Australia's top-ranked golfer Min Woo Lee feels at the top of his game, taming his mental demons as he chases a maiden major at the British Open.
The world No.24 has arrived at Royal Birkdale ahead of the opening round in sparkling form, given a real boost after finishing runner-up at the Scottish Open.
Despite falling just short of lifting the trophy for a second time, Lee felt he had a breakthrough at the event and was able to overcome his nerves to play at his best.
"I played really good last week, I felt very comfortable and didn't really get too wound up in the moment," said the 27-year-old from Perth.
"I just felt like I was playing golf kind of at home and not letting the situation get me nervous ... I felt like I went through the processes really good and just mentally felt really, really pleased.
"I think that was the best I've done mentally, which is great, and hopefully I can bring it into this week and majors going forward."
Lee's best result in a major is a tie for fifth at the 2023 US Open but he felt of the four premier events, playing links golf at the British Open best suited his game.
"Yeah, I think something to do with the firm turf - I'm somewhat of a steep player so I think being a little steep going into this type of grass is not too bad because it just bounces out instead of real soft American courses.
"It slides through and take really big divots and you don't really want that most of the time and especially under pressure.
"So last week was very good technically and hopefully I can just keep it going this week."
Lee leads a seven-strong Australian contingent, including 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith.
Smith, who sizzled with the putter at St Andrews to lift the Claret Jug, broke a run of six-straight missed cuts at majors when he tied for seventh at the PGA Championship in May.
While he again made an early exit at the US Open at Shinnecock in June after a poor first round, the Queenslander felt he was finding his groove with American swing coach Claude Harmon III.
Smith arrived at the Southport course a week ago to fine-tune his links game.
Ripper GC teammate Lucas Herbert will join him at Birkdale thanks to his runner-up finish at the New Zealand Open, while Cameron John - qualifying courtesy of a runner-up finish at the Singapore Open - will make his major debut.
Major winners Adam Scott and Jason Day are also among the Aussies in action while Australian Order of Merit winner Travis Smyth earned DP World Tour status to book his second Open appearance.
But Smyth wanted to do more than make up the numbers.
"I want to win. I want to play well. I want to be in contention," Smyth said ahead of Thursday's (AEST) first round.
"I want to have that walk down the 18th with the grandstands full. I think that would be so cool. That's what I've been envisioning during the practice rounds."
History is on his side at the classic Southport links course in England's northwest, where holes wind their ways through towering dunes near the Irish Sea.
Peter Thomson won at Birkdale twice, in 1954 and 1965, and Ian Baker-Finch lifted the Open trophy there in 1991.
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"The course is incredible," Smyth said.
"When the wind gets up, it's tough. It's really firm, which we all like, and this golf course asks so much precision from you. You've got to hit some really quality shots if you want to play well around here."
AUSTRALIAN ROUND ONE TEE TIMES (AEST):
* 5.47pm (Thursday) — Michael Thorbjornsen, Kota Kaneko, Travis Smyth
* 6.25pm — Ben Griffin, Hideki Matsuyama, Min Woo Lee
* 6.47pm — Justin Thomas, Alex Noren, Jason Day
* 9.14pm — Cameron Smith, Keith Mitchell, Stuart Gregan
* 11.09pm — Bud Cauley, Jayden Schaper, Lucas Herbert
* 11.31pm — Chris Gotterup, Sam Burns, Adam Scott
* 12.59am (Friday) — Cameron John, Austen Truslow, Sam Bairstow
