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The FedEx Cup playoffs rolls-on on the PGA TOUR, where three Australians — Jason Day, Adam Scott and Cam Davis — remain in the hunt.
The BMW Championship is the second leg of the Playoffs, where the top-50 players left on the standings will be reduced to 30 come week’s end to advance to the TOUR Championship.
While all players this week have already locked in starts in all of the PGA TOUR’s signature events for next season, there is still plenty to play for as Scott, who is hunting his tenth TOUR Championship appearance at Eastlake Golf Club, explained.
“I’m happy to be back in the Playoffs again, and trying to make it to Eastlake from the outside, but at least I know I’ve done it before,” Scott said.
“I think the President’s Cup is on a lot of people’s minds this week, obviously it’s the last week of qualifying, without a disaster I feel like I’m going to qualify which is fantastic.
“I wanted to play my way onto the team, I didn’t want to be the old guy who’s relying on a pick from his buddies, and even be questioned why I’m there but I think my play of late has solidified my spot.”
Both Day and Scott’s President’s Cup spots look all but secured, with Scott’s major focus trying to advance in the FedEx Cup, however Davis has a battle on his hands in both regards.
Currently 49th on the standings, and outside the automatic pick zone for the President’s Cup, Davis needs a huge week to both advance his season, and improve his chances of representing the International Team in Canada.
On the other side of the pond, this week marks the year’s final major, with seven Australians and New Zealand’s Olympic gold medallist Lydia Ko descending on the Old Course at St Andrews, the home of golf, for the AIG Women’s Open.
Fresh off a strong Olympics performance herself, world no.5 Hannah Green is ready to continue her form from Paris that saw her just miss out on a medal, and would absolutely love to win her second major championship at such an historic venue.
“It’s a very special place obviously, just coming down the 18th hole with all the beautiful scenes of the hotel and everything. It’s been very cool to play,” Green said after a practice round on the famed links.
“I feel like I’ve actually played a lot more practice rounds this week than usual but I feel pretty comfortable.
“I was fortunate enough to play here in 2019, just a casual round of golf on the Old and then I also played the New Course while I was here.
“It was the perfect day for it, overcast barely any wind so nothing like what we’re going to have so that’s probably why I’ve already played three rounds already.”
After her courageous effort at The Olympics, battling back after a tough opening round for a tied fourth finish, Green took a well-earned week off instead of playing the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open.
“I actually went and played Prestwick where the first Open Championship was ever held, so that was actually really cool,” she said.
“It was actually a little bit windy so it was quite difficult trying to judge where to hit it but it was fun to at least experience links in a casual sense.
“Not that I needed to, but if I didn’t find a ball it was nice I didn’t have to go back to the tee.”
Joining Green in the Australian contingent at St Andrews is her Olympic partner Minjee Lee, Grace Kim, Steph Kyriacou, Hira Naveed, Gabi Ruffels, and her Olympics coach and three-time AIG Women’s Open champion Karrie Webb.
Elsewhere, four Australians are teeing it up at the Danish Golf Championship on the DP World Tour, while a strong group of Australians again grace the PGA Tour Champions at The Ally Challenge.
*All times AEST
LPGA Tour/ Ladies European Tour
AIG Women’s Open
St. Andrews Old Course, St. Andrews, Scotland
4:11pm Hannah Green
4:33pm Karrie Webb
4:44pm Minjee Lee
5:06pm Grace Kim
5:39pm Gabi Ruffels
6:01pm Hira Naveed
9:15pm Steph Kyriacou
9:26pm Lydia Ko (NZ)
Defending champion: Lilia Vu (US)
Past Aussie winners: Corinne Dibnah (1988), Karen Lunn (1993), Karrie Webb (1995, 1997, 2002).
Prizemoney: $US 9 million
TV times: Thursday and Friday 9pm-4am Fox Sports 503 and Kayo. Saturday and Sunday 9pm-4am Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.
PGA TOUR
BMW Championship
Castle Pines Golf Club, Colorado, USA
1:20am Cam Davis
1:45am Adam Scott
2:25am Jason Day
Defending champion: Viktor Hovland (NOR)
Past Aussie winners: Bruce Crampton (1971), Robert Allenby (2000), Jason Day (2015), Marc Leishman (2017).
