Webex Players Series South Australia hosted by Greg Blewett is returning to Willunga Golf Course as part of a busy schedule of tournaments for the first half of the upcoming 2024/25 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season.
Starting from the PNG Open (August 15-18), 10 tournaments will be contested through to the end of the year, highlighted by the two Australian major championships co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, the BMW Australian PGA Championship and ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
The ground-breaking Webex Players Series, featuring its format of men and women on the same course, vying for the same title, will kick off at Willunga on October 24-27.
Two of South Australia’s best touring professionals, Lachlan Barker and Kristalle Blum, are looking forward to taking on a quality field at home.
Blum, the No.1 South Australian in the women’s world rankings, will be playing in the event for the first time, while reigning PNG Open champion Barker, who grew up near the Willunga course, will be looking to improve on his T36 placing from last year.
Another five Webex Players Series events will be held in the New Year, including the debut of Webex Players Series Perth hosted by Minjee and Min Woo Lee at Royal Fremantle GC in January.
Austin Bautista will return as the defending champion in South Australia after producing a storming finish to win the inaugural event in the picturesque McLaren Vale region.
PGA of Australia’s General Manager of Tournaments & Global Tour Relationships Nick Dastey said the second Webex Players Series South Australia would build on the success of its debut year.
“We’re delighted to be returning to Willunga in October and having Greg Blewett once again as our host,” he said.
“We had a great tournament in 2023, with a finish that came down to the 72nd hole, and fantastic feedback from everyone involved.
“Our players not only loved the course, they really enjoyed being able to explore the McLaren Vale wine region and the Fleurieu Peninsula when they weren’t competing.”
SA Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said: “It is terrific to see this tournament return to the world-class McLaren Vale wine region, bringing professional golfers to South Australia and the Fleurieu Peninsula, while spotlighting the region to a national audience.
“We heard wonderful feedback about the Willunga Golf Club and its proximity to some of our state’s best tourism offerings following last year’s inaugural event, and I look forward to seeing professional golf return to the region this October.”
Member for Mawson Leon Bignell said: “Our region has so much on offer including world class wineries, restaurants and beaches and I look forward to welcoming the PGA, golfers and fans back to Willunga to experience it all again in October.
“We saw a really successful tournament last year when the Webex Players Series made its way to South Australia for the first time and we can’t wait for it to be repeated in year two.”
Webex Players Series South Australia will be broadcast on Fox Sports on Foxtel and Kayo.
Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia 2024 schedule
August 15-18: PNG Open at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club ($200,000).
October 10-13: CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil & Logistics at Kalgoorlie Golf Course ($250,000)
October 17-20: Bowra & Odea Nexus AdvisernetWA Open at Mandurah Country Club ($175,000 min)
October 24-27: Webex Players Series South Australia hosted by Greg Blewett at Willunga Golf Course ($200,000)
October 31-November 3: Queensland PGA Championship at Nudgee Golf Club ($250,000)
November 14-17: NSW Open at Murray Downs Golf Resort ($800,000)
November 23-26: BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club ($2 million)
November 28-December 1: ISPS HANDA Australian Open at Kingston Heath Golf Club and Victoria Golf Club ($1.7 million)
December 5-8: Victorian PGA Championship at Moonah Links Resort ($250,000)
December 12-15: Gippsland Super 6 at Warragul Country Club ($200,000)
Photo: Kristalle Blum and Lachlan Barker at Coriole Vineyards
The Chase Is On when a new Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season starts in Port Moresby next week at the PNG Open.
Last year, it was Lachlan Barker who got his season started right with a win, while it was rookie Kiwi professional Kazuma Kobori who shone brightest, winning three times on the way to securing the Order of Merit title and all the benefits being the Australasian No.1 brings.
As the chase to follow Kobori’s stellar example begins, here’s eight “next gen” professionals aged 25 and under we think you should keep a close eye on as the season unfolds over 10 tournaments over the second half of 2024, with more to come at the start of 2025.
