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A final round of 3-under 69 has earned Victorian Cameron Percy his best finish in a senior major at the Senior PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club.
Co-leader through 36 holes, Percy lost ground with 4-over 76 in Round 3 but responded with 3-under in the final round as Argentine Angel Cabrera won a second straight senior major championship in as many weeks.
One-over through his first four holes on Sunday, Percy was within two strokes of the lead on the back of four birdies in the space of six holes around the turn.
That run of birdies would end with par at the par-4 12th, Percy unable to make any further inroads as he parred his way to the clubhouse and 5-under total.
That was enough to finish outright seventh, his first top-10 finish in any major championship, bettering his previous best of a tie for 11th at the 2024 Kaulig Companies Championship.
Kiwi Steven Alker surpassed Percy for low round of the week with a 6-under 66 to finish tied 14th, Scott Hend (69) and Mark Hensby (72) finishing tied for 19th and 21st respectively.
Percy was one of four Aussies to finish inside the top 10 globally this week with Robyn Choi’s tie for ninth at the Riviera Maya Open her first LPGA Tour top 10 outside Australia.
A tie for seventh at the LET Access Series’ Allegria Stegersbach Ladies Open in Austria is Justice Bosio’s best international result since turning professional while New Zealand’s Momoka Kobori had a hole-in-one on her way to a share of 10th at the Jabra Ladies Open on the Ladies European Tour.
Karl Vilips was on track to log the third top-10 finish of his PGA TOUR rookie season at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas but dropped shots at both the 15th and 16th holes to finish tied 11th.
Results
PGA TOUR
Charles Schwab Challenge
Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas
1 Ben Griffin 66-63-68-71—268 $US1.71m
T11 Karl Vilips 70-66-68-70—274 $203,775
MC Cam Davis 76-71—147
PGA TOUR Champions
Senior PGA Championship
Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland
1 Ángel Cabrera 72-69-70-69—280 $US540,000
7 Cameron Percy 67-71-76-69—283 $99,750
T14 Steven Alker (NZ) 75-73-72-66—286 $51,412
T19 Scott Hend 70-74-74-69—287 $38,490
T21 Mark Hensby 71-74-71-72—288 $30,572.50
T40 Richard Green 71-76-74-72—293 $10,317.50
T40 Brendan Jones 71-74-75-73—293 $10,317.50
T55 Andre Stolz 73-73-78-73—297 $5,216.67
67 Mick Smith 72-73-79-79—303 $3,930
MC Rod Pampling 72-78—150
MC Stuart Appleby 70-81—151
MC David Bransdon 72-79—151
MC Michael Wright 75-78—153
MC Michael Campbell (NZ) 77-81—158
LPGA Tour
MEXICO Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba
El Camaleon Golf Course at Mayakoba, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
1 Chisato Iwai 68-74-68-66—276 $US375,000
T9 Robyn Choi 74-72-69-70—285 $45,995
T16 Karis Davidson 72-74-68-72—286 $32,184
T21 Gabriela Ruffels 71-69-71-76—287 $26,546
T52 Sarah Kemp 73-74-74-73—294 $8,110
MC Hira Naveed 77-72—149
MC Cassie Porter 75-74—149
MC Sarah Jane Smith 84-74—158
MC Su Oh 78-80—158
DP World Tour
Soudal Open
Rinkven International GC, Antwerp, Belgium
1 Kristoffer Reitan 71-66-72-62—271 €412,807.64
Won on second hole of sudden-death playoff
T25 Kazuma Kobori (NZ) 67-71-71-70—279 €23,432.90
T37 Jason Scrivener 69-68-73-71—281 €16,026.65
MC David MIcheluzzi 70-73—143
MC Daniel Hillier (NZ) 73-72—145
MC Daniel Gale 73-75—148
Asian Tour/Korean PGA Tour
Kolon Korea Open presented by ELORD
La Vie Est Belle (Dunes Cse), Korea
1 Sadom Kaewkanjana 69-69-69-70—277 $US362,844.70
T15 Kevin Yuan 74-69-69-74—286 $9,644.41
T21 Jed Morgan 67-72-74-74—287 $7,830.19
T42 Maverick Antcliff 75-69-73-77—294 $4,571.84
57 Ryan Peake 71-75-75-79—300 $3,657.47
MC Travis Smyth 73-78—151
MC Aaron Wilkin 78-74—152
MC Danny Lee (NZ) 83-72—155
MC Junseok Lee 85-79—164
Ladies European Tour
Jabra Ladies Open
Evian Resort Golf Club, France
1 Sara Kouskova 66-70-67—203 €45,000