Prizemoney: US$20,000,000
TV times: Thursday and Friday 11:15pm-4am Fox Sports 505 and Kayo, 4am-8am Fox Sports 503 and Kayo. Sunday 1am-8am Fox Sports 503 and Kayo. Monday 2am-8am Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
DP World Tour
Danish Golf Championship
Lübker Golf Resort, Aarhus, Denmark
3:30pm* Haydn Barron
5:10pm Sam Jones (NZ)
5:30pm David Micheluzzi
8:30pm* Jason Scrivener
9:40pm* Andrew Martin
Defending champion: Rasmus Hojgaard (DEN)
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prizemoney: €3,250,000
TV times: Thursday 11:10pm-2am Fox Sports 506 and Kayo. Friday 9pm-11:15pm Fox Sports 505 and Kayo. Saturday 12:30am-2am Fox Sports 507 and Kayo, 8:30pm-10pm Fox Sports 507 and Kayo, 10:30pm-1am Fox Sports 503. Sunday 8pm-2am Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
PGA Tour Champions
The Ally Challenge
Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club, Michigan, USA
12:20am Rod Pampling
12:40am Greg Chalmers
1am Mark Hensby
1:05am* John Senden
1:15am* Cameron Percy
1:50am Richard Green
2:05am* Steve Allan, David Bransdon, Michael Wright
Defending champion: Vijay Singh (FIJI)
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prizemoney: US$2,200,000
Korn Ferry Tour
Albertsons Boise Open presented by Chevron
Hillcrest Country Club, Idaho, USA
11:15pm* Karl Vilips
4:40am* Brett Drewitt
5:20am* Rhein Gibson
Defending champion: Chan Kim (USA)
Past Aussie winners: Greg Chalmers (2005)
Prizemoney: US$1,500,000
PGA Tour Americas
CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open
Southwood golf and Country Club, Canada
10:40pm* Harry Hillier (NZ)
11pm Charlie Hillier (NZ)
3:50am Grant Booth
Defending champion: Inaugural event.
Prizemoney: US$225,000
Challenge Tour
Indoor Golf Group Challenge
Landeryds Golfklubb – Vesterby Links, Vesterby, Sweden
4pm Blake Windred
4:40pm Connor McKinney
9:10 Hayden Hopewell
Defending champion: Maximilian Rottluff
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prizemoney: €250,000
LET Access Series
Ladies Slovak Golf Open
TALE Ski Golf & Hotel Resort, Slovakia
4:40pm* Wenyung Keh (NZ)
4:50pm* Munchin Keh (NZ)
8:40pm Kristalle Blum
9pm* Stephanie Bunque
Japan Golf Tour
Sansan KBC Augusta Golf Tournament 2024
Australasians in the field: Michael Hendry (NZ), Brad Kennedy, Anthony Quayle.
LPGA Q-Series: Pre-Qualifying Stage
Rancho Mirage, California
Australasians in the field: Grace Williams (a), Mackensie Toole (a), Jennifer Herbst, Sarah Yamaki Branch, Lion Higo (a), Justice Bosio (a), Jordan O’Brien, Claire Shin, Jess Whitting, Linley Ooi, Kelsey Bennett, Amy Chu, Caitlin Peirce (a).
Josh Clarke secured his third win in six starts in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series in 2024 when he completed a dominant victory at the Better Homes Port Macquarie Pro-Am yesterday.
The Sydney professional shot rounds of 69-68 to finish at 7-under-par, four shots ahead of a group of four players, including Queenslander Cory Crawford who produced an amazing turnaround in 24 hours to follow an opening 79 with a course record 10-under-par 62.
“My iron game has really gone to another level,” Clarke said of his recent improvement which saw him also claim a career-first title at Cowra in May and then Tin Can Bay in July.
“It’s always kind of been the weakest point of my game.
“My coach Blake Dowd out at Stonecutters and I found something four or five months ago and it’s really just clicked.”
Crawford’s spectacular morning round, which saw him jump ahead of 47 players, began at the 10th tee and featured six birdies in his first eight holes on the way to a back nine of 30.
Four pars to start the front nine represented just a brief quiet period before the 31-year-old rattled off birdies at the fifth, seventh, eighth and ninth.
Further down the leaderboard, PNG Open runner-up James Conran (73-69) finished in a tie for fifth alongside 2009 Canadian Open champion Nathan Green (74-68), who is just nine months away from being eligible for the seniors ranks.