Cameron John
He just slips into this age group for one last season, but as the winner of the final event last season, The National Tournament presented by BMW, he is a worthy inclusion. Turning pro at 19 after an impressive amateur career, it was an up-and-down start in the pro game for the Victorian, however, last season, on the comeback from wrist surgery, he got into a groove. John’s win was one of six top-25s, and after a winter at home he will chomping at the bit to get going.
Jeffrey Guan
Another of the highly successful amateurs now in the early stages of their pro career, Guan looks set for a big season after spending the winter months playing the European Challenge Tour, where he recorded a top-10 in France. Finishing T18 and T21 at the BMW Australian PGA Championship and ISPS HANDA Australian Open respectively, Guan isn’t afraid of the big stage and is growing as a pro with each start.
Harrison Crowe
After winning the 2022 NSW Open as an amateur, and earning major starts via winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, Crowe produced a mixed bag in his first season as a professional in 2023/24. Last season was highlighted by a T2 at the Queensland PGA for the New South Welshman who has been plying his trade on the Asian Tour in the winter months and is a proven winner at every level.
Elvis Smylie
Making his major championship debut at The Open Championship at Royal Troon this year, it is easy to think Smylie has been around for a long time given he was a fixture on leaderboards straight after turning pro. Learning a great deal over the past few years when results haven’t come as easily, Smylie is now part of the Ritchie Smith camp that has produced some of our best players. Now has experience at almost every venue on the schedule this season, which the lefthander will hope to take advantage of as he looks to return to the DP World Tour.
Josh Greer
Another of the Ritchie Smith stable, Greer will be better after his first full season as a professional at home, where his best result came in the form of a runner-up at the Webex Players Series South Australia. Settling well into Tour life, Greer will look to make his mark early in his home state of Western Australia, with the Scottish-born Greer very comfortable at the WA Open that he has been playing since the age of 14 and in Kalgoorlie where he was T9 last season.
Hayden Hopewell
Yet another of the promising crop of players coming from the West, Hopewell is already a Tour winner after claiming the WA Open as an amateur back in 2020. Playing a full schedule on the Challenge Tour in Europe this year, Hopewell hasn’t quite produced what he would have liked, but once back home he is one of the players to watch. A renowned hard worker, Hopewell is another who will look to make some noise early in the WA swing.
Max Charles
Turning pro after finishing in a tied fourth at last year’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, Charles’ opportunities to show what he can do as a pro have been limited to date. Losing in a play-off at the final stage of Qualifying School this year, gaining starts won’t be such an issue for the Victorian who enjoyed a strong amateur career that included a five-year stint at Boise State University in America. A member of Kingston Heath, Charles will be keen to start well and perhaps secure Australian PGA and Australian Open starts via the mini Order of Merit in the first half of the season.
Brisbane Lions AFL star Cam Rayner’s golf game has earned him a place in this year’s BMW Australian PGA Championship Pro-Am at Royal Queensland.
The 24-year-old, who took up golf around four years ago, had a massive 47 stableford points at Brookwater Golf and Country Club to win the Lions’ leg of the PGA Challenge which gives Brisbane’s sporting elite the chance to show off their golfing prowess.
Rayner was joined in the first event of this year’s Challenge by 21 of his teammates who are all keen golfers and play together regularly, including co-captain Harris Andrews, Charlie Cameron, Dayne Zorko, Hugh McCluggage, Zac Bailey, Ryan Lester and Jackson Prior, who is the club’s low marker, playing off a handicap of four.
“I’m very excited. It’s going to be awesome,” Rayner said of the opportunity to play in his first PGA Pro-Am.
“Usually I’m losing 150 balls out here so it was good to finally tidy a few things up and get it right.
“If I play half as good (at Royal Queensland) as I did out here today, I’ll have a bit of fun.”
The Brisbane Broncos and Brisbane Heat will play their PGA Challenge qualifiers later in the year.
An overall winner will be decided on Pro-Am Day, November 20.
