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SYDNEY. – World number two golfer Jordan Spieth will be well rewarded for his trip Down Under this week regardless of whether he successfully defends his title at the Australian Open, a tournament he has developed a love affair with over the last four years.

The American’s appearance fee for playing for the Stonehaven Cup at The Australian course in Sydney from Thursday will be in the vicinity of $1 million, according to several golf insiders contacted by Reuters.

But it is all money well spent, according to Golf Australia chief executive Stephen Pitt. Pitt says the British Open champion’s appearance, along with that of home favourite Jason Day, has made the tournament much easier to market and helped sell out the corporate hospitality boxes.

“From my perspective, Jordan is the biggest man in world golf,” Pitt said in a telephone interview, citing Spieth’s three major titles by the age of 24.

“He’s an all around package on the course and beyond that he’s likeable.

“We’ve basically sold out of corporate hospitality and Jordan’s announcement really helped that. And pre-sales of tickets are much more advanced of last year.” – Reuters.