Australian Open officials offer tee-time treat for fans

Fans of superstar golf siblings Minjee and Min Woo Lee have the opportunity to watch both in action thanks to some savvy scheduling from organisers.

MIN WOO LEE.
MIN WOO LEE. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Minjee and Min Woo Lee can keep close tabs on each other's progress after officials strategically grouped the superstar siblings one tee-time apart for the first two rounds of the Australian Open in Sydney.

World golf's most exciting sister-brother double act has reached a whole new level, with Minjee a hot favourite for the women's event and newly crowned Australian PGA champ Min Woo also the bookmakers' top pick to win the men's Open.

Min Woo believes a "crazy" family double is definitely on the cards as betting outlets offer as skinny as 12-1 odds of the Lees both hoisting the trophy on Sunday.

"It would be something else," Min Woo said ahead of Thursday's opening round.

With the hype and hysteria building, organisers have opted to offer fans the chance to watch both siblings live during the first two rounds at the co-hosting Australian and Lakes clubs.

Minjee will play the first round at The Lakes alongside Sydney-born star Steph Kyriacou and LPGA Tour-bound Gabriela Ruffels.

The feature women's threesome will tee off immediately after the star men's group of Min Woo, 2022 British Open champion Cameron Smith and Japan's Rikuya Hoshino head out at 7.05am AEDT.

Former world No.1 Adam Scott, two-time champion Matt Jones and last year's winner Adrian Meronk, is the feature men's group playing the first round at the neighbouring Australian layout.

The marquee women's group comprising South Africa's defending champion Ashleigh Buhai and Lee's compatriots, former major winner Hannah Green and fellow 2023 LPGA Tour victor and Sydney local Grace Kim, will follow Scott, Jones and Meronk out at midday.

Minjee and Min Woo's respective groups will play at The Lakes on Friday afternoon, with Scott, Green, Kim and company to tee off at The Australian in the traditionally better morning conditions for the second round.

Whatever transpires, Minjee, the highest-ranked player in either field at the second dual-gender Australian Open, says she can't wait for the trailblazing tournament to start.

"I feel like every Australian Open when we come back we can have a huge reunion with the people that we haven't seen for a really long time," said the women's world No.5.

"So once a year we all get together and chat about life and all those good things. I don't mind it.

"I quite enjoy seeing the men around and All Abilities competitors."

All up, competitors will be jostling for a $3.4 million purse, including some $295,000 each for the two men's and women's Open winners.