Leaderboard
1. Cameron Rayner 47
2. Jarryd Lyons 35
3. Scott Borlace 34
4. Anthony Corrie 33
T5. Shadeau Brain 31
T5. James Madden 31
T5. Charles Cameron 31
T5. Andrew Crowell 31
T5. Hugh McCluggage 31
T5. Harry Sharp 31
Are you interested in volunteering at either of the two marquee events of this summer’s Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia?
The Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and Golf Australia are calling for golf-lovers and enthusiasts to volunteer at the BMW Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane and the ISPS HANDA Australian Open in Melbourne in November-December 2024, as well as tournaments in Perth and regional Victoria.
Volunteers are the heartbeat of these tournaments in Australia.
The PGA Championship will be held at the famous Royal Queensland in Brisbane from 21 to 24 November where Min Woo Lee thrilled the crowds and won the championship last year (pictured above).
The Open is to be held at Kingston Heath and The Victoria Golf Club from 28 November to 1 December, with both courses hosting on the first two days and Kingston Heath hosting on the third and fourth day.
As has been the case in Melbourne in 2022 and Sydney in 2023, the tournament has an inclusive format with men’s, women’s and All Abilities championships played on the same stage at the same time.
Both tournaments are part of the DP World Tour and will boast a field of the best players in the world.
Potential volunteers can also put their hand up for the Victorian PGA Championship at Moonah Links on the Mornington Peninsula, the Gippsland Super 6 and the Webex Players Series event in Perth.
Applications for volunteering at our major events and tournaments are managed through the volunteer management system, Rosterfy.
The process is two-step:
“The Chase Is On” for the professionals on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia with a busy schedule of tournaments for the first half of the upcoming 2024/25 season released today.
Starting from the PNG Open in August, 10 tournaments will be contested through to the end of the year, highlighted by the two Australian major championships co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour.
The first Australian events on the 2024/25 calendar will be the Western Australia double in October, beginning in Kalgoorlie at the CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil & Logistics (October 10-13).
It’s then on to the Mandurah Country Club, the new home for the Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open which will celebrate its 100th anniversary when it is played on October 17-20.
The ground-breaking Webex Players Series, featuring its format of men and women on the same course, vying for the same title, will have one event prior to the New Year with the McLaren Vale wine region once again the home of Webex Players Series South Australia hosted by Greg Blewett from October 24-27.
Another five Webex events will come in 2025, including the debut of Webex Players Series Perth hosted by Minjee and Min Woo Lee at Royal Fremantle GC in January.
The Tour then heads east to the Queensland PGA Championship played once again at Nudgee Golf Club in Brisbane from October 31 to November 3.
The NSW Open, offering a boosted purse of $800,000, returns to the schedule with the 2024 edition to be hosted for the first time by the Murray Downs Golf Resort on November 14-17 as the lead-in to the majors.
The BMW Australian PGA Championship will make its fourth consecutive appearance at Royal Queensland in Brisbane (November 21-24) while the ISPS HANDA Australian Open at two of Melbourne’s world renowned Sandbelt gems, Kingston Heath GC and Victoria GC, on November 28-December 1.
The schedule also features a date shift for the Victorian PGA Championship and Gippsland Super 6 which will now be played following the Australian Open in December.
“The Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia is gaining in momentum, mirroring what is occurring with the game of golf in all metrics across Australia,” PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said.
“When the Chase resumes in August, our next generation of stars will have their sights on the great opportunities and pathways that exist by being one of the leading players on our Tour.
“We experienced a fantastic 2023/24 season highlighted by Kazuma Kobori’s three victories which led him to our Order of Merit title, the return of some established names to the winner’s circle and the emergence of first-time tournament winners.
“The new season is sure to bring more spectacular golf when we kick off in PNG and then travel into five states including the return of NSW Open with a significant prizemoney boost at a new Tour venue we’re excited to visit.”
Building on the success of its tournament broadcast, which has brought the Tour and its new era of stars onto screens across the country and overseas, Fox Sports and Kayo will be home of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia. The two majors, the PGA and Open, will also be simulcast on Nine and 9Now. The NSW Open will appear on 7plus.
