Want to recieve exclusive news, videos, tournament highlights, golf important tips and more ?
Want to recieve exclusive news, videos, tournament highlights, golf important tips and more ?
Australian golf rising star Elvis Smylie has today locked in the defence of his BMW Australian PGA Championship title.
This year’s championship, co-sanctioned by the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and DP World Tour, will again be hosted by Royal Queensland Golf Club from November 27-30.
The 23-year-old from the Gold Coast provided one of the major highlights of last season’s Summer of Golf when he held off three-time champion Cameron Smith to win the Joe Kirkwood Cup for the first time.
It propelled Smylie onto the world stage by earning him status as a full-time member of the DP World Tour and he went on to claim the 2024/25 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit title.
“Winning the Joe Kirkwood Cup for the first time was a huge honour and definitely the highlight of my career so far,” Smylie said.
“I have some great memories of that final Sunday. It meant so much to win at home in front of my family and friends in one of Australia’s most important championships.
“Being a BMW ambassador just made it even more special. “Although there’s still a lot of this year to play out, I can’t wait to get back to RQ and try to do it all again.”
PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said: “Elvis played some spectacular golf at Royal Queensland last year, especially down the stretch when he had one of our game’s greats in Cam Smith playing alongside him and trying to chase him down”.
“It’s been very rewarding to see his progress since then, winning our Order of Merit for the first time and going on to play successfully internationally, including at his first US PGA Championship where he made the cut at his first attempt of a US Major and he now has The Open Championship to come.
“We look forward to seeing Elvis back at Royal Queensland where I’m sure he will be determined to get his name on the Kirkwood Cup for the second time.”
Wolfgang Buechel, CEO of BMW Group Australia – the title partner of the Australian PGA Championship – said: “BMW has a long and proud association with Elvis, and it has been delightful for us to witness his remarkable rise in world golf.
“We look forward to his return to the BMW Australian PGA Championship in 2025, where our entire team will be there to cheer him on.
“We also look forward to again be the title partner of the BMW Australian PGA Championship – an event that continues to go from strength to strength and perfectly complements our partnerships with the PGA, Golf Australia and the WPGA.”
Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander said:“Elvis Smylie’s win last year was a standout moment for Queensland and Australian golf, you could see how much it meant to him to lift the Joe Kirkwood Cup on home soil.
“It’s no surprise he’s eager to return and defend his title, and I’ve no doubt fans will turn out in force to see if he can do it again.”
“Now in its fifth consecutive year at Royal Queensland Golf Club and just 15 minutes’ drive from Brisbane, the BMW Australian PGA Championship continues to deliver for Queensland. It brings in thousands of visitors, fills hotels and restaurants, and showcases our state as a premier destination for world-class sporting events.”
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said: “Brisbane is excited to host this world-class event for the fifth straight year in 2025, bringing thousands of passionate fans back to Royal Queensland Golf Club.
“Elvis Smylie is the first big name confirmed to compete, but certainly won’t be the last – promising fans another thrilling Championship.
“Brisbane is Australia’s lifestyle capital, and this event is a hole in one for our city, boosting our economy as visitors pack our hotels, restaurants, and local attractions.”
The BMW Australian PGA Championship is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, and Brisbane City Council via Brisbane Economic Development Agency.
Sunshine Coast Professional TJ King will be joined by three new faces when the PGA of Australia team travels to Canada to contest the 2025 Four Nations Cup.
To be held at The Pulpit Club an hour outside Toronto from September 2-5, the 2025 tournament marks the third playing of the Four Nation’s Cup that brings together PGA Members from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa.
King, the Assistant Professional at Mount Coolum Golf Club, has been a constant in the Australian team since 2022 and was part of the victorious Australian team along with Scott Laycock, Jayden Cripps and Brad McLellan at Moonah Links in 2023. The Four Nation’s Cup was not held in 2024.
The past two winners of the PGA Professionals Championship National Final, Matthew Docking (2023) and Samuel Eaves (2024), will make their Four Nations Cup debuts along with Sanctuary Cove Teaching Professional Mitchell Smith.
Smith finished tied second alongside Docking at last year’s PPC National Final at The Heritage Golf and Country Club and will now try to play his part in Australia’s title defence on foreign soil.
PGA Member Director, Steve Hutchison, will travel with the team as the non-playing manager and is excited that three Members will experience the Four Nations Cup for the first time.
“The Four Nations Cup is not only a chance to compete and represent the PGA of Australia internationally, it is an opportunity to learn and establish relationships with fellow PGA Members across the globe,” said Hutchison.
“The issues faced by our Members on a day-to-day basis are very similar to those that PGA Professionals around the world are experiencing.