HOW THE WINNER’S SCORE UNFOLDED
Fresh off a tie for 17th at the PNG Open to start a new Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia campaign, Clarke shot a round of 69 with five birdies and two bogeys on Tuesday to share the lead with Josh Chamberlain (ACT).
But while Chamberlain fell away, eventually posting a 79 on day two, Clarke collected three birdies in his first six holes to seize the outright lead. Another three birdies across the first four holes of the back nine consolidated his advantage.
Although he had two bogeys late on, a birdie on the par-5 18th sealed the comprehensive victory.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“I played pretty conservatively really. It was windy on day one and early on in day two. I’m hitting the ball nicely at the moment,” Clarke said.
“It was a lot firmer and faster than PNG was playing so it needed a bit of adjustment. Had to be quite defensive on the putts. It was tricky but I’ve always liked this course.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
137: Josh Clarke (NSW) 69-68
141: Cory Crawford (Qld) 79-62; Nathan Miller (NSW) 73-68; Lucas Higgins (NSW) 73-68; Nathan Page (Vic) 71-70
142: James Conran (NSW) 73-69; Nathan Green (NSW) 74-68; Kyle Michel (Vic) 72-70
143: Jayden Cripps (NSW) 75-68; Andrew Kelly (Vic) 74-69; Toby Walker (Vic) 74-69; Aaron Maxwell (ACT) 75-68
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series heads down the Pacific Highway to the Hawks Nest Beachside Apartments Pro-Am at Hawks Nest Golf Club on Friday-Sunday.
The PGA Institute is excited to announce the inaugural “PGA Institute Secondary Schools Tournament,” a Victorian Order of Merit event.
Open to all secondary school students in Victoria, this 18-hole stroke event will feature both gross and nett categories.
Held at the Sandhurst Club Champions course, participants will receive a packed lunch, complimentary buggies, and free range balls.
This event offers a great opportunity for students and parents to enjoy the Sandhurst Club, learn about the PGA Institute, and discover the various opportunities available for to students.
DETAILS:
Title: 2024 PGA Institute Secondary
Schools Tournament
Venue: SANDHURST CLUB
Date: FRIDAY 4th OCTOBER 2024
Entry Fee: $30.00 (inc. GST)
Inclusions: Pre-Round Lunch Pack and Prizes
Eligibility: Secondary School Students
Format: 18 Hole Stroke Play
Tee Times: 1pm Shotgun Start
Registration: 11.30am
GA Handicap Limit: 36.0 (Boys), 45.0 (Girls)
Entries Open: 9.00am on Monday the 8th July
Entries Close: 12:00 on Friday 13th September
Course: Champions
Contact: John Speirs 0409 990 951 [email protected]
Complimentary buggies (limited numbers) & range balls. Entries are via Golf Australia Website at https://www.golf.org.au/events
The Australian WPGA Championship will headline the new Gold Coast Festival of Golf launched today at the world-renowned Sanctuary Cove Resort.
Locked in for March 6–9 next year as part of a three-week stretch of co-sanctioned events between the WPGA Tour of Australasia and the Ladies European Tour (LET), the tournament will be played as a stand-alone event for the first time after debuting in 2022 when LPGA Tour regulars Su Oh and Grace Kim duelled it out in a play-off at Royal Queensland.
The 2025 Australian WPGA Championship will be contested on the magnificent The Palms course at the Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club. The recent restoration of The Palms layout has it placed among the best in Australia.
The 2025 winner will again be awarded the Karrie Webb Cup, with the seven-time major winner continuing her involvement in the tournament, while International Women’s Day falls on the Saturday of the event and will be celebrated throughout the tournament and festival.
A major event in the WPGA Tour of Australasia season, the tournament will form a central element of the Gold Coast Festival of Golf, a new joint initiative by the PGA of Australia, Mulpha Australia, Tourism & Events Queensland (TEQ) and Experience Gold Coast (EGC).
“The WPGA Tour of Australasia has a long history in Queensland, and particularly the Gold Coast, and we are excited to be a part of what is far more than a golf tournament, with the Gold Coast Festival of Golf to be a highlight on the Australian golf calendar,” WPGA Tour of Australasia CEO Karen Lunn said.