Challenger Chief Executive, Customer Mandy Mannix said: “We’re excited to begin our second year as naming rights sponsor with the PGA Tour of Australasia.
“Over the past year, in partnership with PGA, we’ve elevated professional golf’s profile and supported a beloved sport that brings joy to older Australians.
“As we embark on another thrilling golf season, we wish all players the best of luck, from seasoned professionals to rising stars, ensuring every swing and every round is a hole-in-one.”
The post-Christmas/New Year schedule of Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia events will be announced in coming weeks.
2024
August 15-18: PNG Open at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club ($200,000).
October 10-13: CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil & Logistics at Kalgoorlie Golf Course ($250,000)
October 17-20: Bowra & Odea Nexus Advisernet WA Open at Mandurah Country Club ($175,000 min)
October 24-27: Webex Players Series South Australia hosted by Greg Blewett in McLaren Vale wine region. Course TBC ($200,000)
October 31-November 3: Queensland PGA Championship at Nudgee Golf Club ($250,000)
November 14-17: NSW Open at Murray Downs Golf Resort ($800,000)
November 21-24: BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club ($2 million)
November 28-December 1: ISPS HANDA Australian Open at Kingston Heath Golf Club and Victoria Golf Club ($1.7 million)
December 5-8: Victorian PGA Championship at Moonah Links Resort ($250,000)
December 12-15: Gippsland Super 6 at Warragul Country Club ($200,000)
The 2024 NSW Open is set to shine when it heads to the magnificent Murray Downs Golf and Country Club in the NSW south-west from November 14 to 17, with Australia’s best golfers competing for a record-setting purse of $800,000.
Last held in March 2023, the NSW Open will also return to the spring/summer window for the first time in five years. This tournament and the entire men’s regional Open series is proudly supported by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
Stuart Fraser, CEO of Golf NSW, was thrilled to announce this year’s prize purse and tournament date. “This year’s NSW Open presents a fantastic opportunity for us to ensure the tournament maintains its standing as the most prestigious State Championship on the Australian golf calendar.”
“Rich River proved to be a fabulous venue for last year’s Championship, and the crowds we saw throughout the week proved how thirsty the public are for elite tournament golf. We know Murray Downs will be just as successful,” Mr Fraser added.
Defending champion, Victoria’s David Micheluzzi, confirmed his status as one of the sport’s rising stars with his victory at Rich River. The win propelled him to the 2023 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit crown and a DP World Tour card for 2024.
With the NSW Open returning to a pivotal date on the calendar, this year’s champion could easily end up following in the footsteps of the Victorian.
PGA of Australia CEO, Gavin Kirkman, said the NSW Open would be a major highlight of the 2024/25 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season.
“The NSW Open has a wonderful history with an outstanding list of past champions, and we’re looking forward to seeing who adds their name to the trophy at Murray Downs, one of the wonderful courses we have in our regional areas,” Mr Kirkman said.
“It will kick off three huge weeks for our Tour, leading into the BMW Australian PGA Championship and the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
“We are very appreciative of the NSW Government and Golf NSW’s outstanding ongoing support of our Tour and professional golf in general as we continue to grow the game across our region.”
Tournament Facts
Host venue: Murray Downs Golf and Country Club
Dates: 14 – 17 November 2024
Prize fund: AU$800,000 (Min)
Website: www.nswopen.com
Globally renowned premium automotive leader BMW will become the title partner of the Australian PGA Championship.
The collaboration will see the BMW Australian PGA Championship, one of Australian golf’s two majors, join BMW’s suite of premium global tour tournaments alongside the DP World Tour’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, BMW International Open in Munich, the PGA TOUR’s penultimate playoff tournament – the BMW Championship – as well as the BMW Ladies Championship on the LPGA Tour.
Locked in for Royal Queensland Golf Club on November 21-24 this year, the BMW Australian PGA Championship stands as one of the premier tournaments on the Australian sporting calendar with its vibrant party hole and spectacular golf, attracting record crowds as Min Woo Lee won the 2023 title in his unique style.