“Sharing what we know and hearing how other Professionals deal with certain challenges can be of great benefit to our Membership as a whole.”
The Lees have made a habit in the past of winning in consecutive weeks and, for one round, it looked like it might happen again this past week.
Just four days after sister Minjee won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Min Woo took an early front-running position at the Rocket Classic in Detroit with a round of 9-under 63.
Equalling his low round of the year – the other 63 coming in Round 3 of his Texas Children’s Houston Open win – Lee dropped back with a 73 in Round 2 but shot 10-under across the weekend to earn a share of 13th.
It was the standout performance for the Aussies across the weekend, Kelsey Bennett’s tie for 19th at the Amundi German Masters another strong showing in her maiden season on the Ladies European Tour.
10. Karis Davidson (New)
After taking time away from the game in 2024 is now establishing herself as a bona fide talent on the LPGA Tour. A tie for seventh at the Meijer LPGA Classic was Davidson’s best result on the LPGA Tour. She has since followed that up by playing all four rounds at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and tie for 10th at the Dow Championship.
9. Stephanie Kyriacou (8)
Skipped the two-player teams event at the Dow Championship after surviving four brutal rounds at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Can now look ahead to next week’s Amundi Evian Championship where she was runner-up 12 months ago.
8. Karl Vilips (7)
Finally able to get back on course but the Puerto Rico Open champion played just two rounds before missing the cut at the Rocket Classic in Detroit. One of just three Aussies in the field for this week’s John Deere Classic.
7. Min Woo Lee (9)
Four days after sister Minjee won her third major, Min Woo burst from the blocks at the Rocket Classic in Detroit. His 9-under 63 in Round 1 was a course record for just a few hours, his eventual tie for 13th his best result since winning the Texas Children’s Houston Open in March.
6. Hannah Green (6)
Remains 11th on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking despite missing the Dow Championship in Michigan. Without a top-10 finish since the JM Eagle LA Championship in April.
5. Marc Leishman (5)
In something of a struggle for the Ripper GC boys at LIV Golf Dallas, the LIV Golf Miami champion finished in a tie for 25th, second to skipper Cameron Smith who was tied 13th.
4. Adam Scott (4)
Squeezed in a social hit at home in Switzerland after a run of five tournaments in seven weeks on the PGA TOUR, highlighted by his tie for 12th at the US Open. Next slated to tee it up at the Genesis Scottish Open next week.
3. Jason Day (3)
A tie for fourth at the Travelers Championship on the back of his top-25 finish at the US Open saw Day reclaim the mantle as Australia’s highest-ranked male player in the Official World Golf Ranking. In the field for this week’s John Deere Classic.
2. Lucas Herbert (2)
A second straight disappointing result for Herbert on LIV Golf, shooting 6-over in the final round to finish tied 40th at LIV Golf Dallas. Dropped to seventh in the individual season standings as Ripper GC finished tied seventh in the team event.
1. Minjee Lee (1)
Australia’s most recent major winner revelled in the week off to celebrate her KPMG Women’s PGA Championship triumph. Now sets her sights on the Amundi Evian Championship next week, the tournament where she made her major breakthrough in 2021.
The Australian Golf Power Rankings is a subjective list developed with input from members of the Australian Golf media team.
His birthday wish may not have come true yet Mark Hensby left happy after contending all week at the US Senior Open in Colorado.
Co-leader each of the first three days at The Broadmoor, Hensby played in the final group for the second straight day alongside major champions Padraig Harrington and Stewart Cink.
A poor start where he dropped shots at the first and fifth holes would ultimately prove costly for Hensby, Harrington (67) establishing a five-stroke gap with birdies at two, three and five, the Irishman claiming his second US Senior Open in three years by one stroke from Cink (68).
Celebrating his 54th birthday, Hensby (73) finished in a tie for fourth, his second top-five finish in the event since 2022.
“When you play with a Hall of Famer and Stewart Cink, obviously a very accomplished player, it’s always fun,” said Hensby.
“You always learn something from them, what they do.
“I felt comfortable, I must admit. Obviously, we all get nervous, but I just didn’t get off to the start I needed to really contend.
“Overall, I’m happy for the week. I had a good week.
“I’m going to be honest, today I just got off to a bad start. We just hit a few clubs that probably weren’t the right clubs and hit it in some bad spots where it’s hard to two-putt.
“Just couldn’t get any momentum going. Just couldn’t get the putter right today.”
Victorian Cameron Percy closed with a superb 4-under 66 to sneak inside the top 10, Scott Hend (70) and Greg Chalmers (69) making it four Aussies inside the top 20.
