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Minjee Lee’s status as Australian golf’s most recent major winner goes on the line this week with nine Australians to contest The Amundi Evian Championship in France.
The following week it will be the boys’ turn, as nine tee it up at The Open Championship at Royal Portrush, Adam Scott and Elvis Smylie the only two of the nine who are exempt who will prepare by playing this week’s Genesis Scottish Open.
With so many of Australia’s big guns opting not to play last week, it provided the opportunity for others to step into the limelight.
Kirsten Rudgeley returns to the Power Rankings for the first time since early April on the back of consecutive top 10s on the Ladies European Tour while Maverick Antcliff enjoyed his best international result in close to five years at the International Series Morocco.
A winner on the Asian Tour this year, Lucas Herbert entrenched his place behind Lee at No.2 by earning medallist honours at Final Qualifying for The Open Championship.
10. Kirsten Rudgeley (New)
Has bounced back impressively after a lacklustre start to her campaign in Europe. After four missed cuts was tied ninth at the Czech Ladies Open and then followed that up with a tie for fifth at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open. Now 24th on the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit.
9. Karl Vilips (8)
A third straight missed cut for the Puerto Rico Open champion. In 13 individual starts in his rookie season on the PGA TOUR Vilips has finished inside the top 35 on just two occasions, his Puerto Rico Open win and a tie for 11th at the Charles Schwab Challenge.
8. Stephanie Kyriacou (9)
Returns to Evian Resort Golf Club seeking to go one better than her runner-up finish at The Amundi Evian Championship 12 months ago. Currently ranked No.42 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking with three top-six finishes on the LPGA Tour this year.
7. Min Woo Lee (7)
Has arrived in the UK to prep for next week’s Open Championship in Northern Ireland. The 2021 champion has opted not to play the Genesis Scottish Open, crossing the Atlantic on the back of a tie for 13th at the Rocket Classic two weeks ago.
6. Hannah Green (6)
Arrives in France hoping to improve on previous showings at The Amundi Evian Championship. In five previous appearances the world No.11’s best result is a tie for 30th in 2019, coming shortly after her KPMG Women’s PGA victory.
5. Marc Leishman (5)
Currently 10th in the LIV Golf individual standings, Leishman will prepare for his first Open Championship since 2022 by teeing it up with the Ripper GC boys at LIV Golf Andalucia in Spain. Leishman is exempt into The Open by virtue of his tie for third at the Australian Open in December, edging Jasper Stubbs for the spot due to higher world ranking.
4. Adam Scott (4)
Denied victory at the final hole by home-country hero Robert MacIntyre 12 months ago, Scott tees it up for the first time since the Travelers Championship at this week’s Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club. Top 20 in his past two major starts, including a deep run at the US Open.
3. Jason Day (3)
Holds his mantle as Australia’s highest-ranked male player despite failing to make the weekend at the John Deere Classic. Moved to 28th in the Official World Golf Ranking on the back of a tie for fourth at the Travelers Championship.
2. Lucas Herbert (2)
Bolstered the Australian contingent at The Open by topping Final Qualifying held at West Lancashire last week. Will be eager to carry that form into this week’s LIV Golf Andalucia event in Spain.
1. Minjee Lee (1)
Returns to the site of her maiden major triumph on the back of the third major win of her career at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Including her win in 2021, Lee has finished top 20 five times in 10 starts at The Amundi Evian Championship.
The Australian Golf Power Rankings is a subjective list developed with input from members of the Australian Golf media team.
Maverick Antcliff’s best result in close to five years highlighted a week of strong showings from Aussies across the globe.
Not since the 2020 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open on the DP World Tour in 2020 had Antcliff (pictured, centre) featured so prominently on an international leaderboard, posting 9-under at the International Series Morocco on the Asian Tour to earn a share of third.
The top of the leaderboard in Morocco was littered with Australasian talent.
Kiwi Denzel Ieremia finished alongside Antcliff at 9-under as John Lyras made a successful return to tournament golf, finishing tied for eighth along with South Australian Jack Buchanan.
Aussies were prominent in Europe, also.
After an indifferent start to her Ladies European Tour, Kirsten Rudgeley made it back-to-back top 10s with her best result in Europe since finishing runner-up in France last September.
While world No.1 amateur Lottie Woad completed a dominant six-stroke win at the Women’s Irish Open, Rudgeley (pictured, right) was tied fifth, New Zealand’s Amelia Garvey moving into 10th on the Order of Merit with her third top-three finish in her past four stars.
The Aussie flag featured twice inside the top five at the Swedish Strokeplay Championship on the LET Access Series.
Justice Bosio solidified her position at the top of the Rookie of the Year standings and fifth on the Order of Merit with a third top-five finish in her past five starts as Stephanie Bunque (pictured, left) earned a share of third, her best result in Europe in two years.
