It’s said things come in threes and that may be of some encouragement to the 11 Australians who begin their quest for the 146^th Open Championship Thursday.

While there have already been three Australian victories at Royal Birkdale they are shared between just two players, and on a course that has proved historically kind to the Down Under contingent there is a lot for local fans to like this week.

Peter Thomson claimed two of his three Open titles at the Southport course, his first and last, and Ian Baker-Finch flew the flag again with his emotional win in 1991.

But victories aside, Birkdale always seems to bring out the best in the Australians.

In the 10 previous Opens at Birkdale only two have lacked an Australian in the top 10, a good sign as one of our strongest challenges yet gets set to begin.

The big three among the Australians this week are Jason Day, Adam Scott and Marc Leishman with Leishman, on form, the man most likely.

Of the four Grand Slam events it is this tournament and The Masters where Leishman has shone and in the midst of his best year as a Professional he, and many other close watchers of the game, will like his chances this week.

Other, more high profile players will attract the bulk of the media attention and that suits Leishman but if he plays his way into contention he is also comfortable in the spotlight.

Statistically the Warrnambool native doesn’t stand out in any category except the one that matters most – scoring average (where he is 4^th on the PGA TOUR).

His driving at the US Open was poor but despite that he was the lone Australian to make the cut and was near the pointy end of the leaderboard in the early rounds.

To be on the fringes of contention when not all facets of the game are firing is a sign of a top tier player and Leishman has undoubtedly been that in 2017.

While Leishman is mathematically our best chance it is the two ranked above him in world terms, Jason Day and Adam Scott, who will attract the bulk of the attention.

Day’s 2017 has been a roller coaster ride both on and off the course and his last two appearances, at the US Open and Travelers Championship, resulted in missed cuts.

The Open has been the least favourite of the majors for Day with his record less than stellar for a player of his caliber.

His T4 at St Andrews in 2015 is his best by a considerable margin and while he has never missed the cut his next best is T22, which came last year at Troon.

Conversely, Scott’s Open record is a good one, especially since 2012. His near miss at Lytham was the first of three consecutive top five finishes followed by a T10 in 2015.

Having become the first Australian to win the Masters in 2013 it is The Open Scott covets the most and he knows the window of opportunity won’t stay open forever.

The style of golf generally plays to his strengths with a premium on ball striking, particularly if conditions are difficult, and there tends to be less of a focus on putting.

When the Open was last held at Birkdale in 2008 it was only a third round 77, in horrendous conditions, which dropped Scott out of the top 10 and he, like Leishman, will fancy his chances this week.

For Scott, Day and Leishman the Claret Jug is the only goal this week but for the other 10 Australasians teeing up there is plenty to play for as well.

Eight Australians and two New Zealanders make up the balance of the Antipodean challenge with Ryan Fox and Michael Hendry leading the Kiwi charge and Ryan McCarthy, Adam Bland, Scott Hend, Ash Hall, Aaron Baddeley, Cameron Smith, Matt Griffin and Andrew Dodt representing the Australians.

Fox is the form player of that group having posted his three best European Tour performance in the past three weeks in strong fields and on difficult courses.

The 30-year-old has always been one of the most powerful players in the world game but his game has matured in other departments in recent years also and it would be no surprise to see him in the mix come Sunday.

Expectations will be less for the remainder of the group though all are capable of contending should they have their best stuff.