A briefly held course record 9-under 63 in Round 1 gave Min Woo Lee the foundation for his best PGA TOUR result since his win in Texas in March, a tie for 13th at the Rocket Classic in Detroit.
Cameron Smith closed well to also earn a share of 13th at LIV Golf Dallas while Cassie Porter teamed up with Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh to finish tied sixth at the Dow Championship, the second top 10 of her rookie season on the LPGA Tour.
Results
PGA TOUR
Rocket Classic
Detroit Golf Club, Detroit, Michigan
1 Aldrich Potgieter 62-70-65-69—266 $US1.728m
Won on fifth hole of sudden-death playoff
T13 Min Woo Lee 63-73-68-66—270 $172,000
T82 Harrison Endycott 67-66-78-72—283 $17,280
MC Cam Davis 74-70—144
MC Aaron Baddeley 71-73—144
MC Karl Vilips 71-74—145
US Senior Open
The Broadmoor (East Cse), Colorado Springs, Colorado
1 Padraig Harrington 67-67-68-67—269 $US800,000
T4 Mark Hensby 67-67-68-73—275 $165,012
7 Steven Alker (NZ) 69-72-66-70—277 $119,882
T9 Cameron Percy 72-71-70-66—279 $85,798
T16 Scott Hend 71-69-71-70—281 $54,727
T18 Greg Chalmers 70-72-71-69—282 $45,563.75
T22 Steve Allan 71-71-69-72—283 $34,923.50
T22 Rod Pampling 70-71-69-73—283 $34,923.50
T32 Stuart Appleby 71-70-73-72—286 $20,952
T45 Richard Green 71-71-73-73—288 $10,630
MC Michael Campbell (NZ) 74-73—147
MC Mathew Goggin 77-74– 151
MC Brendan Jones 83-70—153
MC Richard Lee (NZ) 78-77—155
LIV Golf
LIV Golf Dallas
Maridoe Golf Club, Carrollton, Texas
1 Patrick Reed 67-68-75—210 $US4m
Won in sudden-death playoff
T13 Cameron Smith 75-71-68—214 $320,000
T21 Ben Campbell (NZ) 73-70-74—217 $225,000
T25 Marc Leishman 75-70-74—219 $180,000
T40 Danny Lee (NZ) 74-76-74—224 $134,333
T40 Lucas Herbert 75-71-78—224 $134,333
T46 Matt Jones 79-75-71—225 $124,000
DP World Tour
Italian Open
Argentario GC, Monte Argentario, Italy
1 Adrien Saddier 69-64-67-66—266 €436,314.18
T16 Kazuma Kobori (NZ) 66-71-67-70—274 €34,648.48
T28 Daniel Gale 68-71-70-68—277 €22,842.33
T41 Daniel Hillier 70-68-71-70—279 €14,629.36
T50 Danny List 68-67-70-76—281 €9,606.24
T69 David Micheluzzi 68-69-71-76—284 €4,619.79
MC Elvis Smylie 70-72—142
MC Jason Scrivener 69-74—143
MC Brett Coletta 76-77—153
LPGA Tour
Dow Championship
Midland Country Club, Midland, Michigan
1 Jin Hee Im/Somi Lee 67-63-68-62—260 $US399,510 ea
Won on second hole of sudden-death playoff
T6 Cassie Porter/Gemma Dryburgh 66-62-73-63—264 $50,621
T10 Karis Davidson/Daniela Darquea 68-66-69-62—265 $35,017
T30 Robyn Choi/Jenny Bae 70-62-74-63—269 $8,282
T35 Fiona Xu (NZ)/Mariel Galdiano 68-66-74-64—272 $6,638
MC Lydia Ko (NZ)/Danielle Kang 71-68—139
MC Sarah Kemp/Alena Sharp 73-68—141
MC Hira Naveed/Sofia Garcia 72-70—142
Ladies European Tour
Amundi German Masters
Green Eagle Golf Courses, Germany
1 Shannon Tan 70-69-68-76—283 €45,000
3 Amelia Garvey (NZ) 68-72-73-72—285 €18,000
T14 Maddison Hinson-Tolchard 75-74-71-72—292 €5,362.50
T19 Kelsey Bennett 70-73-73-77—293 €4,545
T46 Momoka Kobori (NZ) 75-71-75-77—298 €1,590
MC Amy Walsh 79-80—159
MC Wenyung Keh (NZ) 75-85—160
Korn Ferry Tour
Memorial Health Championship
Panther Creek Country Club, Springfield, Illinois
1 Austin Smotherman 65-63-68-63—259 $US180,000
T69 Harry Hillier (NZ) 70-67-72-68—277 $3,910
MC Rhein Gibson 72-67—139
MC Brett Drewitt 72-69—141
HotelPlanner Tour
Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge
Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil, Le Vaudreuil, France
1 David Horsey 72-66-65-69—272 €48,000
Won in sudden-death playoff
T28 Sam Jones (NZ) 71-70-73-67—281 €2,520
MC Hayden Hopewell 74-76—150
Epson Tour
Otter Creek Championship
Otter Creek Golf Course, Columbus, Indiana
1 Jillian Hollis 66-68-68—202 $US37,500