The 2023/2024 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner, Kazuma Kobori, took a massive step towards retaining his DP World Tour status with a third-place finish at the BMW International Open.
It is the second year in succession that the Order of Merit winner has made a move in Germany.
Twelve months ago David Micheluzzi was second in Munich, Kiwi Kobori climbing 29 spots into 44th on the Race to Dubai ranking.
Photos: Courtesy LET Access Series (Bunque); Steve Bardens/Asian Tour (Antcliff); Tristan Jones/LET (Rudgeley)
Results
PGA TOUR
John Deere Classic
TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois
1 Brian Campbell 65-66-68-67—266 $US1.512m
Won on first hole of sudden-death playoff
MC Jason Day 74-66—140
MC Karl Vilips 77-65—142
MC Harrison Endycott 76-71—147
DP World Tour
BMW International Open
Golfclub München Eichenried, Munich, Germany
1 Daniel Brown 70-65-65-66—266 €396,713.02
3 Kazuma Kobori (NZ) 72-67-68-63—270 €147,017.18
T38 Elvis Smylie 73-66-72-68—279 €14,468.36
MC Daniel Gale 72-70—142
MC Daniel Hillier (NZ) 72-70—142
MC David Micheluzzi 72-72—144
MC Jason Scrivener 72-75—147
Asian Tour
International Series Morocco
Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (Red Course), Morocco
1 Scott Vincent 71-66-71-70—278 $US360,000
T3 Denzel Ieremia (NZ) 71-73-70-69—283 $102,666.67
T3 Maverick Antcliff 69-70-72-72—283 $102,666.67
T8 John Lyras 70-71-73-72—286 $45,900
T8 Jack Buchanan 71-72-68-75—286 $45,900
T10 Kevin Yuan 70-72-74-71—287 $33,975
T22 Travis Smyth 72-71-73-73—289 $18,272.73
T22 Ben Campbell (NZ) 73-68-77-71—289 $18,272.73
T33 Ryan Peake 73-73-68-76—290 $14,400
T64 Brett Rankin 71-74-74-78—297 $5,400
MC Todd Sinnott 76-72—148
MC Lawry Flynn 73-76—149
MC Brett Coletta 76-77—153
MC Jack Thompson 78-79—157
Ladies European Tour
KPMG Women’s Irish Open
Carton House, Ireland
1 Lottie Woad (a) 68-67-67-69—271 ——
3 Amelia Garvey (NZ) 69-70-72-67—278 €40,500
T5 Kirsten Rudgeley 71-68-71-72—282 €15,750
T31 Momoka Kobori (NZ) 74-71-75-69—289 €3,952.50
T31 Kelsey Bennett 72-73-72-72—289 €3,952.50
T31 Maddison Hinson-Tolchard 69-76-72-72—289 €3,952.50
MC Amy Walsh 76-76—152
MC Sarah Kemp 78-75—153
PGA TOUR Americas
Explore NB Open
Mactaquac Golf Course, New Brunswick, Canada
1 David Perkins 65-65-68-67—265 $40,500
T34 Grant Booth 67-69-69-70—275
MC Charlie Hillier (NZ) 69-70—139
HotelPlanner Tour
Interwetten Open
Schladming-Dachstein Golf Club, Oberhaus, Austria
1 Maximilian Steinlechner 64-61-66-64—255 €48,000
T15 Sam Jones (NZ) 62-68-67-65—262 €4,050
MC Tom Power Horan 67-70—137
MC Hayden Hopewell 69-74—143
LET Access Series
Swedish Strokeplay Championship
Golf Uppsala Soderby, Sweden
1 Andrea Lignell 64-77-72—213 €7,200
T3 Stephanie Bunque 71-75-69—215 €3,375
T5 Justice Bosio 71-73-72—216 €1,597.50
T38 Abbie Teasdale 72-76-77—225 €402.75
T42 Belinda Ji 72-80-74—226 €339.30
T54 Kristalle Blum 75-77-77—229 €126
Legends Tour
Reignwood Legends Championship
Reignwood Pine Valley, Beijing
1 Keith Horne 68-68-68—204
T11 Scott Hend 70-69-72—211
T34 Michael Campbell (NZ) 72-74-75—221
T46 Michael Long 77-75-74—226
A long-awaited Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia title is in Tim Hart’s sights after the Queenslander claimed a second Ian Weigh Toyota Rockhampton Pro-Am title in four years.
Rising from his sick bed to trail Will Florimo and Nathan Barbieri by one after Round 1, Hart took the outright lead with a second straight 67 in Round 2 but saved his best for last, closing out a three-stroke win with a superb 7-under 65 in Saturday’s final round.
With birdies at 15 and 17, Lismore’s Sam Brazel pushed Hart to the very end, the 36-year-old prolific adidas PGA Pro-Am Series winner responding with birdies at 17 and 18 for a 17-under total to add to his 2022 victory.
