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One of Australia’s most decorated golfers, and fan favourite, Adam Scott has today confirmed he will return home in 2025 as one of the headliners for the BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club from November 27-30.
The first Australian to win The Masters at Augusta National, Scott is a two-time winner of the Kirkwood Cup in his home state of Queensland but has yet to win at Royal Queensland, where he was a junior member.
“Australia will always be home and returning to compete in front of the passionate and knowledgeable fans is always a nice way to end the year,” Scott said today.
“It is always exciting to play in Queensland, and especially at RQ where I spent time developing my game.”
Currently on track to join Jack Nicklaus as the only players to contest 100 consecutive major championships, with the 2026 US Open the potential century celebration, Scott returns home having recorded top-10s in his last appearances at Australia’s two major events – the BMW Australian PGA and Australian Open.
Tied for sixth at the 2023 PGA Championship, Scott was in the mix late on Sunday for a second Australian Open crown, with more silverware in his home country in Scott’s sights as he seeks to add to his 28 official wins worldwide.
He will also contest this year’s Australian Open at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
“It is an honour to have both the BMW Australian PGA and Australian Open on my resume, and I would love nothing more than to win again at home in front of family and friends,” the 44-year-old said.
“Both trophies have honour rolls full of the biggest names in not just Australian golf, but world golf, and anytime you can have success at the end of the year always makes for a nice break and sense of satisfaction.
“The Summer of Golf at home has been a constant talking point on Tour recently, and it will be great to have a truly international field showcasing our world-class courses and players.”
Joined as a confirmed starter for the BMW Australian PGA Championship by defending champion Elvis Smylie, Scott will make his 17th appearance in his home state event where he owns nine top 10s and claimed the title in 2019.
“Adam has always been one of the great supporters of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, and it is a huge boost for both tournaments that he will be teeing it up in 2025, starting at the BMW Australian PGA Championship,” PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said.
“The effort of our overseas based players to return home after a long year is highly appreciated, and after again contending at the majors in 2025, I am sure Adam will be targeting another of our biggest trophies in Australian golf.”
Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander said: “We’re thrilled to again be hosting Australia’s oldest professional golf tournament in 2025, an event that always assembles world-class fields, attracts massive galleries and further cements Queensland’s reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events”.
Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said: “Last year’s tournament welcomed tens of thousands of people to the manicured lawns of the Royal Queensland Golf Club, making an economic contribution of more than $15 million. We can’t wait to see what the 2025 tournament holds.”
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said: “Adam Scott’s return to the world-class Royal Queensland fairways will make this November’s Championship truly unmissable, especially for Queenslanders.
“The Australian PGA Championship is shaping up to be a major highlight on our sporting calendar, drawing fans from near and far to enjoy not just the action on the green, but everything Brisbane has to offer.
“As Australia’s lifestyle capital, Brisbane is the perfect backdrop for this blockbuster event, which is set to deliver millions of dollars in economic benefits for our restaurants, hotels and tourism operators.”
Tickets for the BMW Australian PGA Championship and men’s Australian Open are on sale now at www.ticketek.com.au
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.
Golfers, fans and industry professionals will soon have a new digital home to engage with the sport as the launch of the golf industry’s new one-stop shop website, GOLF.com.au, is confirmed to go live on Thursday, October 2, 2025.
A joint initiative by the PGA of Australia and Golf Australia, GOLF.com.au brings together seven legacy websites including golf.org.au, pga.org.au and wpga.org.au, into a centralised, modern and mobile-friendly platform, delivering a unified digital experience for the first time in the sport’s history.
GOLF.com.au will serve as the digital home for everyone to connect around the game: from Australia’s 460,000-plus club members, the almost 4 million Australians who played golf last year, newcomers to the sport, fans of the professional tours and the more than 30,000 people who are employed or volunteer in the golf industry, including more than 3,000 PGA Professionals.
Whether you’re booking a tee time or finding a golf lesson, joining a clinic, tracking your handicap, following the latest leaderboard, or simply discovering where to play, GOLF.com.au brings it all together in one place, making it easier than ever to connect with the game.
