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AAP
AAP
Murray Wenzel

Masters lessons have Aussie Stubbs 'at home' for Open

Australian golfer Jasper Stubbs will make his Open debut at Royal Troon. (Evan Barnes/AAP PHOTOS)

Jasper Stubbs was taking notes at Augusta and reckons it "feels a little bit more like home" ahead of his second major appearance.

That still won't stop the nerves when the Australian amateur walks on to the first tee at Scotland's Royal Troon on Thursday as one of six Australians in The Open field.

The 23-year-old punched his ticket to the event, and this year's Masters, with victory at Melbourne's Asia-Pacific Amateur championship last year.

In no rush to turn professional, Stubbs plans to defend that title in Japan this year armed with invaluable experience.

"There was a little more nerves and anticipation ahead of the Masters, as my first major," he said.

Stubbs began his Masters debut with promise but dropped six shots on his final four first-round holes, eventually missing the cut at 12 over. 

"I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but coming in now I have a better expectation of what major golf looks like," the Melburnian said.

"I've seen what the best in the world do during a major week, adapted a bit to that ... it feels a little bit more like home. 

"But it's still pretty nerve-racking. I'll get on that first tee with a lot of nerves, but that's cool."

World No.24 Jason Day, Adam Scott - pipped for the Scottish Open on Sunday - emerging star Min Woo Lee, 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith and Elvis Smylie will bolster the six-strong Australian contingent.

Smylie, the son of tennis player Liz Smylie, qualified after he tied for second at Royal Cinque Ports in England this month and is set for practice rounds with Scott and Lee this week.

Stubbs is expecting a typical Open experience at a course tweaked to become more difficult since Swede Henrik Stenson shot 20 under to beat Phil Mickelson when it last hosted the major in 2016.

"It's an amazing golf course; close to a true links (course) and it's cool to play that way," Stubbs said.

"But it's a brutal golf course once that wind gets up.

"The back nine is going to play super tough with a few new tees they've put in since Phil and Stenson played here. 

"They want some higher scores, I think."

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