“I still haven’t managed to get a win (on Tour) yet, so that’s definitely something I’m looking forward to this year with how consistent I’ve been playing,” said Hart.
“I’ve been doing a lot of mental work again this year and it just helps a lot out there to calm my nervous system down when I’m under pressure.
“I’m just starting to know how to control that a lot better than what I used to.”
Barbieri (68) and 2024 champion Chris Wood (68) shared third at 12-under, Doug Klein (68) outright fifth at 11-under.
Turning point
Leading Brazel and Jack Pountney by one at the start of the final round, Hart made birdie at the par-5 first yet found himself tied for the lead as Brazel began his day with an eagle.
There was a two-shot swing Hart’s way when he made birdie and Brazel dropped a shot at the par-4 fourth, Hart moving a further shot clear with a further birdie at the par-4 fifth.
He would head to the back nine with a four-stroke advantage, a comfortable buffer Brazel could never rein in.
Quick quotes
“I was feeling pretty good coming up here, other than being completely sick,” said Hart.
“I didn’t actually practise the day before the tournament because I couldn’t get out of bed, but maybe that could be a blessing for me.
“Trying not to try too hard, I guess, and not think about it too much.
“I came out here with a very relaxed sort of outlook on the week, knowing that I’ve played here and won here before.
“It was just a good head space that I started with and then managed to just finished it off nicely with a couple of birdies, which is really nice.”
Leading scores
1 Tim Hart 67-67-65—199
2 Sam Brazel 72-63-67—202
T3 Chris Wood 69-67-68—204
T3 Nathan Barbieri 66-70-68—204
5 Douglas Klein 69-68-68—205
6 Jack Pountney 69-66-72—207
T7 Braden Becker 72-74-62—208
T7 Samuel Slater 69-70-69—208
Next up
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series continues its Central Queensland swing on Tuesday with the two-day JRT Group Emu Park Pro-Am at Emu Park Golf Club.
June 22
Ford wins wild shootout in Clermont
Rookie Max Ford birdied his final three holes to claim a second straight adidas PGA Pro-Am Series win at the Bolt Off Clermont Pro-Am at Clermont Golf Club.
Ford was one of a number of players to flirt with 59 across the two days at the par-71 layout, posting rounds of 63-61 for an 18-under par total and a two-stroke win.
In-form Victorian Connor McDade had the chance to reduce the deficit to one and shoot 59 in Round 2 but could only manage par at his final hole, the par-5 eighth, taking three putts from just off the green.
Playing alongside Ford in Round 1, 59-year-old Legends Tour star Brad Burns had thoughts of shooting 59 when he was 9-under with three holes to play but finished bogey-par-birdie for a round of 62.
Burns would shoot 65 in Round 2 to earn a share of third alongside Harrison Wills (62) and Kieren Jones (64).
Turning point
Hopes of a second consecutive win were fading when Ford followed up an eagle at the par-5 14th with a bogey at the par-4 15th. But after par at the par-3 16th Ford once again when on a birdie streak, making three on the trot to close out his round and finish two strokes clear of McDade.
Quick quotes
“I’ve been taking advantage of driving it well,” said Ford.
“Especially on short golf courses, I think that’s the key and that’s showed.
“(The scoring) was unbelievable. I was refreshing the scores and I saw (McDade) had creeped up the leaderboard.
“I couldn’t believe the scores he was posting out there and gave me a bit of a run for my money, but it was nice to birdie the last two coming home to lock it away.”
Leading scores
1 Max Ford 63-61—124
2 Connor McDade 66-60—126
T3 Brad Burns 62-65—127
T3 Harrison Wills 65-62—127
T3 Kieren Jones 63-64—127
T6 Jay Mackenzie 64-64—128
T6 Nathan Page 64-64—128
Next up
Players now have a week off before the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series resumes with the 54-hole $60,000 Ian Weigh Toyota Rockhampton Pro-Am from July 3-5.
June 18
Rookie Ford stuns with 10-under at Tieri
Rookie professional Max Ford has won his first adidas PGA Pro-Am Series in impressive fashion, shooting 10-under 63 to win the JET Engineering Tieri Pro-Am at Tieri Country Club.
The reigning club champion at Royal Queensland Golf Club and the 2022 Riversdale Cup winner, Ford started with two straight birdies and never took his foot off the gas.
With a host of accomplished Tour players in the field, Ford never blinked, keeping a clean card and racking up 10 birdies to finish one shot clear of fellow Queensland Chris Wood (64) with Blackwater champion Connor McDade (66) third.
Turning point
Although setting a cracking pace of his own, Ford trailed Wood by a stroke as both players neared the end of their rounds.
Having started from the fourth hole, Wood was 9-under with two holes to play yet could only come up with two pars to finish.