“It puts every part of the golf experience at your fingertips, bringing together the tools, services and inspiration to help more people get into the game, stay connected as a player or immerse yourself as a fan,” PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said.
“By uniting the industry around a single platform, we’re creating new opportunities to grow the sport and support everyone who plays, works, or enjoys golf in Australia.
“For the PGA of Australia, it gives fans and golfers the opportunity to connect with our Members like never before, whether it be following our Tours or finding their closest PGA Professional for expert golf advice.”
The new website will be the new home for golfers to access their GA Handicap, with an improved experience that allows golfers to track their progress and connect with friends.
The site also features a powerful “finder” tool, helping users discover places to learn, play or practice, whether that’s an 18-hole course, driving range, indoor golf centre, community clinic or their nearest PGA Professional.
“From long-time club members to those just picking up a club for the first time, we’ve designed this new digital experience for all golfers and fans,” Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said.
“We know today’s golfers expect convenience, connection and a great experience, on and off the course.
“GOLF.com.au and the new handicap experience is built to meet those expectations now, while laying the foundations for more features and innovations to attract, engage and grow the golf community into the future.”
From launch on October 2, 2025, GOLF.com.au users will be able to:
One of the most trusted voices in world golf is preparing to step back from the microphone with Ian Baker-Finch announcing the end to his 30-year career in television.
An analyst with US broadcaster CBS for the past 19 years, Baker-Finch became a staple of the CBS Masters coverage, fittingly on hand when Adam Scott became the first Australian to win the green jacket in 2013.
Across a career that spanned three decades, Baker-Finch’s proclamation that Scott had gone, “From Down Under to on top of the world,” only served to elevate the poignancy of the moment for Australian golf fans.
“I could barely get it out,” Baker-Finch told the Subpar podcast.
“I’d been sitting down on the 12th tower, it was dark, it was raining, I’d been sitting out there since they’d gone through 12. The cleaners had come through, that’s how late it was.
“Jimmy (Jim Nantz) threw it over to me and he said, ‘Ian, just a fantastic effort for Adam Scott,’ and I said, ‘From Down Under to on top of the world, Jimmy.’
“It was really all I could say. It’s really all I could get out.
“That was something pretty special.”
In announcing his retirement from the commentary booth, the 1991 Open champion and current Chair of the PGA of Australia expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to stay connected with the sport after he retired from playing.
“Golf has been an enormous part of my life,” Baker-Finch said in a post to Instagram.
“I was fortunate to compete against the best players in the game and more recently work with the very best in television.
“To my colleagues across the industry and golf fans around the world, your support and shared love for this game over these decades have meant everything.
“As I step away, I carry with me immense gratitude and pride for the moments we’ve shared on and off the course.
“Here’s to new adventures and the enduring love of golf.”
Baker-Finch’s announcement was met with great appreciation from across the golf globe, with many posting their congratulations.
“Amazing career Finchy – a true professional,” wrote European Ryder Cup captain, Luke Donald.
“Congratulations on two great careers mate. You were a true champion at both, your voice will be missed by many,” Robert Allenby posted.
“You will be missed,” said Suzy Whaley, current President of the PGA of America.
“It’s always been wonderful listening to you. Congratulations on a fabulous career and our very best for your next endeavour.”
Baker-Finch will be on hand for the final two PGA TOUR events of CBS’s 2025 season, signing off at the completion of the Wyndham Championship on Sunday, August 3.
It was something of a power outage for Australian golfers this past week with our top women taking the week off in the wake of the Amundi Evian Championship and Marc Leishman the sole Aussie to play all four rounds of The Open Championship.
Playing The Open for the first time since 2022, Leishman entered the final round at Royal Portrush in a tie for 22nd but shot 4-over to fall into a tie for 52nd, receiving a bump of 53 spots up the Official World Golf Ranking for his efforts.
With a tie for eighth at the Barracuda Championship, West Australian Jason Scrivener moved up 39 spots on the world ranking as three Aussies – Minjee Lee (5), Hannah Green (11) and Grace Kim (25) – retain their places inside the top 25 of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking.
10. Gabriela Ruffels (10)
The 54-hole leader at the Evian Championship, Ruffels’ tie for ninth was her best finish in a major championship and her second top-15 finish in her past three starts. One of 10 Aussies in the field for this week’s ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open.
