Moutai, Scotts join the action of Aussie golf’s majors

Prestige liquor brand Moutai and Australia’s premier garden and lawncare specialist Scotts Lawncare have signed on as first-time partners of Australian golf’s major championships.

Known as China’s “national liquor”, Moutai will be an event partner at both the 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland (November 21-24) and the ISPS HANDA Australian Open on the famed Melbourne Sandbelt (November 28-December 1).

As part of their presence at the Open, the company’s flagship “Flying Fairy” baijiu will be available to sample at both Royal Queensland and Kingston Heath golf clubs across the four days of competition in Brisbane and Melbourne.

Dan Zhao, Brand and Marketing Manager of Moutai Australia, said: ‘Moutai is excited to deepen its presence in the Australian market, where an increasing number of consumers are discovering the unique craftsmanship of our 2000-year-old spirit.

“As Moutai continues to grow globally, we are proud to sponsor the BMW Australian PGA Championship and ISPS HANDA Australian Open, a partnership that reflects our commitment to excellence, precision, and tradition.

“Much like the game of golf, Moutai embodies the artistry and dedication that goes into mastering one’s craft. Through this collaboration, we aim to connect with Australians who appreciate both fine spirits and the rich cultural heritage that Moutai represents.

“This is just the beginning of a new chapter for Moutai in Australia, and we look forward to creating unforgettable experiences with our community.”

Meanwhile, Scotts Lawncare will be taking golf fans to their “happy place” at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.

The on-site activation from Australia’s premier garden and lawncare specialist will be a feature of the elevated fan experience at the Open this year.

Scotts Happy Place, located in The 19th precinct at Kingston Heath, will reflect how much Aussies appreciate relaxing in their garden and highlight the synergies between taking care of your lawn and playing golf which both bring mental and physical wellbeing benefits.

Scotts Marketing Director Kerry Sephton said: “We’re excited to be a part of the Australian Open because we know that the golf community appreciates a beautiful healthy lawn.

“This world-class sporting event on the magnificent courses of Kingston Heath and The Victoria golf clubs is a demonstration of lawns at their very best and Scotts is here to help the home gardener to get a lush, healthy lawn to create their own Happy Place.”

Native New South Welshman Peter Jones has mastered the short but tricky layout at Bondi Golf Club to claim the Bondi Legends Pro-Am to notch his first win on the Legends Tour this year.

With only three players managing to go under-par on the day, Jones finished with a 4-under 52 to triumph by one over Queenslander David Fearns, with West Australian Stuart Beament in third at 1-under.

HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED

Jones started his day with birdie on the 163-metre par-3 seventh, and added another at Bondi’s ninth. Further birdies at 17, one and two had the Sydneysider 5-under on his day with four holes to play.

An untimely bogey on his final hole, the stout 110-metre sixth dropped him back to four however, which still proved enough for the outright win.

WHAT THE WINNER SAID

“It was really solid today. Hit quite a few greens and if I did miss, I only just missed them, was able to putt up and I putted solidly and made quite a few birdies,” he said.

“I three-putted the last. I thought that might’ve blown it, but it was still good enough to get up for the win, so very happy with today.

“This year has been a bit of a struggle with my game. I’m a bit stubborn. I’m out here to try and find a bit of a game and see if I can get back to some form again and again.

“It shows glimpses, I’ve just been a bit inconsistent, but this win might hopefully boost me onto bigger things.”

LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN

52 Peter Jones

53 David Fearns

55 Stuart Beament

56 Rodney Fox, Simon Tooman, Dell Bain

NEXT UP

The PGA Legends tour heads to Elanora Country Club next on Friday.

Hannah Green’s ascension into the elite of world golf has been further acknowledged with a second Greg Norman Medal at the PGA Awards Gala Dinner on Tuesday night.

More than 350 guests attended the glittering awards ceremony at Brisbane City Hall that serves as a precursor to the BMW Australian PGA Championship, with Green’s Greg Norman Medal win among a total of 10 awards presented throughout the evening.

The West Australian climbed to a career-high No.5 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking on the back of three LPGA Tour wins in 2024, the 27-year-old’s greatest single-season yield in her career to date.

Green won the Greg Norman Medal in 2019 when she had two wins – including the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship – and was honoured to once again receive Australian golf’s highest accolade.