Ford, on the other hand, birdied both of his final holes – the par-4 fourth and par-4 fifth – to reach 10-under and record a one-stroke win.
Quick quotes
“It was good to put it all together out there,” said Ford.
“It was good to take advantage of the short holes and I certainly did.
“I drove it really well. Pretty close to a couple of greens and then it’s just down to chipping and putting and I took advantage of that.
“Really stoked with it.”
Leading scores
1 Max Ford 63
2 Christopher Wood 64
3 Connor McDade 66
4 Brad Burns 67
T5 Nathan Page 68
T5 Kieren Jones 68
T5 Brendan Smith 68
Next up
The WA swing resumes on Friday with the Carpet Paint & Tile – Broome Furnishings Broome Pro-Am while the Central Queensland run moves on to Clermont for the Bolt Off Clermont Pro-Am starting Saturday.
June 16
Blackwater finishes with joint winners
A Sunday surge gave NSW professional Kieren Jones his first adidas PGA Pro-Series title as he shared top spot with Victorian Connor McDade at the ABM Blackwater Pro-Am.
After an even-par first round at Blackwater Golf Club, Jones started day two five shots out of the lead, but he fired a 7-under-par 65 to match McDade (69-68) on 7-under for the 36 holes, the former amateur star securing his second title in three weeks in Queensland.
First-round leader Riley Taylor (67-71) finished a shot behind the top two alongside Brendan Smith (73-65).
Turning point
Continuing his fightback from making an eight on the par-4 fifth hole in round one, Jones went birdie-eagle over his first two holes on Sunday and eventually caught McDade by picking up shots on his final two holes.
Meanwhile, the Victorian’s second round featured seven birdies and three bogeys.
Quick quotes
Connor McDade: “I’m loving it up here. It’s nice to play some summer golf in winter, but I guess I came up here to kind of get some wins under my belt and take that into the regular Tour season later in the year.
“I found it pretty tough out there around the greens to be honest so I was just trying to get the ball on the smooth surface as much as possible. Any time I missed a green, I felt a lot of pressure.”
Kieran Jones: “The day started pretty solid and then yeah, just had a few putts finally go in. It’s been a long time since they’ve gone in. The coach should be happy.
“I’ve been working hard on the short game. It’s been one of those things I’ve been battling with of late. The chipping went well this weekend, can’t complain about that.”
Leading scores
T1 Connor McDade 69-68 -137
T1 Kieran Jones 72-65 – 137
T3 Riley Taylor 67-71 – 138
T3 Brendan Smith 73-65 -138
T3 Ben Hollis 69-69 – 138
6 Samuel Slater 75-64 – 139
7 Brad Burns 71-69 – 140
8 Jay Mackenzie 69-72 – 141
Next up
The Central Queensland swing continues with the JET Engineering Tieri Pro-Am at Tieri Country Club on Wednesday.
Given their shared history dating back to Mark Gibson coaching her father as a junior at Coolangatta-Tweed Heads Golf Club, Ali Orchard conceded that day one felt weird.
Having spent the past four years working under Gibson at Mark Gibson’s Exceptional Golf teaching facility at RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast, Tuesday marked the first day of the transition to Ali Orchard Golf Performance.
It was a day where Gibson’s coaching diary was full… and greatly appreciated by his new boss.
“He’s obviously got a really strong client base that he still wants to look after and take care of,” said Orchard.
“The first day he was pumping the lessons and then he left.
“I was like, ‘Well done today.’
“I’ll remember that forever.”
At 67 years of age and a Life Member of the PGA of Australia in his 46th year of service to the game, Gibson is quick to clarify that he is not retiring.
Yes, there is a trip to Europe with his wife planned later this year, but Gibson is not yet ready to relinquish what he describes as the best of both worlds, where he is excited to go to work and excited to get home each day.
He was, however, ready to hand over the reins to a facility he has spent the past 19 years building, but only to the person he felt was perfectly suited to the role.
“I needed someone who was smart, good coach, business minded, professional, respected and with a growing profile. Every box she ticked was a no brainer,” said Gibson.
“I would’ve felt an injustice if when I finished at Royal Pines – and I’m not finishing yet – to not have someone that could carry on that legacy of the quality coaching that the team produces here.
“I’d hate to see it deteriorate and I know that won’t ever happen under Ali’s stewardship.”
The daughter of PGA Professional Paul Orchard, Ali Orchard has been able to call upon Gibson throughout her professional development.
A talented amateur player who dabbled in professional golf, Orchard completed the Sports Management Diploma at the PGA International Golf Institute where Gibson served as a PGA mentor.
It is a relationship that has only strengthened over the past four years, and which gives Orchard the foundation to build on what Gibson has established.
“Even though I admire him immensely, I’ve always felt comfortable around ‘Gibbo’,” Orchard added.
“I think he was Chairman of the PGA at the time, but I pulled him up at the PGA Awards and asked if he could take a photo of me with Mum and Dad.