9. Min Woo Lee (9)
Tie for 13th at the Rocket Classic remains Lee’s sole top-20 finish since his first PGA TOUR win at the Texas Children’s Houston Open in March. Missed the cut at Portrush with rounds of 74-73.
8. Hannah Green (8)
Has opted to skip the Women’s Scottish Open ahead of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl in Wales next week. Tie for 12th at the US Women’s Open is Green’s only top-30 finish in her past six starts.
7. Stephanie Kyriacou (6)
Flashed home at Evian to earn a share of 14th before leading the cheer squad for Grace Kim’s major breakthrough. Holding steady at 39th in the world ranking.
6. Jason Day (5)
Missed the cut on the number at Royal Portrush to end the men’s majors season with two missed cuts, a tie for 23rd at the US Open and tie for eighth at the Masters. At No.32, remains Australia’s highest-ranked male player.
5. Marc Leishman (7)
Renewed his affinity for links golf with a spirited performance at The Open. Returning to The Open for the first time in three years, Leishman shot 68 in both Round 2 and Round 3 to play his way inside the top 25 going into the final round. Backs up this week for the LIV Golf UK event at JCB Golf & Country Club.
4. Lucas Herbert (4)
After making a bright start where has 2-under through eight holes, Herbert was unable to match the performance of his Ripper GC teammate in Leishman and missed the cut at The Open. Will be eager to bounce back for Ripper GC at LIV Golf UK.
3. Adam Scott (3)
A strong showing at the Scottish Open did not transfer to success at Scott’s 25th appearance at The Open Championship. Following a 72 on day one, Scott made an early double-bogey at the par-3 third on day two and was unable to turn it around in an 8-over 79 to miss the cut.
2. Grace Kim (2)
No doubt still coming to terms with her elevation into major champion status following the astonishing finish Kim conjured to win the Amundi Evian Championship in a playoff. Steps out for the first time as a major champion this week at Dundonald Links.
1. Minjee Lee (1)
A resurgent Lee enters the Women’s Scottish Open on the back of victory at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and a tie for third at the Amundi Evian Championship. Has finished top 20 in each of the past three Women’s Scottish Opens.
The Australian Golf Power Rankings is a subjective list developed with input from members of the Australian Golf media team.
He’d have much preferred to be at Royal Portrush yet West Australian Jason Scrivener made the most of the opportunity Stateside to record his career-best finish on the PGA TOUR.
Playing in the opposite-field Barracuda Championship on the opposite side of the Atlantic, Scrivener accumulated 25 points in rounds two and three of the Modified Stableford format to enter the final round in a tie for seventh, six points off the lead.
Four bogeys on the front nine quelled any hope of a maiden PGA TOUR win but the two points for a closing birdie elevated the 36-year-old inside the top 10, bettering his previous best of a tie for 10th alongside Jason Day at the 2022 Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
After a spectacular run of recent success, it was an otherwise quiet week for Aussies globally.
Marc Leishman was the lone Australian to play all four rounds at The Open Championship, struggling to a 4-over 75 in the final round to fall to a tie for 52nd.
“Some days you have it, and some days you don’t. Today I didn’t,” was Leishman’s summation of his last trip around Royal Portrush that included a double-bogey, four bogeys and two birdies.
“You have days like that sometimes, and obviously you don’t want them to be on Sunday of a British Open. We’d like to have had a better score but didn’t.”
It was a failure to take advantage of the par 5s, which he played in 2-under for the week and ranked 77th in the field, that hurt the Victorian, who also identified his slow starts halting his charge up the leaderboard and potentially more major starts in 2026.
“I didn’t start very well any round. Like today, I had to get off to a good start and didn’t, and sort of everything seemed a little bit out of reach and just struggled after that,” he said.
“My ball-striking was decent. I missed a few drives right. I’ve had a few driver issues this year just with them breaking. Not me breaking them, but them breaking.
“I had one break on the way over here, and I finally found one which is good. I’ll take that as a positive this week. I found a driver that I love, just couldn’t string enough good holes together, I guess.