T22 Jess Whitting 71-69-73—213 $2,620
T43 Su Oh 72-71-73—216 $1,373
MC Jennifer Elliott 74-77—151
MC Soo Jin Lee 73-79—152
LET Access Series
PGA of Sweden Championship Landeryd
Landeryds Masters & Landeryds Vasterby, Sweden
1 Katharina Muehlbauer 66-68-71-74—279 €8,678.08
T10 Kristalle Blum 72-73-74-68—287 €1,450.87
T10 Belinda Ji 72-72-74-69—287 €1,450.87
T14 Stephanie Bunque 72-73-69-74—288 €1,152.56
T33 Justice Bosio 77-68-73-73—291 €722.27
T41 Abbie Teasdale 73-71-77-71—292 €629.16
Korean PGA Tour
KPGA Gunsan CC Open
Gunsan Country Club, Korea
1 Tae Hoon Ok 69-67-65-68—269
T47 Sungjin Yeo (NZ) 70-72-71-74—287
MC Wonjoon Lee 71-76—147
WD Junseok Lee 78
Mark Hensby can make it a birthday to remember after maintaining his place at the top of the leaderboard through three rounds of the US Senior Open in Colorado.
The New South Welshman will mark his 54th birthday by playing in the final group at The Broadmoor alongside major champions Padraig Harrington and Stewart Cink on Sunday after all three posted rounds of 2-under 68 in Round 3.
Harrington and Cink both made fast starts on Saturday, Hensby reviving his hopes with an eagle at the par-5 ninth and a chip-in birdie at the par-4 13th.
He assumed the outright lead at 9-under with birdie at the par-4 14th but squandered a golden chance to end the day one clear, missing a short birdie chance at the par-4 finisher to remain locked together with Harrington and Cink at 8-under par.
Hensby is seeking to become just the second Australian to win the US Senior Open and the first Aussie to win a senior major championship since Stewart Ginn at the 2002 Senior Players Championship.
It marks the third straight week an Aussie has played in the final group of a major championship (Adam Scott at US Open, Minjee Lee at KPMG Women’s PGA), Hensby embracing his place within the marquee grouping.
“Any time you play with two great players like that, it’s definitely fun,” said Hensby.
“Didn’t get off to the best start, but as Padraig said, we all kind of made a few birdies there in a row and we started to get things going.
“It’s fun playing with those two guys. They’re just such great players.
“When you get two great players like that who start off as well as they did, especially Padraig, you kind of expect it to a certain extent.
“I just felt like I’ve just got to play my game and try and just do the best I can do all day and see what happens.
“Fortunately, some things started to go my way, got a couple of nice breaks.”
Expecting an early birthday call from family back home in Australia before sleeping on a share of the lead, Hensby hopes to make it a celebration to remember.
“It’s funny, my birthday is always on this week. It’s either Thursday, Wednesday, or tomorrow it’s Sunday,” he added.
“My family will call me tonight, I’m sure, but yeah, we’ll celebrate tomorrow.”
Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn is the only other player within four strokes of the lead, Kiwi Steven Alker five back after a superb 4-under 66 in Round 3.
Photo: Logan Whitton/USGA
Round 3 Australasian scores
T1 Mark Hensby -8
T6 Steven Alker (NZ) -3
T12 Rod Pampling E
T14 Steve Allan +1
T14 Scott Hend +1
T23 Greg Chalmers +3
T23 Cameron Percy +3
T29 Stuart Appleby +4
T38 Richard Green +5
MC Michael Campbell (NZ) +7
MC Mathew Goggin +11
MC Brendan Jones +13
MC Richard Lee (NZ) +15
Round 4 tee times AEST
11pm Stuart Appleby
11:11pm* Richard Green
11:22pm Cameron Percy
11:33pm Greg Chalmers
11:55pm Scott Hend
12:06am Steve Allan
12:17am Rod Pampling
12:39am Steven Alker (NZ)
12:50am Mark Hensby
Back-to-back birdies to finish earned Mark Hensby a share of the lead at the halfway point of the US Senior Open at The Broadmoor in Colorado.