“It has undoubtedly been one of the best years of my career and to cap it with a second Greg Norman Medal makes it all the more special,” said Green, who was unable to attend the PGA Awards as she is playing the season-ending LPGA event in Florida this week.

“Any year in which you have a win is a good year so to have three in the one season is very satisfying – and I’d love to finish off with another one at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open next week.

“I would like to thank everyone in my team, my husband Jarryd, my family and friends for their support this year.

“I feel like I have taken a major step forward in 2024 and hope that I can finish off the year well and take that into 2025 and beyond.”

It took just two starts for Green to earn her first win of 2024, storming home to win the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Thailand in March.

She staged a successful defence of her JM Eagle LA Championship crown in April and became the first Australian since Karrie Webb in 2006 to notch three wins in a single LPGA season with a wire-to-wire win at the BMW Ladies Championship in Korea.

On hand to accept the Greg Norman Medal on Green’s behalf was her coach, Ritchie Smith, who himself was named PGA National Coach of the Year – High Performance.

It is a fourth national win for Smith, who also received the High Performance gong in 2014, 2019 and 2021.

The Brisbane Golf Club’s Asha Flynn won the PGA National Coach of the Year – Game Development gong for the second year in succession while Catalina Club’s Rodney Booth was named 2024 PGA National Club Professional of the Year.

General Manager at Eastlake Golf Club, Robert Blain was awarded PGA National Management Professional of the Year and Ashley Marsay was named International Member of the Year for his contribution as Head Professional at San Francisco Golf Club.

Three-time winner and Order of Merit champion Kazuma Kobori was named Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Player of the Year, LPGA Tour-bound Cassie Porter received her first Margie Masters WPGA Tour of Australasia Player of the Year award and Andre Stolz was named PGA Legends Tour Player of the Year for the fourth straight year.

2024 PGA Awards winners

Greg Norman Medal: Hannah Green
PGA National Coach of the Year – High Performance: Ritchie Smith (Royal Fremantle GC)
PGA National Coach of the Year – Game Development: Asha Flynn (Brisbane GC)
PGA National Club Professional of the Year: Rodney Booth (Catalina Club G&CC)
PGA National Management Professional of the Year: Robert Blain (Eastlake GC)
MyGolf Deliverer of the Year: Jake Newbery (KDV Sport)
International Member of the Year: Ashley Marsay (San Francisco Golf Club)
Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Player of the Year: Kazuma Kobori
Margie Masters WPGA Tour of Australasia Player of the Year: Cassie Porter
Legends Tour Player of the Year: Andre Stolz

Past 5 Greg Norman Medal winners

2023: Minjee Lee
2022: Cameron Smith
2021: Minjee Lee
2020: Cameron Smith
2019: Hannah Green

Cam Davis’s week at the BMW Australian PGA Championship didn’t get off to the perfect start – his luggage went missing following his flight from the United States – but it’s how he finishes his week in Queensland that really counts.

The only Aussie to be victorious on the PGA TOUR this year would love to end 2024 by claiming the Joe Kirkwood Cup for the first time at Royal Queensland or add his name to the Stonehaven Cup for a second time at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open in Melbourne next week.

In the opening two rounds at the PGA he will get an up-close look at two of the other expected key contenders in a feature group with NSW Open champion Lucas Herbert and France’s Victor Perez

“I want to play my best,” the Sydneysider said of his approach to two big weeks back in his homeland.

“I feel like every tournament I tee it up in, I want to play my best, but there’s just a little extra desire to play well at home.

“I don’t try and put any extra pressure on myself, but I’m definitely trying to bring my best golf to each week that I play, whether it’s this week or next week.

“I’m really looking forward to two weeks with familiar accents around me and familiar golf courses. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Davis finished T7 at Royal Queensland last year, nine shots behind Min Woo Lee, and plans to be as aggressive as possible off the tee this week.

“There’s a lot of little bunkers that if you find them it’s a lot of trouble, but if you are aggressive off the tee and by hitting the driver pretty long, it really opens this place up to a lot easier shots into the greens,” he said

“Because the fairways are very wide I don’t feel like it’s super difficult to hit them, but you just want to avoid the little pot bunkers around the fairways and then it’s just putting.

“The last few years I’ve actually hit the ball pretty well, but you just have a couple of days where the putts don’t go in.”