“Par 5s needed a bit of improvement this week. Apart from that, I thought it was pretty decent.”
Photo: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images
Results
The 153rd Open Championship
Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland
1 Scottie Scheffler 68-64-67-68—267 €2,668,467.60
T52 Marc Leishman 73-68-68-75—284 €38,176.30
MC Jason Day 73-71—144 €10,630.83
MC Ryan Fox (NZ) 75-69—144 €10,630.83
MC Daniel Hillier (NZ) 71-73—144 €10,630.83
MC Elvis Smylie 75-70—145 €9,062.27
MC Lucas Herbert 74-72—146 €7,913.18
MC Min Woo Lee 74-73—147 €7,531.96
MC Curtis Luck 80-70—150 €7,531.96
MC Ryan Peake 77-73—150 €7,531.96
MC Cameron Smith 72-78—150 €7,531.96
MC Adam Scott 72-79—151 €7,531.96
PGA TOUR
Barracuda Championship
Tahoe Mountain Club (Old Greenwood), Truckee, California
1 Ryan Gerard 7-15-12-13—47
T8 Jason Scrivener 3-13-12-6—34
MC Cam Davis 3-2—5
MC Aaron Baddeley 1-(-3)—(-2)
Korn Ferry Tour
Price Cutter Charity Championship
Highland Springs Country Club, Springfield, Missouri
1 Chandler Blanchet 62-62-69-68—261 $US180,000
T47 Harry Hillier (NZ) 70-67-70-70—277 $4,357
MC Rhein Gibson 70-73—143
HotelPlanner Tour
German Challenge
Wittelsbacher Golfclub, Neuburg an der Donau, Germany
1 JC Ritchie 67-66-65-66—264 €48,000
T18 Sam Jones (NZ) 69-66-73-70—278 €3,378
T59 Tom Power Horan 75-66-73-80—294 €960
MC Danny List 71-74—145
Epson Tour
Casella Golf Championship
Pinehaven Country Club, Guilderland, New York
1 Briana Chacon 69-68-67—204 $US30,000
MC Jess Whitting 78-71—149
MC Su Oh 75-79—154
LET Access Series
Islantilla Open
Islantilla Golf Resort, Spain
1 Fernanda Lira 69-70-69—208 €16,000
T37 Stephanie Bunque 74-75-76—225 €940
50 Belinda Ji 73-77-80—230 €570
MC Abbie Teasdale 79-74—153
MC Kristalle Blum 77-81—158
MC Justice Bosio 76-82—158
The R&A and The PGA Australia Institute are pleased to announce the launch of the Women in Golf Foundation Program, in Australia.
The Women in Golf Leadership Foundation Program forms a significant part of The R&A’s and Australian Golf’s ongoing commitment to the Women in Golf Charter.
This program provides women across the golf industry with opportunities to enhance their leadership capability confidence and connect with a growing alumnae globally.
Over 300 women having graduated from around the world and over 75% of them gaining promotion after graduation.
What is the program:
An exciting program specifically designed for women looking to develop a foundation level of leadership capability and confidence, where you will:
Who should apply:
How to apply:
Step 1: by 14 August
Register your interest completing the form via the following link : R&A WIGLFP Expression of Interest Form
Step 2: by 28 August
E-mail [email protected] with:
– An up-to-date CV (please include your email).
– A letter of support from your nominating organisation, and signed by your line manager.
– A personal statement covering:
(i) Why you want to participate in this programme.
(ii) What you hope to achieve from a personal development perspective from attending the programme.
(iii) The continued contribution and impact you would like to make to The R&A Women in Golf Charter aims and objectives.
Step 3: by 11 September
Those who are successful will be invited to attend the programme. Confirmation of attendance will be announced once the agreement has been signed.
Marc Leishman had a simple summary of his 4-over final round of 75 at The 153rd Open Championship that saw him finish tied for 52nd as Scottie Scheffler added the third leg of a potential career grand slam.
“Some days you have it, and some days you don’t. Today I didn’t,” was Leishman’s summation of his last trip around Royal Portrush that included five bogeys and two birdies.
“You have days like that sometimes, and obviously you don’t want them to be on Sunday of a British Open. We’d like to have had a better score but didn’t.”
