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Hensby one back as Alker leads Senior Open


Tamworth native Mark Hensby is poised to make another run at a senior major championship after a near flawless first day at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open in London.

An area populated by many Aussies who played the European Tour around the turn of the century, Hensby looked right at home at Sunningdale Golf Club, starting the final senior major of 2025 with five straight birdies.

That hot streak would cool somewhat with two further birdies and a lone bogey over the following 13 holes, Hensby’s round of 6-under 64 just one stroke off the lead held by Kiwi Steven Alker (63).

A quartet of Aussies – Rod Pampling, Steve Allan, Scott Hend and Richard Green – all shot 2-under 68 to be tied 14th as defending champion KJ Choi (66), US Senior Open winner Padraig Harrington (67), Ernie Els (67) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (67) all made bright starts.

Hensby was tied with Harrington and Stewart Cink going into the final round of the US Senior Open before finishing fourth late last month, an experience he intends to draw upon over the coming three days.

“I learned a lot playing with Pádraig and Stewart the last day,” Hensby said.

“You don’t have to be perfect and, unfortunately, we feel like we have to. Pádraig played great the last nine holes and it was fun to be there and watch and competing, even though I wasn’t in contention the last nine holes.

“I haven’t played here before, but I love the golf course and my game has been kind of trending at times.

“Thank goodness it was good today.”

Out in 6-under 29, Hensby peppered the pins early on Thursday, aware that the front nine was more scoreable than the back.

“The first three holes I wasn’t outside three feet,” said the 54-year-old, who withdrew after Round 1 of the 2024 Senior Open.

“To be honest, the back nine probably is a little bit more difficult,. I mean, you’ve only got one par 5 and you’ve got that long par 3 and there’s a couple of tricky tee shots on the back nine. Not that the front is easy. But it’s definitely a little bit tougher today.”

Alker, who turns 54 on Monday, is bidding to win his second senior major title, three years on from his first at the Senior PGA Championship.

He mixed three birdies with a bogey over the front nine, before producing a flawless back nine that featured three further birdies and an eagle at the par-5 13th.

“I was just efficient today,” he said.

“Drove it in the fairway when I needed to and iron play was solid and just made some putts, especially on the back nine, just kind of kept things rolling.

“I bogeyed seven and after that, I just got a bit of momentum and kept it going.”

Photo: Luke Walker/Getty Images

Round 1 Australasian scores
1          Steven Alker (NZ)         -7
2          Mark Hensby               -6
T14      Steve Allan                   -2
T14      Scott Hend                   -2
T14      Rod Pampling              -2
T14      Richard Green              -2
T26      Cameron Percy             -1
T42      Greg Chalmers             E
T42      Stuart Appleby             E
T42      Michael Campbell (NZ) E
T42      Mark Brown (NZ)          E
T69      Michael Long (NZ)        +1
T87      Michael Wright            +2
T126    David Bransdon           +5

Round 2 tee times AEST
4:35pm            Cameron Percy
5:13pm            Mark Brown (NZ)
6:30pm            Stuart Appleby
6:46pm            Richard Green
9:25pm            David Bransdon
9:36pm            Mark Hensby
9:52pm            Michael Long (NZ)
10:03pm          Rod Pampling
10:25pm          Scott Hend
10:58pm          Steven Alker (NZ)
11:25pm          Michael Campbell (NZ)
11:36pm          Greg Chalmers, Steve Allan
12:31am          Michael Wright


The AirBnB is adjacent to his old stomping ground, son Liam is on the bag and long-time friend Greg Chalmers will share the tee when the ISPS HANDA Senior Open tees off at Sunningdale Golf Club on Thursday.

It’s little wonder Steve Allan is feeling right at home.

The foundation of Allan’s professional career was built in London when he joined the European Tour in the late 1990s.

He shared a house with fellow Victorian Geoff Ogilvy and Kiwi Michael Long lived just around the corner.

Such is the reminiscing that has taken place this week, Long and Allan dragged Liam around on a tour of the old neighbourhood, the eldest of the three Allan boys feigning interest just long enough to convince the old man that it was genuine.

“He was at least pretending to be interested,” Allan conceded.

“Before we went to the supermarket yesterday, we did take a little drive around and yeah, it was cool.

“It’s funny how some of the things come back to you, the names of places… it’s been a long time.”