Three back when he began his second round after early surges from major champions Padraig Harrington (67) and Stewart Cink (66), Hensby continued to plunder birdies on the front nine to join them at 6-under by day’s end and three clear of the field.
After his struggles in Round 1, Hensby returned to the back nine to start his second round and made par his friend to turn level with the card.
He countered a bogey on 10 with birdie at the par-3 12th, holing a number of crucial par putts inside 10 feet to maintain touch with the top of the leaderboard.
The 53-year-old birdied three of his opening four holes on the front nine only to drop off the pace with bogeys at five and seven.
But a superb putt after hitting his playing partner’s ball at the par-3 eighth and second shot that found the green at the par-5 ninth produced consecutive birdies to close out a second straight 3-under 67 and join Harrington and Cink on top heading into the weekend.
“I played really well the back nine and then got off to a good start on the front nine again,” said Hensby.
“Then got a little scratchy. But changing some things in my swing, it seems like it just disappears at certain times. But, overall, I played pretty solid today.
“I don’t think I fired at a flag on the back nine today, which was my first nine. I was just trying get it to spots where I was comfortable two-putting or trying to two-putt from.
“Obviously that’s hard to do around here but I think the pin positions dictate everything, what you’re going to do for the rest of this tournament.”
Fellow Aussie Scott Hend also picked up shots late in his round of 1-under 69 to move into the top 10 through two rounds, Stuart Appleby, Rod Pampling and Kiwi Steven Alker a further shot back in a tie for 15th.
Rd 2 Australasian scores
T1 Mark Hensby -6
T10 Scott Hend E
T15 Steven Alker (NZ) +1
T15 Stuart Appleby +1
T15 Rod Pampling +1
T25 Greg Chalmers +2
T25 Richard Green +2
T25 Steve Allan +2
T38 Cameron Percy +3
MC Michael Campbell (NZ) +7
MC Mathew Goggin +11
MC Brendan Jones +13
MC Richard Lee (NZ) +15
A frustrated Mark Hensby defied the notion that pars win USGA championships with a wild scorecard on day one of the US Senior Open in Colorado.
Just 17 players finished Round 1 under par but none did it in quite the manner of Hensby, the Tamworth native making just three pars in his round of 3-under 67 to share the Round 1 lead with three-time major champion Padraig Harrington.
Of the 13 Australasian players in the field, Kiwi Steven Alker (69) was the only one to join Hensby in red figures, Hensby scratching his head after going out in 6-under 30 but making five bogeys in an inward nine of 3-over 37.
“Obviously I felt like I left some out there,” said Hensby.
“It’s just frustrating. I played like s*** the back nine. What else can you say?
“But I’ve never been a very consistent player. I’m hot or cold, and that kind of sucks. Certain shots I keep hitting during rounds, it just pisses me off, so to speak. So yeah, the back nine was just kind of a bit of that.”
One of very few Aussies with wins on the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions, Hensby has finished inside the top 25 in each of his past eight starts, his best result a tie for eighth at the Principal Charity Classic.
“I’ve been playing decent all year,” added the 53-year-old.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve played great this year. I think I’ve only had one top 10 on the Champions Tour. A lot of top 15 to 22. Just haven’t played that great this year.”
Cashing in on ideal early conditions, Hensby began with three straight birdies before making his first bogey at the par-3 fourth.
He shrugged that off with birdies at five and six, turning in 6-under with further birdies at eight and nine.
Three bogeys and a birdie in his first four holes saw Hensby take a backward step to start the back nine, making a third birdie on a par 3 at 16 before walking off the 18th green disappointed with back-to-back bogeys.
Defeated by Miguel Angel Jimenez in a playoff at last week’s Kaulig Companies Champinship, Alker made par on every hole on the back nine to shoot 1-under, Greg Chalmers dropping two shots in his final two holes to post even par along with fellow Aussie Rod Pampling.
Round 1 Australasian scores
T1 Mark Hensby -3
T10 Steven Alker (NZ) -1
T18 Greg Chalmers E
T18 Rod Pampling E
T33 Stuart Appleby +1
T33 Richard Green +1
T33 Steve Allan +1
T33 Scott Hend +1
T52 Cameron Percy +2
T77 Michael Campbell (NZ) +4
T118 Mathew Goggin +7
T126 Richard Lee (NZ) +8
T152 Brendan Jones +13
Round 2 tee times AEST
11:42pm Brendan Jones
11:52pm Steve Allan
12:03am Greg Chalmers
12:24am Rod Pampling
12:24am* Scott Hend
12:34am* Steven Alker (NZ)
4:51am Mathew Goggin
4:51am* Richard Lee (NZ)
5:01am* Stuart Appleby
5:12am Michael Campbell (NZ)
5:33am* Cameron Percy
5:43am Richard Green
5:43am* Mark Hensby
Eighty golf leaders of tomorrow have spent the week connecting and building the knowledge base for their future careers at the 2025 PGA National School in Brisbane.