The Gold Coast Festival of Golf will be the ultimate celebration of golf hosted in the heart of Sanctuary Cove at The Marina Village, an interactive golf lifestyle event and experience for the whole family, celebrating women’s sport with golf as the centrepiece.
It will appeal to golf enthusiasts and novices alike and will attract the who’s-who of the golf industry and include a dedicated entertainment and food and beverage precinct, featuring live music, pop-up bars, a Kids’ Zone, live interactive experiences, plus golf and lifestyle displays.
“The PGA of Australia is constantly looking at exciting and new ways to grow our sport in Australia, and adding another major women’s tournament and a wider event encouraging the growth of women’s professional golf is a tremendous development,” PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said.
Renowned for its events, including existing international festivals on the Gold Coast, Mulpha Australia is furthering its connection with Australian golf with the development of the Gold Coast Festival of Golf.
“We are delighted to collaborate with the WPGA Tour of Australasia, PGA of Australia, TEQ and EGC to stage the Australian WPGA Championship and Gold Coast Festival of Golf at Sanctuary Cove,” Mulpha Australia CEO Greg Shaw said.
“The Mulpha Events team have a reputation for delivering some of Australia’s most loved events, so we are incredibly excited for the opportunity to create Australia’s biggest celebration of golf at Sanctuary Cove.”
Added Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club CEO Paul Sanders: “Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club is thrilled to be a partner of the WPGA Championship, showcasing the incredible talent of female golfers from around the world.
“As one of the best-integrated resorts in Australia, our world-class facilities, including the recently renovated The Palms golf course, will provide an unparalleled experience for players, spectators, and the community, who we look forward to welcoming for a truly exceptional event.”
A regular home for top level golf, especially the women’s game, the Gold Coast will once again draw the eyes of Australia and the world with the WPGA Championship.
“Part of what makes the Gold Coast the lifestyle capital of Australia is its many beautiful world-class golf courses, so it’s only fitting the city will host the first standalone Australian WPGA Championship,” Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn said.
“The Gold Coast Festival of Golf is about much more than just golf offering a unique experience for participants, fans and families, and we look forward to partnering with the PGA of Australia, Mulpha Events and Tourism & Events Queensland to make it a huge success.”
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said: “Top-line women’s golf has been a part of the sporting history of the Gold Coast, so it is wonderful to see the Australian WPGA Championship coming to Sanctuary Cove.
“It adds this prestigious golf championship to our growing list of world class sporting events on the calendar.”
Added Queensland’s Minister for Tourism and Sport, Michael Healy: “Hosting the Australian WPGA Championship as part of the Gold Coast Festival of Golf, is an exciting addition to our Queensland event calendar, at a time when the world’s attention is rightly focused on the amazing growth of women’s sport.
“The Palms course is perfect for hosting this marquee stand-alone event that will feature the game’s top players and highlight Queensland as a vibrant host for world-class international sporting events.”
Increasing the footprint of the Ladies European Tour in Australia through co-sanctioning with the WPGA Tour of Australasia, the event will attract players from around the globe, who will experience the well-known Gold Coast hospitality.
“We are thrilled that the WPGA Championship will be joining the schedule in 2025 as the third event of the LET swing in Australia,” Ladies European Tour CEO Alexandra Armas said.
“The players will be competing to lift the Karrie Webb Cup and it’s great that Karrie – a 15-time winner on the LET – will be involved in the tournament.
“I’d like to thank the WPGA Tour of Australasia for all of their hard work and commitment to the women’s game in Australia and we are looking forward to returning to Australia in 2025.”
Played March 6-9, 2025, International Women’s Day falls on Saturday of the Australian WPGA Championship and Gold Coast Festival of Golf. To celebrate, numerous special events will be held to mark the occasion. For more information or to sign up for updates, visit www.championship.pga.org.au/wpga/ or www.festivalofgolf.com.au/
Cam Davis is like a gambler playing with house money in Colorado this week at the penultimate tournament of the US PGA Tour season, the BMW Championship.
Needing to get into the top 50 on the points list at TPC Southwind in Memphis last week, Davis was on the bubble when a double bogey at the 72nd hole could have sent him home for the year.
His post-round interview was full of anger with himself as he watched the remaining players finish out.
But a late fade-out by Tom Kim pushed him back in to No. 49 and into this week’s field at Castle Pines Golf Club outside Denver.
