.

Peter Lonard will be targeting a third straight Open title and will be joined by former national champions Stuart Appleby, Robert Allenby and Aaron Baddeley.