Conducted over three days at VOCO Brisbane and Victoria Park Golf Complex, Year 1 Associates in the PGA of Australia’s Membership Pathway Program (MPP) engaged in a range of immersive sessions and heard from golf industry experts.
Attendees were given the opportunity to learn, network, and refine their craft through practical workshops on full swing technique, junior golf delivery, and long game fitting with Titleist, to deep dives into coaching technology, career preparation and customer service, all integral skills that will help to shape their futures in the sport.
The program featured presentations from respected PGA partners Coca-Cola, Titleist CoachNow and Trackman and valued insights from a plethora of PGA Professionals.
In addition to Year 1 Associates in the MPP, the National School also welcomed four students from the Tour Professional Articulation. Adam Bland, Max McCardle, James Grierson and Shane O’Brien have extensive experience playing on both domestic and international tours and are now entering an exciting new phase of their golf careers. Their attendance was only possible due to the support provided by the program partner, Titleist/FootJoy, who are committed to supporting these students on their journey to Vocational Membership with the PGA.
With tailored breakout sessions and whole-group presentations, the National School continues to be an essential stepping stone in the journey of every PGA Associate, equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to thrive in Australia’s golf industry.
Applications for the 2026 intake for the Membership Pathway Program open on July 1. To register your interest in taking the first step to becoming a PGA Professional, click here.
If he needed any more good vibes on his return to Detroit Golf Club, Aussie Cam Davis now has a permanent – albeit miniature – reminder of his Rocket Classic success.
Davis will tee off alongside fellow Australian Min Woo Lee at 9:18pm (AEST) on Thursday night as the defending champion, the second time he has had such an honour.
His victory in 2021 marked a breakthrough moment on the PGA TOUR, his win 12 months ago creating a slice of history as the first two-time winner of the event.
To mark the occasion, tournament organisers immortalised Davis in bobblehead form, an idea the 30-year-old was glad he green-lighted.
“When I heard that that was a potential for this week, I definitely wasn’t going to say no to having one of those done,” Davis said in his pre-tournament press conference.
“They nailed it. I heard the hair colour was a difficult one to nail, but I think they did a really good job.
“It’s very cool. I’m really glad I said yes to the idea of having one made up. Very unique experience but very fun. I’ve had a lot of requests, as soon as the picture came out a few days ago that a lot of people want one, which is kind of fun.
“Pretty cool perk for being able to come back here.”
It isn’t just a bobblehead that will mark the occasion this week, food outlets all week at Detroit Golf Club to stock the ‘Davis Double’, a sandwich consisting of crispy chicken, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, pepperoncini, provolone and mayonnaise on a brioche bun, inspiration coming from the meal Davis ate at the pub after his first win.
Such a showering of gifts only adds to Davis’s affinity for a golf course and a tournament he hopes can kick-start his PGA TOUR season.
After starting the year with top-20 finishes at The Sentry and The American Express followed by a tie for fifth at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Davis had climbed back into the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
In his 13 most recent starts he has missed seven cuts and is without a single top-10, making this week’s title defence a timely one.
“It’s been a little bit of banging my head against a wall over and over again, waiting for something to change,” conceded Davis, who experienced a lean run of seven events prior to last year’s win.
“Sometimes it’s a change in location, a change in scenery can be something that you can draw a lot of inspiration from, and just having so many good memories around this place, every spot I walk around in, will only help with that.
“I’m really glad it’s turned up now because there’s no better time to turn things around than getting right back here again.”
After a gruelling test last week at the KPMG Women’s PGA, four Aussies have found teammates for the LPGA Tour’s Dow Championship in Michigan, veteran Sarah Kemp also in the field alongside Canadian Alena Sharp.
There are a total of 13 Australasians in the field for the US Senior Open at The Broadmoor, Ripper GC resume their LIV Golf season in Dallas and the past three winners of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit are contesting the Italian Open on the DP World Tour.
Round 1 tee times AEST
PGA TOUR
Rocket Classic
Detroit Golf Club, Detroit, Michigan
8:56pm Aaron Baddeley
9:18pm* Min Woo Lee, Cam Davis
10:02pm Karl Vilips
3:49am* Harrison Endycott
Past champion: Cam Davis
Past Aussies winners: Cam Davis (2021, 2024)
Prize money: $US9.6m
TV times: Live 8:45pm-5am Thursday, Friday; Live 9pm-8am Saturday; Live 10:15pm-8am Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo Sports.