“More than anything, he’ll always be a role model or a mentor. If I’m questioning something, I’ll just always ask him.
“I don’t know that I ever thought that I’d follow in his footsteps but I always felt like he’d play a part in my career.”
The opportunity is now there for Ali Orchard Golf Performance to create its own legacy.
While her work in coaching elite players and juniors and growing the number of women playing the game will continue, Orchard will apply a portion of her time to making sure her fellow PGA Members have the chance to excel.
The current coaching team also includes Nancy Harvey, Colin Edwards and Douglas Chow, Orchard eager to highlight their individual strengths within the facility.
“What excites me most about this next phase is helping everyone be the best version of themselves, both players and coaches,” she said.
“Coaches all have their own niche so it’s just highlighting why they’re awesome and then targeting their market to help more people.”
At a time when there are more and more women entering the sport, Gibson believes Orchard can leave an indelible mark during her career within Australian golf.
“To get more women professionals, you’ve got to have more women golfers. It’s a percentage thing,” said Gibson.
“Just yesterday I was reflecting on the people that I see Ali coaching, and a fairly solid proportion of her coaching list is females aged between 25-35 who are really excited to be in golf.
“Never in my whole coaching career would I have said that I had that as part of my client base.
“Ali’s going to be a great asset in bringing a lot of women into the game.”
As for their new working arrangement, Gibson likes how it has begun.
“Ali’s empathy for people will make her a great boss,” said Gibson.
“We’ve had three days so far and haven’t had a blue yet.”
Ali Orchard is currently recruiting for a Teaching Professional at RACV Royal Pines Resort. To express your interest or apply, click here.
Twelve PGA Members have secured their place at the PGA Professionals Championship National Final following state qualifiers held in South Australia and Western Australia.
Twenty-one PGA Professionals teed it up at Mount Osmond Golf Club to determine the South Australian qualifiers, 28 WA Members fighting it out for seven spots at Cottesloe Golf Club.
Based at Thaxted Park Golf Club, Cody Sherratt shot 72 at Mount Osmond to win the PGA Professionals Championship of South Australia, finishing one shot clear of Legends Tour regular Simon Pope (73).
A playoff was needed to determine the third qualifier for the National Final after Damian Wrigley, Patric Kroschel and Benjamin Stowe all shot 75, Stowe clinching his place at the National Final at The Heritage Golf and Country Club from November 11-13.
As the leading senior player on the day, Pope also earns a place in the field for the Australian PGA Senior Championship from November 7-9 while Anne-Marie Knight qualified for the National Final as the leading female Professional.
A playoff was needed also at Cottesloe to finalise the WA qualifiers.
Scott Barr, Stephen Herbert and Conor Brown (pictured top) each shot 3-under 69 to finish tied at the top and guarantee their spots at The Heritage in November.
Two-under 70 was enough for Brody Martin to clinch the fourth spot but four players – Damian Chatterley, Joshua Madden, Ackzel Donaldson and Michael Draper – were forced to play extra holes to decide the final three qualifiers.
Draper would be the unlucky player to miss out as Nicole Martino finished top among the female professionals to also advance to the National Final.
The NSW PGA Professionals Championship scheduled for this week had to be postponed due to the wild weather in Sydney, the Queensland qualifier due to be played at Nudgee Golf Club on July 29.
Four years ago, it was to be his professional launch pad yet this week’s BMW International Open represents simply the next step in the development of Elvis Smylie.
The 2021 BMW International Open in Germany was Smylie’s first international start as a professional.
It was the first of eight sponsor exemptions across two years extended to a talent barely out of his teens that had good judges drooling.
With eight missed cuts in his first eight DP World Tour appearances on foreign soil, Smylie’s introduction to the elite level largely fell flat but potential is now evolving into professional respect.
Still just 23 years of age, Smylie stared down Cameron Smith to win the co-sanctioned BMW Australian PGA Championship last November and last month played all four rounds of a major championship for the first time at the US PGA Championship.
As he looks ahead to a three-week stretch that includes the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open Championship at Royal Portrush, Smylie took a moment to look back on the four years it has taken to get here.
“It’s very hard to be able to plan what the next four years are going to look like,” Smylie reflected.
“You want it to be this smooth increment of progression, but, in hindsight, it’s actually been very up and down.
“A lot of things have changed. I’ve changed my team within the last year-and-a-half and I feel like I’m on a really good plateau to be able to achieve what I want to.
“I definitely feel like I’ve got the right people around me now to be able to guide me in the right direction.
“It’s my first full year out here where I can pick and choose what events I want to play in. Just having that comfortable feeling, knowing that you don’t have to get your card in five starts.
“You can just slowly keep building, going to all these new courses and learning as much as you can.
“Professional golf can throw a lot of things at you left, right and centre, being able to juggle all those things and trying to put your best foot forward and working hard and doing the right stuff.