T10 Momoka Kobori (NZ) 70-68-71—209 €6,600
T34 Maddison Hinson-Tolchard 73-73-69—215 €2,526
T39 Kelsey Bennett 66-73-77—216 €2,115
MC Kirsten Rudgeley 75-73—148
MC Wenyung Keh (NZ) 70-81—151
Korn Ferry Tour
Visit Knoxville Open
Holston Hills Country Club, Knoxville, Tennessee
1 Pontus Nyholm 65-66-68-66—265 $US180,000
Won at first hole of sudden-death playoff
T35 Harry Hillier (NZ) 72-68-69-67—276 $5,650
63 Rhein Gibson 68-68-71-74—281 $4,040
MC Harrison Endycott 69-73—142
HotelPlanner Tour
Danish Golf Challenge
Bogense Golf Club, Bogense, Denmark
1 Jonathan Goth-Rasmussen 66-70-66-67—269 €48,000
T64 Sam Jones (NZ) 75-67-72-75—289 €750
74 Hayden Hopewell 72-68-79-75—294 €510
PGA Tour Americas
Inter Rapidisimo Golf Championship
Club El Rincón de Cajicá, Bogotá, Colombia
Reduced to 36 holes due to rain
1 Davis Lamb 61-68—129
T54 Charlie Hillier (NZ) 71-71—142
T94 Grant Booth 74-72—146
LET Access Series
Allegria Stegersbach Ladies Open
Sudburgenland of the Allegria Golf Resort, Austria
1 Gemma Clews 71-66-70—207 €8,000
T7 Justice Bosio 74-69-68—211 €1,500
T14 Kristalle Blum 74-69-70—213 €875
T26 Stephanie Bunque 74-69-74—217 €656
The 2025 Webex All Abilities Scholarship recipients have been announced, with four new scholars receiving funding to pursue their golf dreams.
Tom Ryan (full scholarship), Kane Leonard, George Vassiliadis and Lachlan Smith (development scholarships) are the four new golfers in this year’s intake, joining returning scholars Cameron Pollard, Natascha Tennent, Steven Alderson and Noah Schammer, who all continue to perform on both the national and international stage.
Full scholars receive funding to the value of $6000 each and the development scholars will receive a scholarship worth $3000 each.
In addition to funding for coaching and tournament support, scholarship holders will receive clothing and equipment support courtesy of Australian Golf partners adidas and Callaway, as well as technology support to continue to elevate their performances.
“With thanks to Webex it’s great to see some new players elevate their games and receive a scholarship,” said PGA of Australia Senior Manager – Coaching Programs, Nick Bielawski.
“The panel believes there is a good mix of current performers and future stars. The next 6-12 months will be exciting to see how they all develop.”
Ryan, who had a big summer of golf at home including winning the Webex Players Series All Abilities Murray River and Riversdale Cup, said the scholarship would help him fulfill his dream of playing internationally.
“It means a lot that we have the opportunity to access some of this funding thanks to Webex and the PGA of Australia,” Ryan, from the Eastwood Golf Club in Melbourne, said.
“It helps me develop my game onto the next stage. The goal is obviously to try and win the Australian All Abilities Championship, or win any major within the next 18 months, so this will help a long way to get to that point.
“I had one win, two second places and a third this past summer, so if I can try and translate that into a couple more wins, I’d be even more happy.”
Currently undertaking the PGA Membership Pathway Program at Sandy Links, Ryan is a busy man establishing his career in golf. The scholarship will also allow him to keep on top of his studies while competing at the same time.
Full list of 2025 scholars
Full Scholarship: Cameron Pollard, Natascha Tennent, Tom Ryan, Steven Alderson, Noah Schammer
Development Scholarship: Kane Leonard, George Vassiliadis, Lachlan Smith
Close to six million Australians volunteer their time within local communities across the country, helping to create stronger and healthier environments, and this National Volunteer Week we celebrate those who donate their time to golf.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of Australian Golf, with around 30,000 donating their time and skills to ensure that our sport can be enjoyed by the 3.8 million Australians who played golf in the past year.