A step back in time is a far cry from the future the 2002 Australian Open champion is building for he and his family on the PGA TOUR Champions.

And it is very much a family affair.

Liam was on the bag when dad had his breakthrough win at the Galleri Classic in March before younger brother Joey subbed in for Allan’s four-stroke win at the DICK’s Open two weeks ago.

Wife Bridget and youngest son Zac were also on site for both wins, making them treasured memories for the entire family.

“The support I got from my wife, Bridget, through those tough times when we didn’t really have much money and were just ticking along was amazing,” said Allan.

“She always believed in me and thought that I could do it and then to have the kids grow up and be around when I’m competing, it’s been great.”

That two of the kids have shared the stage and rubbed shoulders with some of golf’s greatest names for Dad’s two wins is no coincidence, according to Allan.

“It doesn’t feel like I do anything different when they’re on the bag, but clearly it helps,” said the 51-year-old.

“I guess the only thing you would do different is you probably keep yourself a bit more composed, especially with them being golfers. You’re not going to lose your temper as quickly. That’d be the only thing. It just gives you a comfort level when you’re out there.

“The fact that the whole family was at both wins was amazing. It was very cool.”

School commitments back in Scottsdale mean it’s just Steve and Liam in London this week, the surroundings familiar if not the golf course.

Despite his proximity to a layout regarded as the first truly great golf course to be built on the magical Surrey/Berkshire sand-belt during his days on the European Tour, Allan only played Sunningdale for the first time this week.

First impressions have been positive as he seeks to transfer his form in the US into the final senior men’s major championship of 2025.

“My four years in Europe, we always based ourselves in this area, really close to Sunningdale and never went out for a hit there, which is kind of crazy,” Allan admitted.

“I’ve heard nothing but good things about it before I got here and it’s lived up to it. It’s a brilliant course. It’s spectacular as well as being a good test.

“If you’re ranking it in the courses that we have in Australia, it would be right up there.

“There are a few open holes towards the clubhouse, but a lot of tall trees, a lot of land movement, really good bunkering. You couldn’t ask for a much better course, really.

“I’m a long way from an expert on British courses but if you take the links courses out, it’s the best course I’ve played here, without playing the seaside courses.”

And when he and Liam step onto the first tee at 6:57pm AEST Thursday, the friendly face of Greg Chalmers will be there to greet them.

“He’s one of my best friends on the tour. He is a great guy,” added Allan, who teamed up with Chalmers at the two-man American Family Insurance Championship.

“He’s pretty serious when he plays though, so we’re out here to do a job and try to play our best.

“Having the Aussies on the tour has been fantastic. Most weeks there’s 10 or more guys you’ve known for a long time.

“It makes it a lot more welcoming and easy to just be on the tour, so it’s great.”

All four rounds of the ISPS HANDA Senior Open will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo from 10:30pm-4am starting Thursday.

ISPS HANDA Senior Open
Sunningdale GC, Sunningdale, Berkshire, United Kingdom
4:46pm            David Bransdon
4:57pm            Mark Hensby
5:13pm            Michael Long (NZ)
5:24pm            Rod Pampling
5:46pm             Scott Hend
6:19pm            Steven Alker (NZ)
6:46pm            Michael Campbell (NZ)
6:57pm            Steve Allan, Greg Chalmers
7:52pm            Michael Wright
9:14pm            Cameron Percy
9:52pm            Mark Brown (NZ)
11:09pm          Stuart Appleby
11:25pm          Richard Green

Recent champion: KJ Choi
Past Aussie winners: Ian Stanley (2001)
Prize money: $US2.85m
TV times: Live 10:30pm-4am Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.


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: 

  • Log in to a personal golfer portal to view their GA Handicap, track scoring history, follow friends, and monitor progress over time. 
  • Easily find golf experiences nearby, including public courses, national participation programs, mini golf, indoor golf, driving ranges and your nearest PGA Professional for lessons and expert advice.  
  • Follow professional golf, with full coverage of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, WPGA Tour of Australasia, along with amateur championships and pennant competitions around the country.  
  • Explore new learning pathways and career options, from coaching and club management to turf care and tourism. 
  • Access club and facility resources, including industry updates, committee tools and operational support. 
  • Find everything you need to know about learning the rules of the game. 
  • Explore news and content that helps improve their game, follow their favourite Australian golfers and learn how to best get into golf. 