Thanks to the co-sanctioning agreement between the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and DP World Tour, this year’s BMW Australian PGA Championship will again feature a world-class field, pitting the best of Australia’s professionals against an international contingent of contenders.
Same tournament, new title partner 😎@bmwau | #AusPGA pic.twitter.com/qnOLsYOa2e
— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) July 1, 2024
It will once again be the opening tournament of the DP World Tour season and enjoy its fourth consecutive year at Royal Queensland, the host venue of the 2032 Olympic Games golf competition.
Min Woo Lee, one of the rising superstars in world golf, has already confirmed he will return to defend his title.
PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said that with BMW’s commitment to excellence and innovation, the partnership promises to elevate the championship to a new level.
“We are delighted to welcome BMW as the title partner of the Australian PGA Championship,” Kirkman said.
“BMW has had a wonderful influence on Australian golf and our PGA Championship for many years and this title partnership takes its commitment to the next level.
“The company’s commitment to excellence and innovation perfectly aligns with our values, and we are confident that this partnership will contribute to the continued success and growth of the championship.”
BMW Australia CEO Wolfgang Buechel said: “BMW has had a longstanding involvement in golf around the world for more than 40 years, and we are excited to extend our partnership with the Australian PGA for such a prestigious Australian tournament, welcoming incredible Australian talent home for the season’s first major event.
“From the US via Europe to Asia and Australasia, you will find BMW wherever golf is played and enjoyed through all major markets worldwide.
“This is BMW’s first golf title partnership in the Southern Hemisphere and builds on our existing relationship as the official automotive partner of the PGA, Golf Australia and the WPGA.
“In partnership with the PGA, BMW will create captivating experiences across Australia, where future-defining innovation meets a sustainable society and a shared ambition to grow and create unforgettable memories and moments.
“The BMW Australian PGA Championship will be a great platform to promote our electric future via our range of BMW fully electric vehicles that will be on course at Royal Queensland.”
Guy Kinnings, CEO of the DP World Tour, added: “We are delighted BMW have joined as title partner of the Australian PGA Championship. Over the past 35 years, the DP World Tour have developed an extremely close working relationship that continues to drive strong value to BMW’s global engagement in sport.
“With this partnership in Australia, it brings together a truly iconic brand and iconic golf tournament, popular with golf fans and players alike across the world. The BMW brand stands for luxury, innovation, and sportiness – all values that closely match our own, with both the DP World Tour and PGA of Australia benefitting significantly from partnering with such a respected partner of the game of golf.”
As well as being title partner of the BMW Australian PGA Championship, BMW is committed to supporting the future of Australian professional golf with its existing Australian golf partnership with the PGA of Australia and Golf Australia covering the broader Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, WPGA Tour of Australasia and the Australian Open.
The company also currently has partnerships with LPGA Tour star Grace Kim and DP World Tour player Elvis Smylie.
Tickets for the BMW Australian PGA Championship are available now via Ticketek
Promising teenagers Natascha Tennent and Noah Schammer are among the first six recipients of the Webex Golf Scholarships that will provide financial and practical support to continue their journeys in golf.
Tennent (pictured, right) and Schammer (centre) will receive Development Scholarships as Steven Alderson (left), Lachlan Wood, Garth Allen and Cameron Pollard were announced as the Full Scholarship recipients.
An expansion of the Webex Players Series All Abilities program, Tennent and Schammer will each receive $3,000 in coaching and tournament support while Full Scholarship holders will receive $6,000 in total funding and support.
In addition, there will be Adidas clothing, technology support and a monthly player education webinar as Webex continues to find new ways to promote and develop All Abilities golf.
A total of 19 applications were received from nearly every state and territory with the selection panel not only impressed by the quality of each application but taking the time to talk personally with each athlete about their journey in golf.
“Thanks to Webex, these scholarships provide a great opportunity for these world class athletes,” said Nick Bielawski, Senior Manager – Coaching Programs for the PGA of Australia.
“They’ll receive access to coaching from PGA professionals around Australia. In addition, they’ll receive travel and tournament support to play in more tournaments and improve their world ranking.”