It was a failure to take advantage of the par-5s, which he played in 2-under for the week and ranked 77th in the field, that hurt the Victorian, who also identified his slow starts halting his charge up the leaderboard and potentially more major starts in 2026.
“I didn’t start very well any round. Like today, I had to get off to a good start and didn’t, and sort of everything seemed a little bit out of reach and just struggled after that,” he said.
“My ball striking was decent. I missed a few drives right. I’ve had a few driver issues this year just with them breaking. Not me breaking them, but them breaking.
“I had one break on the way over here, and I finally found one which is good. I’ll take that as a positive this week. I found a driver that I love, just couldn’t string enough good holes together, I guess.
“Par-5s needed a bit of improvement this week. Apart from that, I thought it was pretty decent.”
Disappointed but far from down and out, Leishman will be immediately back in action playing the LIV Golf League’s UK event next week, but not before some downtime and perhaps a little more of the local flavours.
“Yes,” he said with a laugh when asked if a Guinness was in his near future plans as part of letting his hair down.
“Actually going to Dublin tomorrow. My family fly out Tuesday out of Dublin … Probably do a little tour of Dublin with the kids and do another tour of Dublin later in the nighttime, us boys.”
At the top of the leaderboard, Scheffler was never truly challenged as he added a birdie at the first to reach 15-under with Rory McIlroy’s challenge peaking at 10-under through nine before a double bogey ended the home hopes.
Scheffler recovering from a double bogey of his own at the eighth with birdie at the next and eventually finishing on 17-under and four shots clear of runner-up Harris English, while last week’s Scottish Open winner Chris Gotterup made it an all-American podium with his 12-under total.
Scheffler, who only made three bogeys all week to go with his Sunday double, has now won four majors in 39 months and only needs the US Open title to join McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen as winners of the career grand slam.
“It’s a very special feeling, it takes a lot of work to get to this point in my career,” Scheffler said of his win.
The world No.1 not overly engaging in talk of joining Rory in one of golf’s smallest clubs in the immediate aftermath of his win with his own national Open at Shinnecock Hills some 11 months away.
“I don’t focus too much on that stuff (career grand slam).”
Australasian Scores
T52 Marc Leishman, (Ev)
MC Jason Day, (+2)
MC Daniel Hillier (NZ), (+2)
MC Ryan Fox (NZ), (+2)
MC Elvis Smylie, (+3)
MC Lucas Herbert, (+4)
MC Min Woo Lee, (+5)
MC Curtis Luck (+8)
MC Cameron Smith, (+8)
MC Ryan Peake, (+8)
MC Adam Scott, (+9)
New Yorker Chris Malec will tee it up alongside Rory McIlroy at the Australian Open in December after a last-minute decision to enter paid the ultimate dividend at the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Qualifying School in Georgia.
Marking the first time that the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia offered a Qualifying School outside Australia, the 72-hole qualifier at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club ended in unfortunate and dramatic fashion.
Malec (68) and Patrick Healy (67) finished level at the top of the leaderboard at 8-under par, a playoff needed to determine who would be crowned medallist and exempt into every event of the 2025/2026 season.
Malec and Healy were on the green at the second playoff hole when Healy realised that he had a 15th club in the bag, having returned a second putter to his bag prior to the playoff in preparation to leave the golf course.
A 34-year-old journeyman with limited starts on the Korn Ferry Tour and Canadian Tour stretching back a decade, Malec had a good look at birdie on the second playoff hole, stunned when Healy conceded defeat due to the rules infraction.
“I feel for him. Really, I do. It’s just an unfortunate thing,” said an emotional Malec.
“I really wanted to hit that birdie putt. It’s OK. I’ll take the result.”
Bogey-free in the final round and with Healy playing in the group ahead, Malec had to make par on the final hole to force a playoff.
He can now look ahead to a summer playing golf Down Under including starts in DP World Tour co-sanctioned events at the BMW Australian PGA Championship and the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, an unfathomable thought even a week ago.
“It is just so hard for me to wrap my head around that I have to plan my way over to Australia now,” said Malec.
“This was kind of a spur-of-the-moment sign-up. I signed up last minute. I just heard about it and felt like it was a good opportunity and here I am and it worked out.