More than 1600 volunteers helped deliver successful Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and WPGA Tour of Australasia seasons this summer.
There were also more than 50 volunteers who assisted at professional and elite amateur events as Tournament Support Officials, helping with refereeing, registration, course set-up, and more.
With more than 30 professional events this past summer, volunteers were required across the country, and they answered the call at every stop.
Volunteers are the backbone of Australian Golf and the success and growth of our sport would not be possible without them.
Golf Australia, the PGA of Australia and the WPGA Tour of Australasia would like to say, “Three Cheers For Volunteers!”
The PGA Legends Tour is proud to announce Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Australia as its official charity partner
Since opening its first House in Australia in 1981, RMHC has provided vital support to families with ill or injured children.
In 2024 alone, RMHC supported more than 69,000 families across the country with accommodation and other essential services that ease the burden during some of life’s most difficult moments.
This partnership will see funds raised at PGA Legends Tour events go directly towards supporting families staying at Ronald McDonald Houses nationwide. Many of these families are in towns and cities featured on the PGA Legends Tour schedule, strengthening the local impact of this initiative.
The PGA Legends Tour players will donate a percentage of total prizemoney to RMHC and encourage its host venues to promote the charity and take donations on the day of events.
PGA Legends Tour co-ordinator Andy Rogers said the Tour and its members were delighted to welcome RMHC as its charity partner.
“It’s a privilege to team up with partner with RMHC Australia, a charity that plays a crucial role in the lives of so many Australian families,” he said.
“Our members are passionate about giving back, and this partnership allows us to make a real difference to families going through unimaginable challenges.
“As we travel the country, we constantly hear first-hand how RMHC has helped families stay together and close to their child’s healthcare needs. It’s a meaningful connection for us, and we’re proud to support their work through our events”
Barbara Ryan, CEO of RMHC Australia, welcomed the partnership and praised the PGA Legends Tour’s commitment
“We are thrilled to partner with the PGA Legends Tour,” she said. “Their support will directly help us continue to provide essential support to families during their most challenging times.
“Together, we can ensure that families can stay close to their children and focused on what matters most – their health and recovery.”
This partnership reflects a shared mission to improve health outcomes and support families across Australia, uniting sport and charity for a cause that touches thousands of lives each year.
We woke on Monday morning with a glimmer of hope that Adam Scott was going to turn back the clock and push for major No.2 only for Quail Hollow’s infamous ‘Green Mile’ to add the Masters champ to its lengthy list of casualties.
In a week that started with Cam Davis prominent in the PGA Championship in Charlotte, he and Scott had to ultimately settle for a share of 19th as Scottie Scheffler claimed major No.3.
Scott was just three strokes back when he made the turn in 2-under to be 6-under for the tournament but an untimely bogey on 14 and three dropped shots in his final two holes ended hopes of a top-10 finish.
With less than a week’s notice that he was in the field, Elvis Smylie squeezed every ounce of juice out of his second major championship, playing all four rounds for the first time in his career after making the cut on the number.
With no tournament to play it was a quiet week for our best women golfers, West Australian Maddison Hinson-Tolchard the only Aussie to play all three rounds of the Dutch Ladies Open on the Ladies European Tour.
10. Marc Leishman (Last week: 8)
The only member of Ripper GC with a LIV Golf individual win to his name the past two seasons. Next start is at LIV Golf Virginia, just three hours from his home in Virginia Beach.
9. Adam Scott (New)
Played his way into a share of second early in the back nine at the PGA Championship before succumbing to Quail Hollow’s treacherous ‘Green Mile’. Tied for 19th, Scott finished the week 13th in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee and 15th in Strokes Gained: Putting.
8. Elvis Smylie (New)
Another important step forward for the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner. Notified less than a week out that he had received a special exemption into the PGA Championship, Smylie showed great composure to make the cut in a major for the first time in his career.
7. Minjee Lee (7)
All eyes are on next week’s US Women’s Open at Erin Hills for the 2022 champion. Has five top-15 finishes from nine starts in 2025.
6. Jason Day (6)
Failed to make the weekend at the PGA Championship for just the second time since 2012. Tie for eighth at The Masters is one of three top-10s on the PGA TOUR this year.
5. Hannah Green (5)
In the midst of a two-week break to “knuckle down” and find the spark that can ignite her season. Has three top 10s from seven starts on the LPGA Tour this season.
