MARCUS Fraser will compete in his sixth British Open later this month.
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Fraser, who is on the brink of being selected for the Rio Olympics, was promoted from first reserve following the withdrawal of Tiger Woods due to a back injury.
"The open championship is my favourite tournament in the world so any time you get to play it is great,” Fraser said.
“I can't wait.
"Troon is one of the Open rota courses I haven't played but it is a pretty historic place so I'm looking forward to it."
Fraser joins world No.1 Jason Day, Adam Scott, Marc Leishman, Steven Bowditch, Matt Jones, Rod Pampling, Nick Cullen, Scott Hend and Nathan Holman in the field at Royal Troon.
The Corowa right-hander finished equal 20th at St Andrews last year, his best result in 10 major championships.
His five previous appearances in the British Open have been at St Andrews (2005 and 2015), Royal Liverpool (2006), St Annes (2012) and Muirfield (2013).
Fraser learnt of his entry into the British Open minutes after completing his second round in the Bridgestone Invitational at Akron last week.
"I owe Tiger a few beers that's for sure,” Fraser said.
“I changed all my flights to go there just in case, but until you actually get in you never know.
"So when the tweets and messages starting coming in as I came off course I was very excited.”
Woods has undergone three back surgeries since March, 2014.
Scott Hend and Fraser are the highest-ranked Australians ahead of the July 11 Olympic Games cut-off.
They sit in 76th and 82nd positions respectively with Holman the only player now capable of reeling Fraser in as the deadline looms.
Holman needs to win this week’s Scottish Open to make up the ground.
John Senden bowed out of contention last week after a disappointing finish in the second-tier US PGA Barracuda Championship.
Day, Scott, Leishman and Jones are ranked higher than Fraser, but have ruled themselves unavailable due to Zika virus fears.
Wodonga’s Zach Murray said he would love to see Fraser playing in Rio de Janeiro.
“It will be really good for him,” Murray said.
“I’ve had a fair bit to do with him, being from regional Victoria.
“From a golfer’s perspective, I think it’s fantastic.
“If I ever had the chance to go to the Olympics, I’d take it up for sure.”
Sixty players will battle it out from August 11 to 14.
Mulwala shooter James Willett and Wangaratta swimmer Belinda Hocking are in the games team.
