Geoff Ogilvy and Adam Scott, the No.3 and No.4 ranked players in the world respectively, are the foundation of the Australian Open at Royal Sydney in December, but Golf Australia is seeking a supporting cast.

GA director of tournaments Trevor Herden is heading to the British Open, which starts at Royal Birkdale on Thursday week, hoping to finalise his shopping list for our Open.

Obviously Ogilvy and Scott, as top-five players, will be paid appearance money, said to be not excessive, but other internationals will receive only airfare and accommodation packages.

Those Herden will again speak to after preliminary talks at the US Open last month include Rocco Mediate, who enjoys cult hero status after his play-off loss to Tiger Woods at Torrey Pines.

Mediate has already stated a desire to make his first visit to Australia, confiding he would like to catch up with relatives in Melbourne.

Other Americans Herden hopes to lure are Brandt Snedeker, who proved popular in finishing tied second to Craig Parry at The Australian last year, the big-hitting Bubba Watson and youngster Anthony Kim, who scored his first victory in the US two months ago.

Colombian Camilo Villegas is also on the list.

High dollar hurtsTHE booming Australian dollar has resulted in entries being marginally down for the world amateur teams championship for men and women - the Eisenhower and the Espirito Santo trophies - to be played at Royal Adelaide and The Grange layouts in October.

Sixty countries have entered a men's team while there are 46 women's teams. Other nations have chosen not to enter because the healthy state of the Aussie dollar has lifted costs.

It is 50 years since Australia won the first Eisenhower Trophy after an 18-hole play-off with the United States at St Andrews and the surviving members of that team - Bruce Devlin, Bob Stevens and Peter Toogood - have been invited to attend. The fourth member was the late Doug Bachli.