“I’ve been kind of grinding my way along on all these other mini tours, fell short in Canada Q School and honestly, the cash was running low.
“I just kind of believed that I was playing well, although my results weren’t there.
“I’m just grateful that I came and it worked out.”
While devastated at the manner in which the playoff ended, Healy is one of seven players who receive a category for the upcoming Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season that starts with the PNG Open at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club from August 14-17.
The other players to receive a category are Dustin White (71), Harrison Davis (68), Jayce Hargrove (70), Ty Gingerich (71), Jaron Leasure (71) and New South Wales amateur Hamish Murray (74).
The score wasn’t what Australian Ryan Peake was looking for on major debut at The Open Thursday, however the West Australian, who has been a focal point for media attention all week at Royal Portrush, did walk away with some lessons and souvenirs from an opening 6-over 77.
Surrounded by local media on Tuesday to answer questions about his past and redemption story from jailed bikie to New Zealand Open winner, which earned him an Asian Tour card and soon to be DP World Tour player courtesy of his finish on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.
Peake’s big week got bigger when he discovered he would playing alongside Phil Mickelson the first two days.
No doubt reflecting when the week is over, a week he hopes will extend into the weekend by finding some better play and luck on Friday, Peake maintained his sense of humour when speaking after a round in heavy winds that finished just before the afternoon rain hit.
“It was pretty good. I just asked for his golf ball and got him to sign a golf glove for me after,” Peake said of the experience of playing alongside his fellow left hander on Thursday morning.
“I know everyone is going to look at it and say you take the experience in and stuff like that, but obviously very disappointed with the round.
“I was like Father Christmas out there; I was just handing out presents to the golf course. I just kept throwing them away, and it was just very frustrating.”
Despite the frustrations and constant scrambling to attempt to save pars, Peake did produce a highlight on one of the famed Northern Ireland links’ toughest holes when making his second birdie of the day.
The par-3 16th, ominously named ‘Calamity Corner’, saw a near perfect 5-iron from Peake which appeared to have eyes for the hole before coming up 2-feet short.
“It was just perfect number, perfect club. I had just made a poor bogey. Was on a bit of a bad run as well. I’m sure if I was 2-under going on that hole, that hole looks a little bit more daunting. But when you’re 7-over, not much worse can happen,” he said,
Although suggesting immediate reflection wasn’t on the cards in his 24 hour break between rounds one and two, the to show off his souvenirs to his father Mel, a big Mickelson fan, will surely be another special moment in a special week for Peake.
“He just introduced himself, which I don’t think he needs to introduce himself; I was well aware of who he was,” Peake joked of the interaction he shared with Mickelson, who opened with a 1-under 70, on the first tee.
“We chatted. He’s very friendly. We just had a lot of normal chitchat, talked about family. We talked about different things. Nothing in particular.”
“But yeah, I grabbed his putter off him a few times and had a little feel of it. That’s the OG; that’s the one from The Masters.
“There was a couple cool things. Like I said, his caddie gave away golf balls as we were walking off the tee, and I yelled out, what about me, and he had a laugh, thought I was being sarcastic, and he said, ‘Are you serious?’
“I said, ‘No, I’m deadly serious … Can you sign a glove as well?’
All four rounds of The 153rd Open Championship will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo. Round 1 coverage begins at 3:30pm Thursday AEST.
The final men’s major of 2025 is upon us and Australia is well represented as the 153rd Open Championship heads to Royal Portrush.
Nine Australians and two of our New Zealand neighbours make up the Australasian contingent, with two West Australian’s making their first appearance in the sport’s oldest major.
Ryan Peake and Curtis Luck both earned their place this week courtesy of strong performances on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia this past summer, with Peake one of the first on site in Northern Ireland and the prospect to finally cash-in the biggest prize from his New Zealand Open win.
Meanwhile, Luck earned his ticket to Portrush thanks to his runner-up finish at the 2024 men’s Australian Open alongside Victorian veteran Marc Leishman who has his national Open finish to thank for his return to The Open for the first time since crossing to the LIV Golf League.