It is a rare delicacy in the modern menu of professional golf yet self-confessed foodie Minjee Lee is ready to savour her annual taste of links golf starting with this week’s ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open.

A week out from the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl in Wales, Lee is making her 10th start in the Women’s Scottish Open, absorbing almost all of Scottish culture with the guidance of new caddie and Edinburgh native, Mikey Patterson.

The pair already have a major championship together courtesy of Lee’s third major championship win at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship last month, Patterson’s efforts to tempt Lee into eating haggis and black pudding less of a success.

On the back of her third-place finish at the Amundi Evian Championship Lee “ate my way through London” before turning her attention to sweet Scottish strawberries and the links courses for which she has become so fond.

The world No.5 has finished top 20 in each of her past three starts at Dundonald Links and is ready to sink her teeth into more links-style creativity.

“I like when we do get the opportunities to play links golf, just the creativity,” said the 29-year-old.

“I really enjoy this type of golf I guess. I just like the cool weather.

“Sometimes we’re hit with a ton of wind, rain, the conditions are much harder usually, like the surface.

“Just being able to like picture it in your mind and executing it gives me a lot of joy when I can do it.”

The 2025 championship marks the seventh time that Dundonald Links has hosted the Women’s Scottish Open and the fourth year in succession.

It breeds a familiarity that Lee hopes to use to her advantage.

“We’ve been here quite a few times now, so I know the course really well,” said Lee, who has the added luxury of staying on site this week.

“I know where to miss it and where it’s best to play from. When the wind does get up, I just kind of know my way around the course now.

“I think that really helps, playing it more than a couple times now.”

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Cassie Porter and Kelsey Bennett will make their tournament debuts, Porter out in the first group of the day alongside fellow Australian Kirsten Rudgeley.

As is the case at Dundonald Links, there are 10 Australians in the field for the final senior major of 2025, the ISPS HANDA Senior Open at Sunningdale Golf Club in London.

Steve Allan comes in on the back of his second PGA TOUR Champions win of the year at the DICK’s Open while Richard Green will be hoping to go one better than his runner-up finish to KJ Choi 12 months ago at Carnoustie.

Photo: Monica Marchesani/LET

Round 1 tee times

PGA TOUR Champions
ISPS HANDA Senior Open
Sunningdale GC, Sunningdale, Berkshire, United Kingdom
4:46pm            David Bransdon
4:57pm            Mark Hensby
5:13pm            Michael Long (NZ)
5:24pm            Rod Pampling
5:46pm             Scott Hend
6:19pm            Steven Alker (NZ)
6:46pm            Michael Campbell (NZ)
6:57pm            Steve Allan, Greg Chalmers
7:52pm            Michael Wright
9:14pm            Cameron Percy
9:52pm            Mark Brown (NZ)
11:09pm          Stuart Appleby
11:25pm          Richard Green

Recent champion: KJ Choi
Past Aussie winners: Ian Stanley (2001)
Prize money: $US2.85m
TV times: Live 10:30pm-4am Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.

LPGA Tour/Ladies European Tour
ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open
Dundonald Links, Gailes, Ayrshire, Scotland
4:30pm            Cassie Porter, Kirsten Rudgeley
5:14pm            Minjee Lee
5:25pm*          Hira Naveed
6:09pm*          Gabriela Ruffels
9:31pm*          Karis Davidson, Momoka Kobori (NZ)
9:53pm            Robyn Choi
9:53pm*          Stephanie Kyriacou, Amelia Garvey (NZ)
10:15pm          Kelsey Bennett
10:26pm*         Grace Kim

Recent champion: Lauren Coughlin
Past Aussie winners: Rebecca Artis (2015)
Prize money: $US2m
TV times: Live 6:30pm-10:30pm Thursday, Friday on Fox Sports 505; Live 11pm-2am Saturday; Live 9pm-1am Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.

PGA TOUR
3M Open
TPC Twin Cities, Blaine, Minnesota
11:13pm          Aaron Baddeley
11:46pm          Harrison Endycott
3:43am            Adam Scott
3:54am*           Cam Davis
4:16am*           Karl Vilips

Recent champion: Jhonattan Vegas
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US8.4m
TV times: Live 10pm-9am Thursday; Live 10:30pm-9am Friday; Live 2am-8am Sunday; Live 1am-8am Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.