Davis tees off at 11.10am (Qld time) in round one.

Three of the biggest names in Australian golf will go head-to-head from day one in a mouth-watering match-up to kick off the BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club.

Defending champion Min Woo Lee, three-time champion Cameron Smith and the returning Jason Day will tee off in the second group off the 10th tee at 6:10am (Qld time) on Thursday morning.

It’s a dream draw for Brisbane golf fans and a tantalising heavyweight showdown that could go a long way to identifying who will raise the Joe Kirkwood Cup come Sunday afternoon.

Tied for second at last week’s Ford NSW Open and third at the Queensland PGA a fortnight ago, Smith is seeking redemption at Royal Queensland after missing the cut 12 months ago.

The 31-year-old was almost brought to tears as he made an early exit on Friday a year ago, the 2022 champ as motivated as ever to perform in front of his adoring fans.

“It was completely disappointing to play how I did last year,” said Smith.

“It was terrible. It was a terrible feeling. I think being a Brisbane boy probably even hurt a little bit more and it’s not very often I get to play in front of a home crowd.

“We have a few events here in Australia but I like to think this is my home event.

“It was a terrible feeling so that was definitely part of the motivation to get up and get ready for this week.”

Lee’s 2024 international campaign came to a close on Sunday at the DP World Tour Championship, his year highlighted by two runner-up finishes on the PGA TOUR and an Olympic debut in Paris.

His victory at RQ 12 months ago marked the start of his ‘Let him cook’ phenomenon that spawned chefs hats and took the golf world by storm.

With the prospect of a million-dollar hole-in-one for fans on Saturday, the 26-year-old is excited to bring his infectious enthusiasm to Aussie golf fans once again.

“It’s a cool feeling to be back at the tournament where it first started, but I’m just trying to make the game cooler and fun,” said Lee, whose social media following has exploded in the past year.

“It can be boring at times but I’m trying to make it as fun as possible.

“There’s a lot of kids that look up to me and that’s one of the things that drives me to play good golf.

“The crowd here is amazing and I know there’s a lot of kids that come out, especially on the weekends.

“The best crowds all year round so just try to make it fun and cool and try to play good golf.”

While Smith and Day last played together in a practice round at The Masters in April, it will be an Olympic reunion of sorts for Day and Lee.

The pair forged a strong bond during their time together in Paris, Lee drawing on Day’s experience as a major champion and former world No.1 in order to elevate his own game.

“Jason’s been a very good friend and a good role model over the last few months since the Olympics and Presidents Cup,” said Lee, currently world No.48.

“I’ve learned a lot from him and I owe a lot. Just things that you would kind of learn down the road. He’s telling me what he’s done over the last, how many years he’s played and a lot of wisdom I guess.

“It’s great to have him in Australia. It’s been a while and hopefully we get to play together and show off.

“I really love and appreciate that he is down in Australia playing.”

Simth joked at the Queensland PGA that it had been “about 123 years” since Day last played in his home state but is also excited to have such a quality addition to the field.

“Jason and I are still relatively close. We talk a little bit,” said Smith.

“As a competitor, you want to compete against some of the best in the world. I feel like this week and next week we’ve got a really good field, so it is going to take a lot to win.

“Having those guys in the field that are known winners, when they’re there or thereabouts on Sunday definitely gives you something else to think about.

“It’s great. That’s really what you want.”

Other morning marquee groups announced on Tuesday are Australian Marc Leishman, American Harry Higgs and rising Danish star Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (6:20am) and Scotland’s Richie Ramsay and Aussie pair Anthony Quayle and Harrison Crowe (6:30am).

The afternoon groups are highlighted by French star Victor Perez and PGA TOUR winners Lucas Herbert and Cam Davis (11:10am), Kiwi duo Kazuma Kobori and Daniel Hillier with England’s Todd Clements (11am) and West Australians Jason Scrivener and Curtis Luck with Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts (11:30am).

Round 1 draw

For BMW Australian PGA Championship tickets, go to ticketek.com.au

The Australian PGA Championship is supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland’s Major Events Program and Brisbane City Council, through Brisbane Economic Development Agency.

