Golf: Scott eyes revenge at Open

Adam Scott will face an in-form Rory McIlroy at this weekend's Australian Open in Sydney. Picture / AP

Hometown hero and world No1 renew rivalry at tournament they dominated last year.

Adam Scott has been grouped with American drawcard Jordan Spieth and newly crowned Australian Masters champion Nick Cullen for the first two rounds of the Australian Open golf in Sydney.

Scott will tee off just after midday in tomorrow's opening round as he bids to atone for his one-shot loss last year to Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy.

The Northern Irishman will tee off with the morning wave in another marquee threesome with Australians Geoff Ogilvy and Stuart Appleby.

Scott and McIlroy had their first look at the revamped layout at the Australian yesterday.

While Scott is coming off a share of second at the Australian Masters, McIlroy arrived in Sydney from Dubai late on Monday.

The world No1 finished equal second behind winner Henrik Stenson at the DP World Tour Championship at the weekend and is the player to beat in his title defence.

Stenson's victory helped the Swede leapfrog Scott to world No2, the Australian falling to No3 in the rankings released on Monday.

It was at Royal Sydney last year where McIlroy's resurgence started.

Winless to that point in 2013, the Northern Irishman conquered a faltering Scott with a birdie on the final hole. The two had gone head-to-head on the back nine, with Scott squandering a number of birdie chances.

Since then, it's been all McIlroy. He won the British Open at Royal Liverpool by two shots and made it a major double in 2014 by taking the PGA Championship at Valhalla Country Club. Scott is still waiting on his second major after his Masters victory in 2013. AAP