Also thanks to his hot summer of golf down under, Elvis Smylie secured his second-straight Open appearance thanks to topping the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.
Major Championship stalwarts Jason Day, Adam Scott and 2022 Open Champion Cameron Smith all return, alongside Min Woo Lee and Lucas Herbert – Herbert securing his place at final qualifying just weeks ago.
Daniel Hillier and Ryan Fox are the New Zealanders in the field, with 39-year-old Fox playing the finest golf of his career in 2025 managing two PGA TOUR titles under his belt as he returns to the site of his best Open finish, a T16 in 2019.
That year – the last time Portrush hosted the Open – it was Irishman Shane Lowry who tamed the rugged links which borders the North Atlantic Ocean and is considered by many one of the finest examples of links golf in the world.
Home to 36-holes, it is Portrush’s Dunluce links that hosts the world’s best players this week as it did in 2019 and 1951, with the dunes providing dramatic elevation changes that can send golf balls into the long natural grasses that border the fairways.
Named for the Dunluce Castle that overlooks the course, Portrush is one of the more exacting tests on The Open Rota with its small greens nestled perfectly into the landscape a feature of Harry Colt’s redesign in the early 1930s.
With the whole town of Portrush taken over by the championship, a winner will not be comfortable until they have safely found their way onto, or near the 18th green, with a closing stretch of three holes that starts with the aptly named ‘Calamity Corner’ par-3 16th enough to test anyone’s mettle.
All four rounds of The 153rd Open Championship will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo. Round 1 coverage begins at 3:30pm Thursday AEST.
The 153rd Open Championship
Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland
Recent champion: Xander Schauffele
Past Aussie winners: Peter Thomson (1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1965), Kel Nagle (1960), Greg Norman (1986, 1993), Ian Baker-Finch (1991), Cameron Smith (2022).
Prize money: US$17 million
TV times: Live Thursday and Friday 3:30pm-5:30am Fox Sports 503 and Kayo. Saturday 7pm-11:15pm Fox Sports 505 and Kayo. Saturday 11pm-5am Fox Sports 503 and Kayo. Sunday 6pm-4am Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Australasians in the field
Jason Day
Major wins: 1
Previous appearances: 12
Best finish: T2 (2023)
2024 result: T13
Best result in 2025: T3, The American Express, PGA TOUR
Ryan Fox (NZ)
Major wins: 0
Previous appearances: 8
Best finish: T16 (2019)
2024 result: T25
Best result in 2025: Win, RBC Canadian Open, PGA TOUR
Lucas Herbert
Major wins: 0
Previous appearances: 4
Best finish: T15 (2022)
2024 result: DNP
Best result in 2025: Win, International Series Japan, Asian Tour
Daniel Hillier (NZ)
Major wins: 0
Previous appearances: 3
Best finish: T19 (2024)
2024 result: T19
Best result in 2025: 2, Hero Dubai Desert Classic, DP World Tour
Min Woo Lee
Major wins: 0
Previous appearances: 4
Best finish: T21 (2022)
2024 result: MC
Best result in 2025: Win, Texas Children’s Houston Open, PGA TOUR
Marc Leishman
Major wins: 0
Previous appearances: 11
Best finish: T2 (2015)
2024 result: DNP
Best result in 2025: Win, LIV Golf Miami, LIV Golf League
Curtis Luck
Major wins: 0
Previous appearances: 0
Best finish: N/A
2024 result: DNP
Best result in 2025: T3, The National Tournament, Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia
Ryan Peake
Major wins: 0
Previous appearances: 0
Best finish: N/A
2024 result: DNP
Best result in 2025: Win, New Zealand Open, Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia/Asian Tour
Adam Scott
Major wins: 1
Previous appearances: 24
Best finish: 2 (2012)
2024 result: T10
Best result in 2025: T12, US Open
Cameron Smith
Major wins: 1
Previous appearances: 7
Best finish: Win (2022)
2024 result: MC
Best result in 2025: T5, LIV Golf Mexico City, LIV Golf League
Elvis Smylie
Major wins: 0
Previous appearances: 1
Best finish: MC (2024)
2024 result: MC
Best result in 2025: T8, New Zealand Open, Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia/Asian Tour