LIV Golf
LIV Golf UK
JCB Golf and Country Club, Rochester, England
Australasians in the field: Cameron Smith, Lucas Herbert, Marc Leishman, Matt Jones, Ben Campbell (NZ), Danny Lee (NZ)

Recent champion: Jon Rahm
Past Aussie winners: Cameron Smith (2023)
Prize money: $US20m
TV times: Live from 9.30pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday on 7 Plus

Korn Ferry Tour
NV5 Invitational
The Glen Club, Glenview, Illinois
10:14pm*         Rhein Gibson
11:14pm*         Harry Hillier (NZ)

Recent champion: Thomas Rosenmueller
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US1m

PGA TOUR Americas
Commissionaires Ottawa Open
Eagle Creek Golf Club, Ottawa, Ontario
10:12pm*         Tony Chen
2:46am            Grant Booth

Recent champion: Barend Botha
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US225,000


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.


The NSW Open Regional Qualifying Series, a series of six $50,000 36-hole tournaments across the State, is ready to roll.

In a boost to the economies of several important regional centres across NSW, the tournaments also provide an opportunity for Australia’s best up-and-coming talent to secure their place in the 2025 Ford NSW Open.

This year’s series will kick off at Teven Valley, with formalities beginning on July 24. The pro-am will be followed by 36 holes of championship golf on the 25th and 26th.

The second stop will be Lismore Workers from July 27-29, followed by South West Rocks Country Club from July 30 to August 1.

The North Coast Open at Coffs Harbour will host the fourth tournament from August 4 to 6 in what should be an exciting finale of almost two weeks of golf.

After a brief break, the series heads to Catalina Club Batemans Bay for the penultimate tournament from September 17-19, eventually concluding at Queanbeyan Golf Club from September 21-23.

Stuart Fraser, CEO of Golf NSW, said six regional centres should receive a timely economic boost again.

“The NSW Open Regional Qualifying Series brings plenty of much-needed dollars to regional New South Wales,” Mr. Fraser said. “Competitors are in town for up to three nights at each centre, filling motels, eating at restaurants, and enjoying some of the State’s best hospitality.”

“Not only do locals witness some of Australia’s best golfers, but the tournaments are a significant economic boost for the surrounding areas,” Mr. Fraser added.

Pathway to Glory

With a $50,000 purse on offer at each (professionals only), the top three placegetters (professional or amateur not otherwise already qualified) at each tournament will also secure a start in the Ford NSW Open, played over 72 holes from November 13-16 at the Vintage Golf Club in the NSW Hunter Valley.

Ripper GC’s Lucas Herbert won last year’s Ford NSW Open at Murray Downs in fantastic fashion by three shots from his Ripper GC teammate and former Open Champion Cameron Smith, Sydneysider Alex Simpson, and Branxton’s Corey Lamb. 

The Regional Qualifying Series has become a popular addition to the Australian domestic golf scene, with many of the country’s top players participating.

Graeme Phillipson, General Manager of Operations, Golf NSW, said the six-tournament $300,000 series would again bring several of the sport’s best golfers to regional NSW.

“All of the tournament fields contain some fantastic names,” Mr. Phillipson said.

“Players like Jordan Zunic, a former New Zealand Open Champion, Marcus Fraser, who represented Australia at the Rio Olympics, and Deyen Lawson, a regular on the Asian Tour, are all competing over the next few weeks.”

Defending his title at the North Coast Open is Queenslander Brett Rankin, who used his victory last year to springboard himself onto the Asian Tour for 2025.

“Results like his regional qualification and his subsequent win in the World Sand Greens title certainly helped Brett to one of his best years on tour,” Mr. Philipson added.

Ford NSW Open Regional Qualifying Series Schedule:

Teven Valley: July 24-26
Lismore Workers
: July 27-29
South West Rocks Country Club: July 30 – August 1
Coffs Harbour – North Coast OpenAugust 4-6
Catalina Club Batemans Bay –  South Coast Open: September 17-19
Queanbeyan Golf Club: September 21-23.

 The Ford NSW Open Regional Qualifying Series is proudly supported by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.


Australia’s drought in senior major championships will stretch into a 24th year unless one of 10 Aussies can claim victory at this week’s ISPS HANDA Senior Open at famed Sunningdale Golf Club in London.

Designed in 1900 by two-time Open champion Willie Park Snr, the Old Course at Sunningdale has crowned a host of Australian winners dating back to Norman von Nida at the 1948 British Masters.