“I honestly … when I finished, I didn’t think I’d done enough,” said Davis.
“I kind of set a mark in my own head, I thought if I got to 5-under for the round, I thought I would definitely be safe and to do all the work that I had done up until the 18th hole to get to that number and know that just I feel like if I played a good, solid last hole I’d be set.
“It was very frustrating to finish that way. I I did think my season and finish there and with all the weight that’s comes with getting through last week and getting through to this week it was, it was definitely stinging and I was probably not in a great place at that point.”
Don’t underestimate the implications for Davis, the 29-year-old from Sydney who nowadays is based in Seattle. Now that he’s in the BMW, which is a $US20 million event, he is guaranteed a start in all the elevated PGA Tour events for 2025.
“My next season’s already sort of laid out for me now,” he said.
“Those big tournaments have so much weight to them. Now that’s missing out on them is a big hit to trying to get to the playoffs next year, so I’m very glad I’ve got that all locked up and it’s nice to know that I’d done enough and I had actually a shot also to spare as well.
“So I’m not as mad with myself now for sure, and looking to try and take more of the first 17 holes of last Sunday into this week.”
Davis has a big job ahead of him if he’s to jump into the Tour Championship in Atlanta for the first time; only the top 30 on the points list get into that event meaning he has to jump 19 spots to take his place in the season-ender for the first time.
The tour has calculated that at the very least, he needs a solo 10th-place this week to get into Atlanta. “I don’t have an exact number,” he said. “Probably top-five, top-three would be enough, but I think setting my sights a bit higher than that would be the best way to go about it, so I’m gonna give everything I’ve got.
“I know there’s not much to lose at this point. The big thing for me was getting through last Sunday and now, just to be here in Colorado, the golf course is awesome. It’s a very different environment.
“In some ways it’s a free hit, but in other ways, I mean there’s so much still to play for, so I’m still gonna go out on Thursday, start trying to start the week off hot and and have as good a week as I can.”
Davis had an odd season, with a win at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and his best finish in the Masters, tied-12th, but a slump early in the year.
He is ranked ninth in the International team’s Presidents Cup standings which means that he will likely be in that team, although he refuses to count himself in until he knows for sure.
But he is growing steadily, with an appreciation for “as good a big moment as it gets”, the feeling of contending in a major.
“And I feel like I’ve got a level out here that can win tournaments and it’s nice to be reminded that I can do that,” he said.
“So I feel like I’ve got to keep pushing forward and I can look at this year as a good stepping stone.”
There are three Australians in the field for the BMW Championship – Davis, Jason Day and Adam Scott.
Television coverage begins Friday morning on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports.
PHOTO: Cam Davis needs to finish in the top 10 this week to get into the Tour Championship. Image: Getty
After nearly securing an historic Australian double last year, Min Woo Lee has today confirmed that he will tee it up at the 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open in Melbourne as he chases his first Stonehaven Cup.
A rising star of the golf world who is popular the world over, Lee is the first player to formally commit to the ISPS HANDA Australian Open, which begins in 100 days on November 28, 2024.
To be played at Kingston Heath Golf Club and The Victoria Golf Club, the men’s, women’s and all-abilities events will once again be contested together with Lee hoping to improve on his 2023 third place when he finished two shots out of a play-off having won the BMW Australian PGA Championship the week prior.
“I’m so excited to be coming back home to play this year, and after last summer I know the vibe and atmosphere at the Australian Open will be incredible,” Lee said.
Recently becoming an Olympian for the first time, Lee is now a fixture on the PGA TOUR and has risen to world No.40. This year he is poised for more representative honours as part of the Presidents Cup International team in Canada.
“It’s been a huge year playing overseas, especially representing Australia at the Olympics and being full-time on the PGA TOUR, and I can think of no better way to finish than coming home and contending, and hopefully winning, the Stonehaven Cup,” the West Australian said.
Brother to two-time major winner Minjee, the 26-year-old has more than made a name for himself on and off the course, with his moniker of “The Chef” seeing fans wearing their own chef hats at every event he plays.
Lee hoping his dedicated following will once again be in full voice when he returns to play just his second professional event in Melbourne after he finished in third behind Adrian Meronk in 2022 when the dual gender format was played for the first time.
“The crowds last year in Australia were incredible and, as everyone knows, I love playing in front of big crowds,” he said.