4. Stephanie Kyriacou (4)
Has three top-six finishes in her past six starts, the most recent being a tie for fifth at the Mizuho Americas Open. Building nicely toward the US Women’s Open.
3. Karl Vilips (3)
All areas of Vilips’ game were put to the test at Quail Hollow as he made his first start in a major since turning professional. Took 66 putts across the first two rounds to miss the cut.
2. Min Woo Lee (2)
Fought bravely on the back nine in Round 2 but bogeys at 17 and 18 meant that Lee missed the cut by three at the PGA Championship. Taking the week off before returning to the Memorial next week.
1. Lucas Herbert (1)
Was likely a frustrated PGA Championship spectator on the back of his sixth career win at the International Series Japan on the Asian Tour. Was tied for eighth at International Series Macau and has three top-five finishes on LIV Golf this season.
The Australian Golf Power Rankings is a subjective list developed with input from members of the Australian Golf media team.
Brisbane’s Michael Wright made the most of a late call-up to record his second top-10 finish in a senior major at the Regions Tradition in Alabama.
Heavy rain that inundated Greystone Golf and Country Club on Sunday morning prevented the final round from reaching its conclusion, Angel Cabrera and Jerry Kelly tied for the lead at 18-under with three and four holes to play respectively.
Kiwi Steven Alker is within two shots of the lead with three holes still to complete, all 10 Aussies getting through 72 holes before play was suspended due to darkness.
Tied for seventh at the Kaulig Companies Championship last year, Wright played the weekend in 11-under par to sit in eighth position and guaranteed to finish as the lone Australian inside the top 10.
It is a performance made even more noteworthy given the 51-year-old was only added to the field when Scott Verplank withdrew from the tournament.
Inspired by a 7-under run on his final 11 holes on Saturday, Wright started with a birdie on Sunday and remained bogey-free the entire final round, making eagle at the par-5 13th for the second straight day to go with birdies at 11 and 15 in a round of 5-under 67.
Victorian Richard Green held the 36-hole lead after rounds of 63-68 but dropped from contention when he shot 3-over 75 on Saturday.
Leading the Legends Tour Order of Merit, Scott Hend was tied ninth at the OFX Irish Legends and Adam Scott and Cam Davis both finished tied 19th at the PGA Championship in Charlotte.
Seven strokes back of Scottie Scheffler through 54 holes, Scott was in a tie for second and just three off the lead early on the back nine but, like many, succumbed to Quail Hollow’s demanding closing stretch including a double-bogey on the 72nd hole.
Photo: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Results
US PGA Championship
Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, North Carolina
1 Scottie Scheffler 69-68-65-71—273 $US3.42m
T19 Cam Davis 66-74-70-72—282 $193,442
T19 Adam Scott 69-71-69-73—282 $193,442
T28 Ryan Fox (NZ) 67-71-72-73—283 $115,820
T72 Elvis Smylie 70-73-77-74—294 $23,655
MC Min Woo Lee 74-72—146
MC Jason Day 73-75—148
MC Cameron Smith 78-71—149
MC Karl Vilips 78-75—153
PGA TOUR Champions
Regions Tradition
Greystone G&CC, Birmingham, Alabama
To be completed Monday morning
8 Michael Wright 70-71-66-67—274
T15 Richard Green 63-68-75-71—277
T22 Mark Hensby 70-73-68-68—279
T27 Greg Chalmers 67-71-70-73—281
T36 Cameron Percy 70-69-73-70—282
T38 Stuart Appleby 72-71-69-71—283
T38 David Bransdon 69-71-72-71—283
T46 Steve Allan 73-68-73-71—285
T46 Rod Pampling 73-70-68-74—285
74 John Senden 76-75-75-84—310
Ladies European Tour
Dutch Ladies Open
Goyer Golf and Country Club, Eemnes, Netherlands
1 Mimi Rhodes 69-69-69—207 €49,500
T4 Momoka Kobori (NZ) 70-69-71—210 €11,550
T25 Amelia Garvey (NZ) 69-76-70—215 €3,545.14
T53 Maddison Hinson-Tolchard 77-67-75—219 €1,210
MC Kirsten Rudgeley 75-76—151
MC Wenyung Keh (NZ) 76-77—153
MC Kelsey Bennett 78-75—153
Korn Ferry Tour
AdventHealth Championship
Blue Hills Country Club, Kansas City, Missouri
1 S.H. Kim 66-65-66-71—268 $US180,000
T21 Rhein Gibson 69-73-68-70—280 $10,950
