LEADING CONTENDERS FOR THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP STARTING AT KINGSTON HEATH AND VICTORIA GOLF CLUBS ON THURSDAY:

CAMERON SMITH (AUS)Age: 31 Ranking: 100Highest ranking: 2Professional wins: 12Best Australian Open finish: T2nd 2016Best major finish: 2022 British Open championAfter blowing third-round leads in his last two starts, the LIV Golf star is desperate to add the Stonehaven Cup to his three Australian PGA Championship trophies, not to mention the Claret Jug and his 2022 Players' crown.

MIN WOO LEE (AUS)Age: 26Ranking: 49Highest ranking: 31Professional wins: 4Best Australian Open finish: 3rd 2023Best major finishes: T5th 2022 US OpenTouted as a future world No.1, the Perth prodigy is teetering just inside the top 50 and needs to stay there at year's end to secure another trip back to Augusta National, so must make the cut this week to be certain.

CAM DAVIS (AUS)Age: 29Ranking: 51Highest ranking: 38Professional wins: 5Australian Open finish: champion 2017Best major finish: T4th 2023 PGA ChampionshipThe somewhat unheralded former champion has enjoyed another stellar season, claiming his second PGA Tour title and contending strongly at the Masters and should not be counted out.

JOAQUIN NIEMANN (CHI)Age: 26Ranking: 133Highest ranking: 15Professional wins: 14Best Australian Open finish: champion 2023Best major finish: T16th 2023 MastersLike his LIV Golf peer Smith, forget his lowly ranking. The South American showed his clash last year with a steely playoff victory ti ice a brilliant final round at The Australian. LUCAS HERBERT (AUS)Age: 28Ranking: 196Highest ranking: 40Professional wins: 5Best Australian Open finish: T6th 2017Best major finish: T13th 2022 PGA ChampionshipAnother in-form LIV league star who reeled in a four-shot final-round deficit to deny Smith at the NSW Open two weeks ago for his maiden win on home soil.