Photos: Dan Peled/PGA of Australia (Smith, Leishman); Scott Davis/PGA of Australia (Lee)

Queenstown local Ben Campbell is looking to make the most of his home-course advantage when the New Zealand Open, presented by Sky Sport, returns to Queenstown next year.

Campbell hopes his intimate knowledge of the two Millbrook Resort courses will give him the edge to claim the championship.

Campbell, who plies his trade across the Asian Tour and LIV Golf, has played some of his best golf at the New Zealand Open in recent years but has yet to see his name on the trophy and says he’s hoping to lean on his past experiences and local knowledge to gain a competitive edge over the rest of the field.

“It’s great having the New Zealand Open here in Queenstown. It’s my home, and it’s a real honour to be able to play in an internationally recognised event on my home course,” he said.

“I’ve gone really close on a few occasions, which has really helped push my game, mentally and technically, to the next level. It’s now about preparation and leaning on my knowledge of the course to hopefully be in the running once again.”

Campbell was part of the dramatic three-way playoff in 2017 when eventual winner Michael Hendry became the first Kiwi in 14 years to claim the title. Since then, international players have dominated the top spot on the leaderboard, a streak that Campbell is looking to break.

“There is always a good local crowd out supporting me and I am really looking forward to teeing it up again next year. The goal is to have my name as the next Kiwi on the trophy and I will be doing everything I can to make that happen.”

Tournament Director Michael Glading believes Campbell has the talent and experience to be the next New Zealand Open champion, and is excited to see him attack the championship courses at Millbrook Resort come February.

“Ben is a fantastic ambassador not only for Queenstown but for the New Zealand Open. He is always promoting the region and our event wherever he goes. To have him committed to the event is a real plus for us as an exciting player who will no doubt have a huge amount of local support.”

The 104^th New Zealand Open will tee off at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown between February 27 and March 2, 2025. For more information, please visit nzopen.com

Victorian Mark Boulton and Queensland’s Chris Taylor have shared the spoils at the Lovedale Farm Legends Pro-Am at Castle Hill Country Club.

After matching 5-under 67s, the pair finished two shots ahead of Brad Burns and Grahame Stinson, with Peter O’Malley third at 2-under.

In his astonishing 13th win on the Tour this year, Taylor has strengthened his second-place position on the SParms PGA Legends Order of Merit, but still has a ways to go to catch leader Andre Stolz.

HOW THE WINNING ROUNDS UNFOLDED

Starting on the fifth, Boulton took advantage on the short par-4 sixth to claim an early birdie, and followed that with eight consecutive pars.

Boulton didn’t miss out on the par-5s however, making birdie fours at 15 and 18, before an eagle at Castle Hill’s first.

A further birdie at the par-4 third had Boulton 6-under on his day, before his only bogey of the day followed on his final hole.

Beginning his day on the 11th, Taylor took a while to get going, playing his first 12 holes in 1-under.

Four consecutive birdies from holes five through eight saw the Queenslander come home in a flurry to tie Boulton at the top.

WHAT THE WINNERS SAID

At the presentation Boulton was quoted saying, “Today was a really good day, some great playing and congratulations to Chris too on his 5-under par score.

“Each of us only having the one blemish on the card. Unfortunately for me, it was on my last hole, would have liked one shot less for the 6.”

Taylor was quoted saying at the presentation, “Great job to Castle Hil Country Club for hosting this event today, was really good to get out there on a golf course that was spectacular and presented wonderfully.

“Nice to get a solid round in and get a win, congratulations to Mark and everyone who was involved, particularly the sponsors for this event.”

LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN

67 Mark Boulton, Chris Taylor

69 Brad Burns, Grahame Stinson

70 Peter O’Malley

71 Matthew Ecob, Nigel Lane, Adam Henwood

NEXT UP

The PGA Legends tour heads to the Bondi Golf Club today (19/11/2024) for the Bondi Legends Pro-Am.

Seventy years a member of the PGA of Australia. Forty-five years as the Head Professional at Royal Queensland Golf Club. No person better encapsulates the union of Australia’s PGA Championship and Royal Queensland than Charlie Earp.

One of only four people to be elevated to PGA Immortal status, Earp is best known for guiding the game of a young Greg Norman, turning a raw talent from North Queensland into someone whose record as world No.1 has been bettered by only one golfer.

Yet Earp’s influence on Australian golf stretches far beyond the waters surrounding the Great White Shark.