“Webex is proud to be partnering with PGA Australia to enable the ongoing development of All Abilities golfers,” said Chris Bowman, Director of Marketing, Webex by Cisco, APJC.
“Through both funding and the use of our technology, we aim to unlock opportunities for these talented rising stars to be coached by the world’s elite golfing professionals and set them on their path to becoming the next generation of Australian golfing champions.”
Scholarship recipients were selected based on their GA handicaps, performances in Webex Players Series events and performances in WR4GD ranking events.
Full Scholarships
Lachlan Wood
Winner 2023 Australian All Abilities Championship
T4 at 2024 G4D Open in England
Ranked No.7 in WR4GD Gross Rankings
2nd at G4D Tour @ The CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Winner 2023 WA Open All Abilities Championship
Cameron Pollard
3rd at 2023 Australian All Abilities Championship
Winner 2024 Webex All Abilities Players Series Hunter Valley
Winner 2024 Queensland Inclusive Championship
2nd at 2024 NSW All Inclusive Championship
Steven Alderson
Ranked No.4 in Australia in gross rankings
Ranked No.6 in WR4GD Nett Rankings
Winner of Webex All Abilities Players Series South Australia
Tied 1st at Qld Inclusive Championship
2nd at SA Inclusive Championship
3rd at Vic Inclusive Championship
Garth Allen
Ranked No.8 in Australia in gross rankings
4th place at the 2024 Scottish Open
3rd place in his flight at US Open Adaptive Qualifying
3rd NSW All Abilities Championship
4th SA All Abilities Championship
Top-50 finish at 2024 G4D Open
Development Scholarships
Noah Schammer
Winner 2023 Riversdale All Abilities Cup
Ranked No.88 in WR4GD Gross Rankings
7th at 2024 Victorian Inclusive Championship
Natascha Tennent
Gold Medallist 2023 Special Olympics World Games
No.13-ranked female on WR4GD
Winner of Sporting Achievement Whilst Overcoming Adversity at 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards
Winner Nett Strokeplay Division at EDGA Algarve Masters in Portugal
Just seven months ago, Kazuma Kobori left the amateur game with a tremendous record and simple goal, with the Kiwi unable to predict his meteoric rise in the professional ranks that continues with a major debut at next week’s PGA Championship.
Turning pro at the Queensland PGA Championship in November, Kobori’s game had earned global attention in the amateur ranks, yet the now 22-year-old wasn’t getting ahead of himself.
“Starting my professional career in November, I was like, ‘I’m just going to try and keep an Aussie Tour card this year. Maybe grab a top-10 Order of Merit to get me into second stage Q school for Europe’,” Kobori said yesterday.
Doing far more than that, Kobori claimed the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit crown after a dream debut season that means he has a guaranteed DP World Tour card next season, as well as a start at The 152nd Open at Royal Troon.
His achievement of topping the season-long points list on his home circuit was cause for the PGA of America to extend in invite for the year’s second major to be held at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky as it did to his predecessor David Micheluzzi last year.
Learning of his invitation upon waking on Tuesday morning, Kobori might still be digesting what has transpired as he prepares to make the journey from Canterbury to Louisville.
“It was pretty unexpected. I got a WhatsApp message this morning (Tuesday) when I woke up at seven and my manager was like, ‘You’re in the PGA’,” Kobori said.
“I knew he was pushing for the invite but because my word ranking’s not quite as good as some of the other players in the world, I didn’t think I’ll get it.”
Making his major debut two months earlier than expected, Kobori’s hot start to life in the play-for-pay ranks no doubt piqued the interest of the PGA of America, so too others with invites extended to DP World Tour and Asian Tour events.
Winning three Webex Players Series events in the space of four weeks on his way to the Order of Merit title, his start at Valhalla will be just the 15th of Kobori’s pro career.
Recent appearances on the DP World Tour, and now the PGA Championship, are offering him a chance to measure his game against the world’s best.
“To be honest, I just want to want to be able to play my game so by the end of the week, I’ll have a really good understanding on where my game compares,” the New Zealander said of his approach to the PGA.