MC Harry Hillier (NZ) 73-78—151
Korea PGA Tour
SK Telecom Open
Pinks GC, Korea
1 Jaewoong Eom 66-69-67—202
MC Wonjoon Lee 71-71—142
MC Changgi Lee (NZ) 72-75—147
MC Junseok Lee 77-77—154
MC Sungjin Yeo (NZ) 76-78—154
Epson Tour
Copper Rock Championship
Copper Rock Golf Course, Hurricane, Utah
1 Gina Kim 69-65-69—203 $US37,500
MC Soo Jin Lee 80-74—154
Legends Tour
OFX Irish Legends
Mount Juliet Estate, Co Kilkenny, Ireland
1 James Kingston 66-72-66—204
T9 Scott Hend 67-69-72—208
T45 Michael Campbell (NZ) 75-74-71—220
T49 Michael Long (NZ) 75-75-72—222
Sunshine Tour
Kit Kat Cash & Carry Pro-Am
Irene Country Club, Centurion, South Africa
1 Luis Carrera 63-67-66-62—258
T31 Austin Bautista 69-69-69-71—278
His best major finish in six years slipped through Adam Scott’s fingers as American Scottie Scheffler survived a Sunday scare to claim the 107th PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
The world No.1 seemed destined to convert a three-stroke lead into a third major championship triumph at the start of play, yet a front-nine struggle gave others a glimpse at causing a boil over.
Two-under on his round courtesy of birdies at four, seven and 10, Scott was briefly in a share of second and just three strokes off the lead as Scheffler played the front nine in 2-over to drop back to 9-under for the championship.
Tied with Spain’s Jon Rahm, Scheffler moved one clear again with birdie at the par-5 10th and then picked up shots at both 14 and 15 to apply a squeeze that crushed the hopes of Rahm and any other potential contenders, the five-stroke margin of victory testament to his toughness and pure will to win.
Scott’s hopes effectively ended with a bogey at the short par-4 14th.
In the right rough with his tee shot, the 44-year-old took a full swing with lob wedge but came up short in the greenside bunker, unable to get up-and-down to save par to drop back to 5-under.
He missed a birdie chance from 22 feet at the par-5 15th and then made bogey at the par-3 17th when his chip from the right of the green came up 18 feet short of the hole.
A blistered drive of 331 yards into the left fairway on 18 was squandered when Scott’s approach shot finished left of the hazard that runs along the left side, a miraculous chip from a downhill lie inside the penalty area a final piece of wizardry on his way to a double-bogey at the 72nd hole.
Those three dropped shots in two holes saw Scott fall to a tie for 19th with a round of 2-over 73 and level with fellow Australian Cam Davis (72) at 2-under.
Davis made three birdies in succession on the front nine as he made the turn 1-under, moving to 2-under on his round with birdie at the par-5 10th.
But after a birdie on 15, the infamous ‘Green Mile’ would hit Davis hard also, dropping shots at each of the final three holes to end the week at 2-under.
The week after a maiden PGA TOUR win, Kiwi Ryan Fox closed with a round of 2-over 73 to finish tied 28th as Elvis Smylie rounded out his first weekend at a major with a round of 3-over 74.
Victorian Richard Green will need to conjure something special on Sunday after his flatstick failed him in Round 3 of the Regions Tradition in Alabama.
Chasing his first PGA TOUR Champions win in the first senior major of the year, Green will start the final round five back due to a frustrating day on the greens in a round of 3-over 75.
The silky left-hander was even par through eight holes of the third round but a bogey on nine followed by a double-bogey due to two poor chips at the par-3 10th saw him dethroned from the top of the leaderboard.
He would par his way in as American Jerry Kelly (65) charged, Green unable to find any joy with the putter as he hit 15 of 18 greens in regulation.
The 54-year-old will start the final round in a share of 10th at 10-under par, Brisbane’s Michael Wright just one shot further back at 9-under on the back of a productive Round 3.
Kelly’s 65 was the only round better than Wright’s 6-under 66 on day three, the 51-year-old making eagle at the par-5 13th and three birdies on the trot from the 15th hole to climb 19 spots and into a tie for 13th with one round to play.