Major champions Wayne Grady, Adam Scott, Jason Day, Karrie Webb and Cameron Smith have all spent time in Earp’s orbit, a man who applied the rhythm of horse-riding to how the body needed to move in the golf swing.

Days out from the start of the 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship, Earp shares his unlikely rise from a dairy farm in northern New South Wales to one of the most revered members in the history of the PGA of Australia.

The second day that I set foot on a golf course was my first day of work to become an Assistant Professional under Reg Want, who was the Professional at Coolangatta and Tweed Heads Golf Club.

It was explained to me by my boss that you’re a professional, and you carry yourself like a professional because you are the backbone of the club. When the people first come in, you’re the guy they’re going to see. And you’re the guy that they’re going to see after they finish their game.

I used to ride horses a fair bit on our dairy farm and the coordination I learnt to work with the horse, not the horse work with me, helped in understanding what Reg was talking about with regards to the golf swing. It’s about finding the swing that suits them − for their body. There’s not two people in the world who swing the club the same. They’re all built differently, so you have to design a swing based on what they’ve got to work with.

The most important thing to me was to work on a pace. To get people to slow their swing down, you’ve got to find something for them to do. I would tell people that it’s like starting an outboard motor on a dinghy. You can pull it with your right hand and do it as quick as anything, because you’re trying to crank it over. Now do the same thing with your left hand and you can’t do it as fast. I used to get right-handed players to push the club back with their left arm. That would slow them down to a pace that suits them.

Norman Von Nida paved the way, a bit like Joe Kirkwood. I think he had 67 or 68 tournaments that he won over the years and he went over there without a pound to his name. He paved the way. I admired him so much for what he was capable of doing. He wasn’t a very big man but pretty strong in the arms and the legs. He set a great example. Always dressed very nicely, and he thanks Walter Hagen for that.

I really think the person who deserves more credit for what he’s done in the world of golf is Joe Kirkwood. He went overseas to America and he teed up with Walter Hagen and Joe Kirkwood was a big part of where the golf tour is today. The PGA of Australia is very lucky to have a person of that calibre to name our PGA championship after. He deserves more media, more respect.

When I first started at Royal Queensland, I wasn’t allowed in the clubhouse to have a drink or anything. You’d go out the back to be able to get a drink. I think we were the first golf club in the Commonwealth to allow the Professional into the bar.

I never seriously thought of leaving RQ in the 45 years that followed. Some of the guys asked me to go to Royal Sydney after Alex (Mercer) had finished there but they’ve been good to me. They’ve looked after me and been wonderful all the way through. It’s a wonderful club.

Greg (Norman) was so easy to teach. He was already a good golfer. I’d see him and might only say a few words while he was hitting balls. The good players are all easy to teach; it’s just finding out the solution that’s going to help them to get the result they want.

The story of Greg hitting a ball over the Gateway Bridge is absolutely true. Excuse me for dropping names but (Federal politician) Sir James Killen was with us. I said to Greg, ‘Do you reckon you could hit a ball over that bridge?’ He said, ‘Yeah, no problem.’ We went back to where the original tee was for the 12th and he hit six balls, three over and three under. And they were still rising as they went over the bridge. The gantry was still working, building the bridge, and so there’s the bridge and then the gantry on top of that, and he hit them over the gantry.

Corinne Dibnah had a silky swing. She won a British Open and a European Open. I never got to see Ben Hogan. One of my wishes in life was to see Ben Hogan and meet Ben Hogan but I never met him.

Karrie (Webb) used to come down here and come away on a couple of state trips with us. She had mongrel. She was determined. I don’t know where she picked it up from – it might have been born in her – but her attitude was that ‘this is my tournament and you’re not going to take it away from me’.

It never felt like a job; it felt like a pleasure to me. To be doing something that you like and something that you love, what more do you want in life? Helping people to enjoy themselves. Couldn’t get anything better than that.

Some of the biggest names in Queensland sport will show off their golfing talents when they join the professionals from the BMW Australian PGA Championship in Wednesday’s pro-am at Royal Queensland Golf Club.

The list of celebrities teeing it up includes Brisbane Lions AFL premiership-winning duo Cam Rayner and Will Ashcroft, Brisbane Broncos NRL captain Adam Reynolds, the Dolphins’ Tonga representative Isaiya Katoa, Brisbane Heat cricketers Matt Renshaw and Max Bryant and Queensland Reds centre Isaac Henry.