US Senior Open
The Broadmoor (East Cse), Colorado Springs, Colorado
11:21pm Richard Lee (NZ)
11:21pm* Mathew Goggin
11:31pm Stuart Appleby
11:42pm* Michael Campbell (NZ)
12:03am Cameron Percy
12:13am Mark Hensby
12:13am* Richard Green
5:12am* Brendan Jones
5:22am* Steve Allan
5:33am* Greg Chalmers
5:54am Scott Hend
5:54am* Rod Pampling
6:04am Steven Alker (NZ)
Past champion: Richard Bland
Past Aussie winners: Graham Marsh (1997)
Prize money: $US4m
TV times: Live 8am-11am Friday, Saturday on Fox Sports 503; Live 4am-8am Sunday on Fox Sports 505; Live 4am-8am Monday on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo.
LIV Golf
LIV Golf Dallas
Maridoe Golf Club, Carrollton, Texas
Australasians in the field: Cameron Smith, Lucas Herbert, Marc Leishman, Matt Jones, Ben Campbell (NZ), Danny Lee (NZ)
Past champion: Ripper GC (Team Championship)
Past Aussie winners: Ripper GC (Team Championship, 2024)
Prize money: $US20m
TV times: 2:35am-7am Saturday; 3am-8am Sunday, Monday on 7Mate.
DP World Tour
Italian Open
Argentario GC, Monte Argentario, Italy
3:50pm Daniel Gale
8:30pm David MIcheluzzi
8:40pm Elvis Smylie
9:10pm* Kazuma Kobori (NZ), Danny List
9:30pm* Jason Scrivener
9:40pm Daniel Hillier (NZ)
10:30pm* Brett Coletta
Past champion: Marcel Siem
Past Aussie winners: Greg Norman (1988), Craig Parry (1991)
Prize money: $US3m
TV times: Live 9:30pm-2:30am Thursday, Friday; Live 8:45pm-1am Saturday; Live 8pm-1am Sunday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo Sports.
LPGA Tour
Dow Championship
Midland Country Club, Midland, Michigan
9:15pm Robyn Choi/Jenny Bae
9:37pm Sarah Kemp/Alena Sharp
9:48pm* Cassie Porter/Gemma Dryburgh
9:59pm Lydia Ko (NZ)/Danielle Kang
1:41am* Karis Davidson/Daniela Darquea
1:52am* Fiona Xu (NZ)/Mariel Galdiano
2:36pm Hira Naveed/Sofia Garcia
Past winners: Ruoning Yin/Jeeno Thitikul
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US3.3m
TV times: Live 1am-4am Friday on Fox Sports 506; Live 2:30am-4am Saturday; Live 5am-8am Sunday on Fox Sports 505; Live 5am-8am Monday on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports.
Ladies European Tour
Amundi German Masters
Green Eagle Golf Courses, Germany
3:40pm* Momoka Kobori (NZ)
4:24pm* Amelia Garvey (NZ)
4:35pm Amy Walsh
5:08pm* Maddison Hinson-Tolchard
5:19pm Wenyung Keh (NZ)
8:30pm Kelsey Bennett
Past champion: Alexandra Forsterling
Past Aussie winners: Karrie Webb (2013)
Prize money: €300,000
TV times: 11am-12:30pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday; 10am-11:30am Monday on Fox Sports 503.
Korn Ferry Tour
Memorial Health Championship
Panther Creek Country Club, Springfield, Illinois
3:26am* Brett Drewitt
4:15am* Rhein Gibson
5:26am* Harry Hillier (NZ)
Past champion: Max McGreevey
Past Aussie winners:
Prize money: $US1m
HotelPlanner Tour
Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge
Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil, Le Vaudreuil, France
5pm* Sam Jones (NZ)
10:20pm Hayden Hopewell
Past champion: Joel Moscatel
Past Aussie winners:
Prize money: €300,000
Epson Tour
Otter Creek Championship
Otter Creek Golf Course, Columbus, Indiana
Australasians in the field: Su Oh, Jess Whitting, Soo Jin Lee
Past champion: Savannah Carlson
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US250,000
LET Access Series
PGA of Sweden Championship Landeryd
Landeryds Masters & Landeryds Vasterby, Sweden
4:25pm Stephanie Bunque
9:55pm* Kristalle Blum
10:17pm* Justice Bosio
10:39pm Abbie Teasdale
11:01pm Belinda Ji
Past champion: Natacha Host Husted
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: kr600,000
Korean PGA Tour
KPGA Gunsan CC Open
Gunsan Country Club, Korea
9:01am Sungjin Yeo (NZ)
10:40am Junseok Lee
2:13pm Wonjoon Lee
Past champion: Jang Yu-bin
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: KRW500m
For the second time this year it’s back-to-back major championships for the senior circuit with 13 Australasians qualifying for the 45th US Senior Open at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.