Greg Chalmers (70) will start Sunday in a tie for 15th at 8-under par, Rod Pampling and Mark Hensby both rising into a tie for 32nd on the back of rounds of 4-under 68.
Photo: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
He has been a professional less than a year yet Aussie prodigy Karl Vilips is “definitely on the radar” of 2026 Presidents Cup captain and major winner Geoff Ogilvy.
Vilips will further his progression when he plays his first major championship as a professional at the US PGA Championship starting late tonight AEST, the 23-year-old paired with Thorbjorn Olesen and Laurie Canter for rounds one and two.
A maiden PGA TOUR win in just his fourth start at the Puerto Rico Open in March earned Vilips his place in the field at Quail Hollow Club, and gave Ogilvy further cause to sit up and take notice.
Named captain of the International team for the 2026 matches in Chicago a fortnight ago, Ogilvy has been aware of Vilips from his day as a pint-sized precocious kid with his own YouTube channel collecting junior trophies across the globe.
That he is now being considered a contender to take on the might of the US is a surprise even to the man tasked with engineering an International win more than 25 years in the making.
“I’m not massive on social media, but I was always pretty aware that he was pretty good,” said Ogilvy.
“He went to Stanford and went all four years, which was impressive because these prodigies usually end up getting out there too early. That was really smart.
“Then he comes out of college and just goes win-win bang. And now he’s out here and he’s won on the main Tour. It’s pretty impressive.
“If you look at the top players in the world, usually they’ve had lives like him. Tiger (Woods) and Justin Thomas and (Phil) Mickelson and all these guys, and Ernie Els, they start golf when they’re starting to walk.
“And Karl was the same.
“That transition from college or amateur golf to pro golf is not easy – we’ve seen a lot of guys stumble at that hurdle – but he’s just made it look pretty easy.
“The future is bright for him. He’s definitely on my radar.”
Vilips first came on the radar of Jason Day’s long-time coach Colin Swatton at the 2014 US Open at Pinehurst when introduced by Karl’s father, Paul Vilips.
It wasn’t until Vilips broke his finger playing basketball and was enduring a challenging period in his development that Golf Australia’s High Performance Director, Brad James, reached out in 2020 to see if Swatton would coach a talented teen in need of direction.
“I met a kid that was extremely low on confidence, didn’t know really the direction his game was going to come out on the back end of the surgery,” Swatton shared.
“He was looking at changing grip positions because of the broken finger and he had some stuff going on in his swing that was definitely a red flag.
“Paul basically asked me to get involved from a short-game perspective and it wasn’t long until I was working with him from a long-game perspective.”
As he refines a swing and overall game that has already proven itself at the highest level, Swatton has marvelled at Vilips’ mental make-up.
Before he had played his first event as a PGA TOUR member, Vilips was speaking excitedly about playing the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town, one of his favourite golf courses.
The issue, as Swatton saw it, was that the RBC was a limited-field Signature Event worth $US20 million that his rookie charge was a long shot of playing.
And then Puerto Rico happened.
“I just thought to myself, here’s a kid that saw himself somewhere months before it happened,” Swatton added.
“And it’s the law of attraction. What you focus on is what will become your beliefs and your future.
“He wasn’t focused on anything else other than where he thinks he needs to be.
“It took Jason three years to figure out how to win on the PGA TOUR and he’s won within the first four events of being on TOUR.
“He’s definitely ahead of the curve and I think he could be really, really special.
“Given the right environment, given the right people around him, given the right information, I think he could be one of Australian’s great golfers.”
Ten Aussies will endeavour to end more than two decades of missed opportunities in senior major championships at the first over-50s major of 2025 this week in Alabama.
The influx of Australian talent onto the PGA TOUR Champions has been on an upward trajectory for the past three years yet tournament wins – including in the five biggest events each year – have proved elusive.
While Kiwi Steven Alker has amassed nine Champions Tour wins – including the 2022 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship – only Mark Hensby (pictured, right), Rod Pampling and Steve Allan have won on the senior circuit in the US the past two years.
The drought in senior majors stretches back to 2002 when Stewart Ginn won the Senior Players Championship, one of only four Aussies along with Ian Stanley, Graham Marsh and Peter Thomson to claim one of the showpiece events on the senior circuit.
That drought could end this week at the Regions Tradition with a contingent of Aussies who have come close in recent years.