“That’s something that I’ve continued to feel like I’m doing a really good job at.”
Confirming that he will return to Royal Queensland in November to defend his BMW Australian PGA Championship title, the reigning Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner also has one eye on a second consecutive appearance at The Open.
Having come through Final Qualifying 12 months ago, Smylie is excited at the prospect of preparing for Portrush with some links golf next week in Scotland.
“You want to feel confident by having good results going into big events,” said Smylie.
“That’s definitely on my mind, to be able to put a good week here and a good week in Scotland to build that confidence, knowing that the results are there as well as the good feelings that I can produce.
“Portrush will be great. I’m looking forward to getting there and doing the work and seeing how we go.”
Another with an eye on Portrush is New Zealand Open champion Ryan Peake (pictured below).
Forced to play last week’s Asian Development Tour event in Morocco with borrowed clubs – he finished tied 21st – Peake has been reunited with his sticks as he joins 13 other Australasian players for International Series Morocco.
“Game’s good. Feel like I’m starting to swing it pretty well, found more of a groove,” Peake told Asian Tour Media.
“I’ve been in Morocco for a week, playing last week, lost my clubs for seven days.
“I picked them up yesterday from the airport so feeling pretty good about this week and being able to use my old stuff again.
“Obviously excitement (about playing The Open) is starting to set in a little bit more now.
“Still not 100 per cent yet, still got this week here in Morocco but after this week’s finished, I’ll be pretty switched on and the excitement will start to hit a little bit harder.”
Photo: Maddie Meyer/PGA of America via Getty Images
Round 1 tee times AEST
PGA TOUR
John Deere Classic
TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois
3:38am Karl Vilips
3:49am Jason Day
5:17am Harrison Endycott
Past champion: Davis Thompson
Past Aussie winners: Mark Hensby (2004), John Senden (2006)
Prize money: $US8.4m
TV times: 9:30pm-9am Thursday, Friday; Live 11pm-9am Saturday; Live 1am-8am Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
DP World Tour
BMW International Open
Golfclub München Eichenried, Munich, Germany
4:10pm David Micheluzzi
4:20pm* Daniel Hillier (NZ)
4:40pm* Elvis Smylie
5pm* Jason Scrivener
10:30pm Daniel Gale, Kazuma Kobori (NZ)
Past champion: Ewen Ferguson
Past Aussie winners: Peter Fowler (1993)
Prize money: $US2.75m
TV times: Live 8:30pm-2am Thursday, Friday; Live 8:45pm-1:30am Saturday; Live 8:30pm-1:30am Sunday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.
Asian Tour
International Series Morocco
Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (Red Course), Morocco
4:30pm Kevin Yuan
5:10pm* Jack Thompson
5:50pm* Brett Coletta
6:20pm* Brett Rankin
9:50pm Ben Campbell (NZ)
9:50pm* John Lyras
10pm Ryan Peake
10:10pm Travis Smyth
10:20pm* Nick Voke (NZ)
10:40pm Maverick Antcliff
10:50pm* Lawry Flynn
11pm Jack Buchanan
11pm* Denzel Ieremia (NZ)
11:10pm Todd Sinnott
Past champion: Ben Campbell
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US2m
TV times: Live 11pm-3am Thursday; Live 1am-3am Saturday on Fox Sports 508; Live 10:30pm-1am Saturday; Live 9pm-1am Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Ladies European Tour
KPMG Women’s Irish Open
Carton House, Ireland
5:12pm Sarah Kemp
5:48pm Amelia Garvey (NZ), Wenyung Keh (NZ)
6:12pm Amy Walsh
6:12pm* Kelsey Bennett
6:36pm* Maddison Hinson-Tolchard
10:24pm Kirsten Rudgeley
11:12pm Momoka Kobori (NZ)
Past champion: Annabel Dimmock
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: €450,000
TV times: Live 3am-4:30am Friday on Fox Sports 508; Live 2:40am-4:30am Saturday on Fox Sports 506; 11:30am-1pm Sunday on Fox Sports 503; Live 10:30pm-2:30pm Sunday on Fox Sports 508 and Kayo.
PGA TOUR Americas
Explore NB Open
Mactaquac Golf Course, New Brunswick, Canada
9:30pm* Grant Booth
2am Charlie Hillier (NZ)
Past champion: Ian Holt
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US225,000
HotelPlanner Tour
Interwetten Open
Schladming-Dachstein Golf Club, Oberhaus, Austria
Australasians in the field: Hayden Hopewell, Sam Jones (NZ), Tom Power Horan
Past champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: €300,000
LET Access Series
Swedish Strokeplay Championship
Golf Uppsala Soderby, Sweden
4:22pm* Stephanie Bunque
9:33pm* Abbie Teasdale
9:45pm Justice Bosio
9:55pm* Kristalle Blum
10:29pm Belinda Ji
Past champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: €45,000
Legends Tour
Reignwood Legends Championship
Reignwood Pine Valley, Beijing
Australasians in the field: Michael Campbell (NZ), Scott Hend, Michael Long (NZ), Stephen Leaney
Past champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
If you told Max Ford that he could be playing major championships inside three years, the 23-year-old Queenslander would quickly shake your hand and ask where to sign.