There are also two Queensland State of Origin legends in Cameron Smith and Paul Vautin who will feature in the same group with DP World Tour and Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia professional Daniel Gale and recently retired Broncos and Maroons winger Corey Oates.

The sporting stars are all in the morning field which tees off at 7am (Qld time) where they will be joined on the course by marquee players Jason Day, Cam Smith, Min Woo Lee, Cam Davis, Marc Leishman, Victor Perez and Jordan Smith.

The afternoon wave at 1pm (Qld time) is highlighted by Harry Higgs, Lucas Herbert, the past two Challenger PGA Tour of Order of Merit winners Kazuma Kobori and David Micheluzzi and former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy.

Entrance to the pro-am is free for the general public and a great chance to see the stars up close before they reach round one of the $2 million championship on Thursday.

Free parking is available at Curtin Ave West, under the Gateway Bridge.

The BMW Australian PGA Championship will be broadcast on Fox Sports and Kayo, as well as the NINE Network/9NOW.

For BMW Australian PGA Championship tickets, go to ticketek.com.au

Draw: https://championship.pga.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Pro-Am-Draw-2024-BMW-Australian-PGA-Championship.pdf

One is on his first trip Down Under while the other is simply happy to be home as first players took to Royal Queensland Golf Club on Monday ahead of the 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship starting Thursday.

In his long-awaited return to Queensland, former world No.1 Jason Day was one of the earliest on course on Monday morning, defending champion Min Woo Lee still en route after finishing tied for 24th at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on Sunday.

American Harry Higgs spent last week in Melbourne familiarising himself with the famed sandbelt while West Australian Haydn Barron cancelled his plans to play the Monday qualifier at Wynnum Golf Club after receiving one of the last two tournament invites on Sunday night.

Higgs achieved social media infamy when he and Joel Dahmen ripped their shirts off at the 16th hole at the Phoenix Open in 2022 in celebration of Higgs making par.

If he was to make a hole-in-one at the Dabble Party Hole at RQ on Saturday, fans in attendance will share in $1 million, Higgs promising to make it a moment to remember.

“There’s no telling what I would do,” Higgs said of a million-dollar hole-in-one.

“I have been a staunch, I’m never doing it again, and I feel pretty confident that I wouldn’t now…

“A million-dollar hole-in-one and then just a hole-in-one in general, I can’t say for sure that I would keep that promise that I would never ever do it again.”

Headed back to the PGA TOUR in 2025 after a two-win season on the Korn Ferry Tour this year, Higgs also means business in his Australian debut.

The 32-year-old played both Kingston Heath and Victoria last week in preparation for the ISPS HANDA Australian Open and is ready to test his game in what he compared to major championship atmosphere.

“This week and next week I’m playing two major championships,” said Higgs.

“To see the folks that have basically, not noticed me, but maybe noticed me carrying my golf clubs through the hotels or whatnot, these two events are a big deal to them, so they should be a big deal to me.

“And it’s nice to travel to a different part of the world, play a little different golf and just see how you stack up and certainly play against still some phenomenal, phenomenal golfers.”

Barron is back at Royal Queensland after a rookie season on the DP World Tour that exposed him to every element of professional golf.

He narrowly missed out on retaining full playing rights at Qualifying School in Spain last week and was grateful to receive the invite that Lucas Herbert no longer needed after winning the Ford NSW Open at Murray Downs.

“I went and walked Wynnum yesterday and had a look around and kind of tried to get my head around a few of the tee shots,” said Barron.

“It looked pretty quirky but I managed to get the call-up last night, so straight in and straight here today, which is nice.”

The 28-year-old’s best finish in 2024 was a tie for ninth at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and he will likely spend the majority of 2025 on the secondary Challenge Tour.

It’s why two tournaments on home soil to start the 2025 DP World Tour season present such a unique opportunity.

“I’m not going to get a whole lot of opportunity on main tour now. It’s going to be predominantly Challenge Tour,” said Barron, whose best finish at Royal Queensland was a tie for 12th when Jed Morgan won in January 2022.

“Hopefully you can get some points up these next couple of weeks and try and make something happen.”