The East Course at The Broadmoor has hosted the US Senior Open twice previously, Eduardo Romero triumphant in 2008 and David Toms in 2018.
A total of 2,585 hopefuls tried to play their way into the 155-man field, the Australasian presence bolstered by Mathew Goggin, Brendan Jones and Kiwi Richard Lee coming through Final Qualifying.
It is the second year in succession that Goggin has secured a spot in the US Senior Open field at Final Qualifying, he and Jones both advancing at Manor Country Club in Maryland.
The 2005 Thailand Open champion, Lee is also playing his second straight US Senior Open after earning medallist honours at Bend Golf Club in Oregon, joining countrymen Steven Alker and Michael Campbell in flying the New Zealand flag.
Lee is the first of the Australasians to tee off in Round 1 at 11:21pm AEST Thursday, all four rounds to be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports.
US Senior Open
The Broadmoor (East Cse), Colorado Springs, Colorado
11:21pm Richard Lee (NZ)
11:21pm* Mathew Goggin
11:31pm Stuart Appleby
11:42pm* Michael Campbell (NZ)
12:03am Cameron Percy
12:13am Mark Hensby
12:13am* Richard Green
5:12am* Brendan Jones
5:22am* Steve Allan
5:33am* Greg Chalmers
5:54am Scott Hend
5:54am* Rod Pampling
6:04am Steven Alker (NZ)
Past champion: Richard Bland
Past Aussie winners: Graham Marsh (1997)
Prize money: $US4m
TV times: Live 8am-11am Friday, Saturday on Fox Sports 503; Live 4am-8am Sunday on Fox Sports 505; Live 4am-8am Monday on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo.
Australasians in the field
Steven Alker (NZ)
Previous appearances: 3
Best finish: T6 in 2023
Low round: 65, Round 4, 2023
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 9
Best finish in a senior major: Won, 2022 Senior PGA
Steve Allan
Previous appearances: 0
Best finish: N/A
Low round: N/A
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 1
Best finish in a senior major: T16, 2025 Kaulig Companies Championship
Stuart Appleby
Previous appearances: 3
Best finish: T25 in 2023
Low round: 67, Round 1, 2024
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 0
Best finish in a senior major: 3rd, 2022 Regions Tradition
Michael Campbell (NZ)
Previous appearances: 3
Best finish: MC in 2019, 2022 and 2023
Low round: 70, Round 2, 2019
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 0
Best finish in a senior major: T41, 2023 Senior Open Championship
Greg Chalmers
Previous appearances: 1
Best finish: T42 in 2024
Low round: 70, Rounds 2, 3 and 4, 2024
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 0
Best finish in a senior major: 3rd, 2024 Senior PGA
Mathew Goggin
Previous appearances: 1
Best finish: T51 in 2024
Low round: 66, Round 1, 2024
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 0
Best finish in a senior major: T51, 2024 US Senior Open
Richard Green
Previous appearances: 3
Best finish: 3rd in 2024
Low round: 63, Round 1, 2024
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 0
Best finish in a senior major: 2nd, 2024 Senior PGA and 2024 Senior Open
Scott Hend
Previous appearances: 0
Best finish: N/A
Low round: N/A
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 0
Best finish in a senior major: T4, 2024 Senior PGA
Mark Hensby
Previous appearances: 4
Best finish: 3rd in 2022
Low round: 63, Round 2, 2024
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 1
Best finish in a senior major: 3rd, 2022 US Senior Open
Brendan Jones
Previous appearances: 0
Best finish: N/A
Low round: N/A
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 0
Best finish in a senior major: T40, 2025 Senior PGA
Richard Lee (NZ)
Previous appearances: 1
Best finish: MC in 2024
Low round: 73, Rounds 1 and 2, 2024
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 0
Best finish in a senior major: MC, 2024 US Senior Open
Rod Pampling
Previous appearances: 4
Best finish: 4th in 2020
Low round: 67, Round 4, 2020 and Round 1, 2024
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 2
Best finish in a senior major: T3, 2022 Regions Tradition
Cameron Percy
Previous appearances: 1
Best finish: T12 in 2024
Low round: 65, Round 2, 2024
PGA TOUR Champions wins: 0
Best finish in a senior major: 7th, 2025 Senior PGA Championship