Yet as he takes another step up in class at this week’s $60,000 Ian Weigh Toyota Rockhampton Pro-Am at Rockhampton Golf Club, Ford is in position to follow the Ryan Peake playbook and play his way into the highest levels of the sport.
A talented junior who moved from Cairns at the age of 16 to link with Chris Gibson at Royal Queensland Golf Club, Ford had fellow RQ member and Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner Jake McLeod on the bag for First Stage of Qualifying School in April.
The pair successfully navigated stage one, but Ford was unable to secure full status for the 2025/2026 season, finishing 44th at Final Stage at Moonah Links.
It’s a position Peake knows well.
As he sought to make his return to professional golf after five years in jail, Peake finished 39th at Final Stage in 2023, shifting his focus towards the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series as a means to play his way into main Tour events.
He won five times on either side of the country in less than six weeks, and, although he missed out on the major events, played 10 events across the 2023/2024 season thanks to his improved category.
A further 12 months on and Peake is a New Zealand Open champion destined to play The Open at Royal Portrush in a fortnight’s time, a timely reminder to Ford that playing well solves all.
“I didn’t know that, but now I know it’s pretty amazing to see,” Ford said of Peake’s progression.
“It’s pretty amazing how quickly life can change for everyone really in the game of golf. If you’re playing well, it can progress pretty quickly.
“It’s great to see that and that’s a great example of what can happen.”
The 2024 club champion at Royal Queensland, Ford turned professional following Final Stage, heading west shortly thereafter to play the WA swing of the Pro-Am Series.
His best performance came with a tie for seventh at the 54-hole Spalding Park Open, his breakthrough win coming in impressive fashion during the Mining Towns Series back in his home state.
Ford shot 10-under 63 to win the JET Engineering Tieri Pro-Am two weeks ago and then went back-to-back, shooting 18-under over two rounds to take out the Bolt Off Clermont Pro-Am.
With two professional wins now to his name, Ford is excited at the prospect of three rounds at Rockhampton in a field full of Tour winners.
“It’s probably more that I’ll enjoy the fact we get to play three rounds of golf instead of one or two days,” added Ford, who like Quinn Croker, James Mee and Lincoln Morgan works on the greens staff at Royal Queensland.
“Get it closer to four rounds because inevitably that’s where I want to be playing.
“That’s four rounds of golf on a week-to-week basis so I see this as a really valuable stepping stone.”
Reigning Rockhampton champion Chris Wood is back to defend his title, the field boasting winners from last year’s Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season in Ben Henkel (Gippsland Super 6), Will Bruyeres (PNG Open) and James Conran (Heritage Classic).
Round 1 tees off at 6:50am Thursday.
Victorian Lucas Herbert will play just his second major championship in the past two years after he topped Final Qualifying at West Lancashire to secure a place in The Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
Herbert’s 5-under 67 was the best of the second round by two strokes, his 8-under par total for 36 holes enough to clinch medallist honours by one stroke from China’s Sampson Zheng.
Herbert was the lone Australian across four qualifying venues to earn a place at The Open to be played July 17-20, Sydney’s Kevin Yuan missing out on the playoff at West Lancashire by a single shot after making birdie at his final hole.
Queensland amateur Billy Dowling finished two strokes out of the playoff at West Lancashire, Daniel Gale was tied 24th at Royal Cinque Ports, Hayden Hopewell tied 29th at Dundonald Links and Jake McLeod tied 30th at Bernham and Burrow. Also playing at West Lancashire, Harrison Crowe was tied 53rd.
The 2024 US PGA Championship is the only major that Herbert has played since missing the cut at the 2023 Open Championship.
The reigning Ford NSW Open champion has won on the Asian Tour this year and been Ripper GC’s most consistent performer on LIV Golf, the 29-year-old thrilled to be returning to major championship golf.
“I’m super excited to be going to Portrush. I love playing in The Open,” said Herbert, who narrowly missed out on qualifying spots at the Australian Open, New Zealand Open and International Series Macau.
“For us Australians, it was the major we watched overnight growing up. It’s really cool be playing in another one and joining my (Ripper GC) teammates, Cam Smith and Marc Leishman, there.
“I’ve made it hard on myself just missing out on qualifying before now, but I’ve finally got there.
“I had chances in Australia, Macau and New Zealand and I couldn’t finish it off so it’s definitely tested my patience.
“I’m glad it’s held out in the end.”