Twenty years later, Peter Thomson joined “The Von” as a British Masters champion at Sunningdale while both Greg Norman (1986) and Peter Senior (1990) enjoyed European Open wins at Sunningdale.

Prior to it being bestowed major championship status, Karrie Webb was triumphant in the Women’s British Open staged at Sunningdale in 1997, finishing eight strokes clear of American Rosie Jones.

Seventeen Aussies endeavoured to play their way into the field at Final Qualifying across four venues on Monday, Brisbane PGA Professional Murray Lott still hopeful of a start as sixth alternate having finished sixth at Burhill Golf Club.

It has been 24 years since Ian Stanley became the first and only Australian to date to win the Senior Open, Stewart Ginn’s Senior Players Championship victory a year later the last Australian success in senior majors.

With a heavy presence on the PGA TOUR Champions this year, hopes will be high that the drought can be broken.

Victorian Steve Allan has won twice on the PGA TOUR Champions this season, Mark Hensby had a share of the lead all week at the US Senior Open and Richard Green returns to the Senior Open having finished second to KJ Choi last year at Carnoustie.

All four rounds of the ISPS HANDA Senior Open will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo, coverage to begin at 10.30pm each night through to 4am.

ISPS HANDA Senior Open
Sunningdale GC, Sunningdale, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Recent champion: KJ Choi
Past Aussie winners: Ian Stanley (2001)
Prize money: $US2.85m
TV times: Live 10:30pm-4am Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.

Australasians in the field
Steven Alker (NZ)
Age: 53
Senior wins: 10
Senior Opens: 3
Best Senior Open finish: T3, 2022

Steve Allan
Age: 51
Senior wins: 2
Senior Opens: 1
Best Senior Open finish: MC, 2024

Stuart Appleby
Age: 54
Senior wins: 0
Senior Opens: 3
Best Senior Open finish: 19th, 2022

David Bransdon
Age: 51
Senior wins: 0
Senior Opens: 0
Best Senior Open finish: N/A

Mark Brown (NZ)
Age: 50
Senior wins: 1
Senior Opens: 0
Best Senior Open finish: N/A

Michael Campbell (NZ)
Age: 56
Senior wins: 0
Senior Opens: 5
Best Senior Open finish: T41, 2023

Greg Chalmers
Age: 51
Senior wins: 0
Senior Opens: 1
Best Senior Open finish: T17, 2024

Richard Green
Age: 54
Senior wins: 3
Senior Opens: 3
Best Senior Open finish: 2nd, 2024

Scott Hend
Age: 51
Senior wins: 2
Senior Opens: 1
Best Senior Open finish: T52, 2024

Mark Hensby
Age: 54
Senior wins: 1
Senior Opens: 1
Best Senior Open finish: WD, 2024

Michael Long (NZ)
Age: 56
Senior wins: 0
Senior Opens: 3
Best Senior Open finish: T35, 2021

Rod Pampling
Age: 55
Senior wins: 2
Senior Opens: 2
Best Senior Open finish: T48, 2023

Cameron Percy
Age: 51
Senior wins: 0
Senior Opens: 0
Best Senior Open finish: N/A

Michael Wright
Age: 51
Senior wins: 0
Senior Opens: 1
Best Senior Open finish: T64, 2024

Photo: Ben Hoskins/R&A via Getty Images


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:

  • Develop a growth mindset for learning and be challenged to translate your learnings into action.
  • Discover what kind of leader you want to be and begin to develop a vision for the impact you want to have.
  • Raise your levels of self-awareness by exploring your emotional intelligence capability and your preferred ways of operating.
  • Develop your personal resilience so that you bounce back quickly from knock backs.
  • Learn to communicate more effectively by ensuring your key messages land with impact.
  • Build long lasting relationships and a valued network with your fellow participants.

Who should apply:

  • Women from organisations that are signatories of The R&A Women in Golf Charter and who have active commitments in play.
  • Women in supervisory or first time management roles.
  • Women who have responsibility for the delivery of projects/ initiatives and/or operational elements of their organisation.
  • Women who have/had previous volunteering experience in a leadership capacity and who have a desire to become part of the golf industry.
  • Women who have the potential to be promoted or appointed to a first-time leadership role within the next six months.
  • Star contributors with at least two years of work experience who have been identified as outstanding prospects for leadership roles in the future.
  • Active volunteers who have at least two years left of tenure.

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.


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