“This is one of four times, I guess you can count the Olympics as well, but very rare occasions where I can play against the best in the world. So I’m going to use this as an opportunity to have a bit of a benchmark to see where I’m at.”
Hoping to “stay out of my own way”, Kobori plans to reach out to experienced compatriot Ryan Fox on the topic of playing a major, and perhaps a practice round, while time spent with DP World Tour winner Daniel Hillier has helped develop an understanding of the next steps up the professional golf ladder.
“Honestly, just spending time around him has probably been the best one,” Kobori said of Hillier.
“He doesn’t really give me advice or anything, and it’s not that I really need it, I just need to be able to see how he operates and then set my standards based on that.
“Playing against good players definitely enables me to set high standards and then that’s been very beneficial for my game.”
Admitting to having few memories of the last PGA Championship at Valhalla in 2014, when Rory McIlroy won his most recent major and Kobori was just three years into his golfing journey, the former Eisenhower Trophy individual winner is attempting to create familiarity and comfort quickly.
His occasional caddie last season, Tyler Wood, will be on the bag and perhaps looking to his boss for the week for inspiration after gaining a Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia card at the recent Qualifying School.
Meanwhile a well-timed round should hold Kobori in good stead ahead of the biggest start of his burgeoning career.
“I actually had a round, or a session, with a sports psychologist today (Tuesday) that I work with, and he just said, honestly, just be a bit more mindful of everything you’re doing,” Kobori said.
“Everything’s just going to be a little bit more, like the crowd’s going to be a bit bigger, the nerves are going to be a bit bigger, so just be a bit more mindful of what you’re doing. Whether it be breathing, your nutrition, your gym work, your practice and all that.
“That was his advice and I’m going to take it on board.”
Kobori joins fellow Australasians Fox, Cam Davis, Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott, Cam Smith and Lucas Herbert, who also received a special invite, in the field for the 106th PGA Championship.
The 2024 PGA Championship is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
Australian golf’s biggest showman, Min Woo Lee, is making a new home for himself in a very appropriate place, Las Vegas, but he’s keeping Australia very much on his mind.
Not only is Lee, ranked No.32 in the world, determined to represent his country at the Olympic Games in Paris for the first time, he’s already locked in his Australian PGA Championship title defence at Royal Queensland in November.
Buy your 2024 Australian PGA Championship tickets HERE.
Lee said coming back to Brisbane as the defending champion would be a new experience, but one he’s already looking forward to.
“It was obviously big for me to win a tournament in Australia. Being in front of my friends and family was massive and I love Royal Queensland,” the West Australian said today.
“It’s a course I love playing and I feel like it suits my game pretty good.
“The crowds at Royal Queensland are always awesome. It’s a great vibe that just keeps getting bigger.”
After an awesome Australian summer, where he also contended for the ISPS HANDA Australian Open title before finishing third, Lee is settling in to life in the United States where he has been a guest in American pro Kurt Kitayama’s home when not playing tournament golf as a fulltime member of the PGA TOUR for the first time.
His own home in the “Entertainment Capital of the World” is on the way and will make his move away from Perth even more comfortable, helping his bid to build on a season that he has graded as a B so far.
The clear highlight in eight events has been a T2 finish at the Cognizant Classic in Florida.
“It’s massive to have a place to stay in America and not have to travel all the way back to Australia.
“I do miss Australia and I do miss my friends and family but I think it helps having that home base.”
Lee’s next event will be The CJ Cup Byron Nelson in Texas in early May but the No.2-ranked Australian also has an eye on the Paris Olympic Games in July, with his T22 result at the Masters edging him closer to qualification.
The top 15 in the world and top two ranked players from each country will earn a place in the field at Le Golf National in July.
As it currently stands, Lee and Jason Day (No.22) would be the Australian men’s duo.
“It’s definitely a talking point. Every week I get asked, so it’s in my brain, in my head,” he said of the potential to become an Olympian like sister Minjee.
“I would love to represent Australia. It’s one of the goals I’ve had from the last year or so when the talk started happening.”