“I hope as many people as possible get around the event and come and watch us play.”
Playing his national Open for the fifth time, Lee, a four-time winner around the world who finished in the top-30 at three majors in 2024, spoke of his excitement to play another Australian Open on the world famous Melbourne Sandbelt.
“Melbourne golf is known around the world, and it is awesome that the Australian Open is back on the Sandbelt,” Lee said.
“Kingston Heath and Victoria are two of the best courses in the world and it’s exciting to have the chance to play them in a tournament again.”
Offering prizemoney of $3.4 million, the men’s side of the ISPS HANDA Australian Open will again be co-sanctioned by the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and DP World Tour, with the women’s a WPGA Tour of Australasia event.
“Min Woo is one of the biggest names in golf, not just in Australia but globally,” Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said.
“To have him confirmed for the Australian Open is very exciting and watching him take on two of the finest courses in the world is a tremendous prospect for the fans joining us in Melbourne, as well as the millions around the world tuning in to watch our best players on our best courses.”
Limited first release tickets for the ISPS HANDA Australian Open are available now via Ticketek. Save 20% off all tournament day passes for a strictly limited time.
One of Australian golf’s majors, the BMW Australian PGA Championship, has announced Brisbane will continue as its host city until at least 2025, with the tournament to be hosted at the Royal Queensland Golf Club, the current home of the PGA and 2032 Olympic Golf venue.
The 2025 edition of the BMW Australian PGA Championship will be the 25th in a row to be staged in Queensland and the fifth consecutive year at Royal Queensland.
In 2023, more than 61,000 people attended to watch Min Woo Lee take home the Joe Kirkwood Cup for the first time and more than $17 million was injected into Queensland’s visitor economy.
This year’s championship will again feature a stellar field, with Min Woo Lee returning to defend his title from November 21-24 at Royal Queensland.
The PGA’s Party Hole, which has been a feature of the tournament in its time at Royal Queensland, will return again in 2024. More than 12,000 fans are expected to enjoy the offering on this hole alone, with hospitality suites, grandstands and family areas surrounding the par-three, providing a fun experience for all fans during the tournament.
Kids Day, Meet the Pros and the Callaway Kids Course are just a selection of the other activities that will be on offer across the week.
PGA of Australia chief executive Gavin Kirkman said: “Our partnership with the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland, and Brisbane City Council, through Brisbane Economic Development Agency. has helped to take our championship to new levels – and there’s much more to come over the next two years.
“Royal Queensland has also been a key factor in the growth of the BMW Australian PGA Championship which is now well established as a highlight of Brisbane and Australia’s sporting calendar.
“The club and its members have been very welcoming hosts, and the golf course has enhanced its status as one of Australia’s best, creating some memorable moments and providing a worthy challenge to the elite players in our game.”
Queensland’s Tourism and Sport Minister Michael Healy welcomed the BMW Australian PGA Championship back to Brisbane.
“It is fantastic news that Australia’s oldest golf tournament and real fan favourite will be back at the revered Royal Queensland course again in 2025,” he said.
“This highly sought after marquee event always commands a cracking field, ensuring big galleries are out enjoying the golf and Queensland’s great lifestyle.
“Our visitor economy will also get a boost with visitors chipping in as they immerse themselves in the city’s world-class accommodation and exceptional dining experiences.”
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the Australian PGA Championship extension reflects Brisbane’s status as a premier sporting and lifestyle destination.
“Brisbane is Australia’s lifestyle capital and we are thrilled to welcome back this global event to the Royal Queensland fairways in 2025,” Cr Schrinner said.
“Our city’s incredible vibrant precincts like Howard Smith Wharves, West Village and Fish Lane make Brisbane the perfect backdrop for the tournament’s fifth consecutive year.
“This Championship isn’t just a highlight of our year-round major events calendar, but an important economic driver for local businesses, bringing more visitors to our hotels, tourism, bars, and restaurants.”
Royal Queensland General Manager Sean Dobson said: “Royal Queensland Golf Club is proud to continue our partnership with the Australian PGA. The development of this key relationship has placed Brisbane, Queensland and Golf in Australia at the forefront of the map internationally via a telecast that reaches over 250 million people.
“Royal Queensland Golf Club with the assistance of the Australian PGA has through key tournament learnings and ongoing conversations with the PGA and its partners enhanced its position nationally and internationally.