Herbert’s qualification takes the total number of Australians in the field to nine. He joins Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, Marc Leishman, Curtis Luck, Ryan Peake, Adam Scott, Cameron Smith and Elvis Smylie.
Photo: Getty Images
Australian golf rising star Elvis Smylie has today locked in the defence of his BMW Australian PGA Championship title.
This year’s championship, co-sanctioned by the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and DP World Tour, will again be hosted by Royal Queensland Golf Club from November 27-30.
The 23-year-old from the Gold Coast provided one of the major highlights of last season’s Summer of Golf when he held off three-time champion Cameron Smith to win the Joe Kirkwood Cup for the first time.
It propelled Smylie onto the world stage by earning him status as a full-time member of the DP World Tour and he went on to claim the 2024/25 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit title.
“Winning the Joe Kirkwood Cup for the first time was a huge honour and definitely the highlight of my career so far,” Smylie said.
“I have some great memories of that final Sunday. It meant so much to win at home in front of my family and friends in one of Australia’s most important championships.
“Being a BMW ambassador just made it even more special. “Although there’s still a lot of this year to play out, I can’t wait to get back to RQ and try to do it all again.”
PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said: “Elvis played some spectacular golf at Royal Queensland last year, especially down the stretch when he had one of our game’s greats in Cam Smith playing alongside him and trying to chase him down”.
“It’s been very rewarding to see his progress since then, winning our Order of Merit for the first time and going on to play successfully internationally, including at his first US PGA Championship where he made the cut at his first attempt of a US Major and he now has The Open Championship to come.
“We look forward to seeing Elvis back at Royal Queensland where I’m sure he will be determined to get his name on the Kirkwood Cup for the second time.”
Wolfgang Buechel, CEO of BMW Group Australia – the title partner of the Australian PGA Championship – said: “BMW has a long and proud association with Elvis, and it has been delightful for us to witness his remarkable rise in world golf.
“We look forward to his return to the BMW Australian PGA Championship in 2025, where our entire team will be there to cheer him on.
“We also look forward to again be the title partner of the BMW Australian PGA Championship – an event that continues to go from strength to strength and perfectly complements our partnerships with the PGA, Golf Australia and the WPGA.”
Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander said:“Elvis Smylie’s win last year was a standout moment for Queensland and Australian golf, you could see how much it meant to him to lift the Joe Kirkwood Cup on home soil.
“It’s no surprise he’s eager to return and defend his title, and I’ve no doubt fans will turn out in force to see if he can do it again.”
“Now in its fifth consecutive year at Royal Queensland Golf Club and just 15 minutes’ drive from Brisbane, the BMW Australian PGA Championship continues to deliver for Queensland. It brings in thousands of visitors, fills hotels and restaurants, and showcases our state as a premier destination for world-class sporting events.”
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said: “Brisbane is excited to host this world-class event for the fifth straight year in 2025, bringing thousands of passionate fans back to Royal Queensland Golf Club.
“Elvis Smylie is the first big name confirmed to compete, but certainly won’t be the last – promising fans another thrilling Championship.
“Brisbane is Australia’s lifestyle capital, and this event is a hole in one for our city, boosting our economy as visitors pack our hotels, restaurants, and local attractions.”
The BMW Australian PGA Championship is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, and Brisbane City Council via Brisbane Economic Development Agency.
Sunshine Coast Professional TJ King will be joined by three new faces when the PGA of Australia team travels to Canada to contest the 2025 Four Nations Cup.
To be held at The Pulpit Club an hour outside Toronto from September 2-5, the 2025 tournament marks the third playing of the Four Nation’s Cup that brings together PGA Members from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa.
King, the Assistant Professional at Mount Coolum Golf Club, has been a constant in the Australian team since 2022 and was part of the victorious Australian team along with Scott Laycock, Jayden Cripps and Brad McLellan at Moonah Links in 2023. The Four Nation’s Cup was not held in 2024.
The past two winners of the PGA Professionals Championship National Final, Matthew Docking (2023) and Samuel Eaves (2024), will make their Four Nations Cup debuts along with Sanctuary Cove Teaching Professional Mitchell Smith.
Smith finished tied second alongside Docking at last year’s PPC National Final at The Heritage Golf and Country Club and will now try to play his part in Australia’s title defence on foreign soil.
PGA Member Director, Steve Hutchison, will travel with the team as the non-playing manager and is excited that three Members will experience the Four Nations Cup for the first time.
“The Four Nations Cup is not only a chance to compete and represent the PGA of Australia internationally, it is an opportunity to learn and establish relationships with fellow PGA Members across the globe,” said Hutchison.
“The issues faced by our Members on a day-to-day basis are very similar to those that PGA Professionals around the world are experiencing.
“Sharing what we know and hearing how other Professionals deal with certain challenges can be of great benefit to our Membership as a whole.”