Victorian Richard Green was twice a runner-up in senior majors last year, Greg Chalmers (pictured, left) had a share of the lead going into last year’s KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship while Hensby, Pampling and Stuart Appleby all boast top-three finishes since 2022.
It is a rare double week of major championship action with seven Australians and New Zealand’s Ryan Fox to contest the US PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club.
While our three most recent major champions in Cameron Smith, Jason Day and Adam Scott are present again, it also marks the emergence of the next wave of Aussie superstars.
A breakthrough PGA TOUR win at last month’s Houston Open was the next step in Min Woo Lee’s progression and both Karl Vilips and Elvis Smylie will play the PGA Championship for the first time.
Vilips only graduated from Stanford University 12 months ago but has already earned his first PGA TOUR win while Smylie received a special exemption as Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner.
It is the second major championship for both and an opportunity for Smylie to take what he learned at last year’s Open Championship and apply it in a major setting.
“I feel like I’ll do a really good job at just not burning myself out too much,” said Smylie, who played a practice round with Day and Lee on Tuesday.
“My tendency last year at The Open was wanting to play a lot, just because it’s a major, it’s just really exciting.
“I’m doing my best at being able to prepare like any other tournament, so that’s where the experience of having Ritchie (Smith, Smylie’s coach) around will be really beneficial.”
Photos: Getty Images
Round 1 tee times AEST
US PGA Championship
Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, North Carolina
9:05pm* Ryan Fox (NZ)
9:49pm* Jason Day
10:11pm* Min Woo Lee
10:17pm Karl Vilips
2:36am* Cam Davis
3:03am Adam Scott
4:09am Cameron Smith
4:26am* Elvis Smylie
Past champion: Xander Schauffele
Past Aussie winners: Jim Ferrier (1947), David Graham (1979), Wayne Grady (1990), Steve Elkington (1995), Jason Day (2015)
TV times: Live 3am-9am Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
PGA TOUR Champions
Regions Tradition
Greystone G&CC, Birmingham, Alabama
1:15am David Bransdon
1:48am Stuart Appleby
1:59am Cameron Percy
2:10am Mark Hensby
2:10am* Steven Alker (NZ)
2:21am John Senden
2:54am Richard Green
3:16am Steve Allan
3:27am Greg Chalmers, Rod Pampling
3:27am* Michael Wright
Past champion: Doug Barron
Past Aussie winners: Graham Marsh (1999)
Prize money: $US2.6m
TV times: Live 5am-8am Friday, Saturday; Live 4am-7am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.
Ladies European Tour
Dutch Ladies Open
Goyer Golf and Country Club, Eemnes, Netherlands
Australasians in the field: Kirsten Rudgeley, Momoka Kobori (NZ), Kelsey Bennett, Amelia Garvey (NZ), Wenyung Keh (NZ), Maddison Hinson-Tolchard
Past champion: Jana Melichova
Past Aussie winners: Corinne Dibnah (1993), Stephanie Kyriacou (2021)
Prize money: €330,000
Korn Ferry Tour
AdventHealth Championship
Blue Hills Country Club, Kansas City, Missouri
11:46pm Harry Hillier (NZ)
3:43am* Rhein Gibson
Past champion: Harry Higgs
Past Aussie winners: Michael Sim (2009), James Nitties (2011)
Prize money: $US1m
Korea PGA Tour
SK Telecom Open
Pinks GC, Korea
8:12am* Changgi Lee (NZ)
8:23am Sungjin Yeo (NZ)
8:45am* Junseok Lee
1:02pm Wonjoon Lee
Past champion: KJ Choi
Past Aussie winners: Kurt Barnes (2011), Matthew Griffin (2013)
Prize money: KRW1.3b
Epson Tour
Copper Rock Championship
Copper Rock Golf Course, Hurricane, Utah
5:59am* Su Oh
Past champion: Fiona Xu
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US250,000
Legends Tour
OFX Irish Legends
Mount Juliet Estate, Co Kilkenny, Ireland
Australasians in the field: Michael Campbell (NZ), Scott Hend, Michael Long (NZ)
Past champion: Adilson da Silva
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Sunshine Tour
Kit Kat Cash & Carry Pro-Am
Irene Country Club, Centurion, South Africa
Aussies in the field: Austin Bautista
Past champion: Kieran Vincent
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: R2m