“A key outcome as the club prepares to be host venue for the 2032 Olympics has been the opportunity to leverage all these learnings to start the delivery of significant infrastructure improvements to Members.”
The BMW Australian PGA Championship is co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour and will again serve as the opening tournament of its season-long Race to Dubai.
Ben Cowen, the DP World Tour’s Chief Tournament and Operations Officer, said: “Our members have enjoyed playing at Royal Queensland over the past few years and I’m sure they will look forward to returning to Brisbane once again in 2025. Our thanks go to the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council for their continued support of the event.
“The Australian PGA Championship has served as an excellent launchpad for our Race to Dubai in recent years, and the addition of BMW as title sponsor only elevates the event further.”
About the BMW Australian PGA Championship
The BMW Australian PGA Championship has an impressive honour roll of past winners, including 11 major championship winners – Cameron Smith (2018-17, 2022), Adam Scott (2019, 2013), Geoff Ogilvy (2008), Greg Norman (1984-85), Ian Baker-Finch (1983), Wayne Grady (1988, 1991), Seve Ballesteros (1981), Hale Irwin (1978), Kel Nagle (1949, 1954, 1958-59, 1965, 1968), Peter Thomson (1967) and Gary Player (1957).
The PGA Institute recently named the successful scholarship recipients for 2024, with six new students accepting the opportunity to study the Diploma of Golf Business and Management.
Recently updating its flagship course offering, the PGA Institute’s refreshed Diploma of Golf Business and Management better reflects the current industry, while continuing the PGA Institute’s focus of providing the only nationally recognised qualification in the golf industry.
Three of the scholarship recipients will be undertaking their studies on campus at the PGA Learning Hub in Sandhurst, while three students will be studying online.
Two on the new online students were awarded the PGA Institute Regional Scholarships, while one student was awarded the International Scholarship.
Goodluck to all new students with their studies, and welcome to the PGA Institute!
Diploma of Golf Business and Management – on campus
Zentis Meehan-Laurins
Nick Scalpi
Jedd Di Nardo
Diploma of Golf Business and Management – online
Regional Scholarship:
Justine Fennell
Andrew Lacey
International Scholarship
Emmanuella Luita
Three Australians have vaulted into the US PGA Tour’s lucrative BMW Championship in Colorado this week, including a relieved Cam Davis who fell into the field by dent of a near-miracle.
Jason Day, Adam Scott and Davis will be Australia’s representatives in the tour’s penultimate event of the season at Castle Pines Golf Club, worth $US20 million, while Min Woo Lee’s rookie season in America is done.
The players came to the final round of the Fedex St Jude Championship looking to secure their place for next week, needing to finish inside the top 50 on the Fedex Cup standings.
A top 50 in the Fedex Cup has the added bonus of a spot in all next year’s signature events.
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama closed out the win today, with Day finishing tied-22nd to sit at 25th on the standings, Scott rallying with a 68 to finish tied-18th and keep himself at 41st overall, and Lee jumping a few spots to tied-22nd with a closing 66 that was not quite enough to push the West Australian into the field for next week.
He completed his debut season ranked 60th on the standings.
But it was Davis who had the drama-filled day, finishing with a potentially-calamitous double bogey at the 72nd hole that left him vulnerable.
Ultimately a late fade-out by Tom Kim, who finished bogey-double-double, pushed Davis back in at No. 49 in the standings and he will now tee it up next week as well as having a start in the big events in 2025.
“I’ve done it every year for the last three years,” said the Sydneysider. “I feel like I’m constantly in this position where you’ve had a good season but still a little low missing next year, which doesn’t feel right, and it’s extra frustrating right now that I finished the way I did after playing the way I did all the way up until that point.
“I had a feeling if I parred the last, I would have been fine.”
Elsewhere lefty Richard Green came close to winning his first tournament on the PGA Tour Champions in Canada, a bogey at the 17th hole costing him dearly.
Green finished outright second and picked up more than $US200,000 in prizemoney. It was his fourth runner-up finish in his first season.
On the PGA Tour Americas, Australian Grant Booth was runner-up while on the LPGA Tour, Gabriela Ruffels logged a top-10 at the Scottish Open ahead of this week’s AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews, the final major of the women’s season.
PHOTO: Cam Davis plays his way into the next round of playoffs at TPC South Wind. Image: Getty
Results
PGA TOUR
Fedex St Jude Championship
TPC South Wind, Memphis, Tennessee
PGA Tour Champions
Rogers Charity Classic, Canyon Meadows CC, Canada
LPGA Tour/Ladies European Tour
ISPS HANDA Scottish Open
Dundonald Links, Scotland
PGA Tour Americas
Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open
Elk Ridge Resort, Canada
DP World Tour
D+D REAL Czech Masters
PGA National Oaks, Prague
LIV Golf League
Greenbrier Golf Club, West Virginia
Epson Tour
Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic
Pendleton, Oregon
Korn Ferry Tour
Magnit Championship
Metedeconk National Golf Club, New Jersey
European Legends Tour
Zambia Legends Championship
Bonanza Golf Club, Zambia
Challenge Tour
Vierumäki Finnish Challenge
Vierumäki Resort, Finland
LET Access Series
Destination Gotland Ladies Open
Gumbalde Resort, Sweden
1 – Kajsa Arwefjall (Sweden) 67-67-73 – 207
50 Wenyung Keh (NZ) 70-75-76 – 221
MC Munchin Keh (NZ) 75-76 – 151
Queenslander William Bruyeres claimed his first Challenger PGA Tour of Australia win today at Royal Port Moresby, fighting back from five shots back early in the final round to snare the 2024 PNG Open.
Bruyeres carded a 4-under 68 on the final day to finish his week at 17-under-par, holding off runner-up James Conran (NSW) by two shots, with overnight leader Andrew Campbell in solo third at 14-under.
While a first win on Tour was always going to be a memorable one, Bruyeres’ connection to PNG made it more the special. His grandfather spent a lot of time in the country and is buried there.
“My dad was sending me pictures of all the trophies my grandpa had won here and leading into the event, it just kind of felt more special to me,” he said.
With only one prior top-10 finish on Tour, Bruyeres was in an unusual position as he came down the stretch on Sunday, but he birdied three of his final five holes to claim his debut win, and secure his Tour card for the next two seasons.
“It feels amazing, absolutely amazing, what an experience,” said an ecstatic Bruyeres post-round.
“Today was an up and down day and I didn’t play my best golf, but I got it around and at the end of the day it ended up working out for me.
“I’m now locked into the winners’ category and have a card for a couple of years, plus financial backing now. This was huge for me so absolutely stoked.”
With one of the rounds of the day on Saturday, a 7-under-par 65, Bruyeres found himself in the final group on Sunday, starting just a shot back of leader Campbell, but an early double-bogey meant the 28-year-old based at Brookwater Golf and Country Club had a fight on his hands from the get-go.
Eventual runner-up Conran made the early move going out in 5-under, and looked like he might run away with the trophy and the biggest win of his career.
Shrugging off the double-bogey quickly though, Bruyeres was able to get his PNG Open quest back on track, helped too by a stroke of luck on the par-5 ninth.
“My ball rolled into a hole, so I had to play it where it was, hit it, and it skipped and one hopped in,” he said of an unlikely eagle.
“That was a bit of luck, but it still went in so I took it and kept going.”
As both Conran and Campbell dropped multiple shots on the back nine, Bruyeres kept making birdies, and by the time he stood on the par-3 18th tee the Queenslander held a two-shot lead.
The buffer allowed Bruyeres the comfort of making a bogey on the 72nd hole and still secure the first title of the 2024/25 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season.
The Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia next heads to Kalgoorlie Golf Club for the CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil & Logistics, starting on October 10.
Profile of our winner:
William Bruyeres
Date of Birth: July 27, 1996
Current Tours: Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia
Birthplace: Logan (Qld)
Residence: Brookwater (Qld)
Turned pro: 2020
Coach: Richard Woodhouse
Junior club: Logan Golf Club
Current club: Brookwater Golf and Country Club
Bruyeres first started golf at age 13 and it only took him a couple of years before he broke par for the first time.
He attended, and played golf at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
After playing his first Tour events in 2020, his best performances so far have included a T10 at the 2023 PNG Open and T14 at the 2023 NZ PGA Championship.
His first adidas Pro-Am Series win came at Lane Cove in Sydney in 2022.
Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia wins:
2024 PNG Open
OWGR ranking: https://www.owgr.com/playerprofile/william-bruyeres-27485
