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Major season rolls along this week, with the PGA Championship marking the second men’s major of the year. The PGA of America’s showpiece event returns to Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky for the first time in a decade, and here is all you need to know.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Brooks Koepka (US)
PRIZEMONEY: US$17.5 million
LIVE SCORES: www.pgachampionship.com
TV COVERAGE: The PGA Championship is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
*All times AEST.
Round One: Thursday 9pm–10am (Fox Sports 503/Kayo) and Thursday 10pm–10am (Fox Sports 505/Kayo)
Round Two: Friday 9pm–10am (Fox Sports 503/Kayo) and Friday 10pm–10am (Fox Sports 505/Kayo)
Round Three: Saturday 10:10pm–9am (Fox Sports 503/Kayo) and Saturday 11pm–8:30am (Fox Sports 505/Kayo)
Final Round: Sunday 10pm–9am (Fox Sports 503/Kayo) and Monday 1:30am–9am (Fox Sports 505/Kayo)
AUSTRALASIAN PLAYER PROFILES
CAM DAVIS
World ranking: 62
Age: 29
Professional wins: Four
Best finish at the PGA: T4 (2024)
The lowdown: Davis returns to the PGA Championship after recording his best ever finish at a major at Oak Hill last year, with the New South Welshman seemingly tailor made for this test.
Finished in a share of 12th at The Masters for his best result so far in 2024, with one or two bad holes the story of the weekend for Davis at Augusta.
Driving has been a strength this year for the PGA TOUR winner, and with long rough and strategy key to success at Valhalla, Davis’ accuracy should hold him in good stead this week.
JASON DAY
World ranking: 19
Age: 36
Professional wins: 19
Best finish at the PGA: Won (2015)
The lowdown: Enters the PGA fresh off a share of fourth last week at Quail Hollow in what was a similar golfing test to what will be presented this week in Kentucky.
A past champion of this event, Day owns nine top-25 finishes at the PGA from 14 starts and is experienced at Valhalla, where he tied for 15th in 2014 following a disappointing final round that dropped him from contention.
Speaking openly about his back issues and how close he came to quitting competitive golf on Fox Sports this week, Day is revitalised since his work with Chris Como and he showed plenty of positive signs at The Masters when T30.
RYAN FOX
World ranking: 58
Age: 37
Professional wins: 17
Best finish at the PGA: T23 (2023)
The lowdown: Fox arrives in Kentucky fresh of his best ever PGA TOUR result at the Myrtle Beach Classic last week, when he shared fourth in a positive sign for his chances this week.
The Kiwi has made five previous starts at the PGA and made four cuts, with his best result coming last year at Oak Hill, while he shared 38th at The Masters last month.
Known for his power off the tee, Fox’s ability to shape the ball, and particularly vary the flight will be a major strength at Valhalla, while his putting has been a standout so far in 2024.
LUCAS HERBERT
World ranking: 90
Age: 28
Professional wins: Four
Best finish at the PGA: T13 (2022)
The lowdown: Herbert’s record at the PGA is his best of the four majors, with the Bendigo boy making four cuts from five starts and a game that seemingly aligns with the typical course setups.
Part of two Ripper GC winning teams this year, Herbert will be hoping the team success translates into some higher individual results and his putting could be the key this week.
Owning plenty of power off the tee and a habit of making birdies in bunches, Herbert is becoming more experienced with the requirements of major championship golf and will want to take full advantage of his special invite here.
KAZUMA KOBORI
World ranking: 437
Age: 22
Professional wins: Five
Best finish at the PGA: Debut
The lowdown: Extended an invite for topping the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, Kobori plays his first of two major starts this week.
A winner of three Webex Players Series events already in 2024, Kobori’s rise up the professional golf ranks has been meteoric after turning pro in November last year and the young Kiwi is looking forward to a chance to test his game against the world’s best this week.
Facing arguably his biggest test to date in not only the strength of the field but the length of the course, Kobori is a magnificent putter that will hope to get hot on Valhalla’s greens early to give him his best chance at featuring prominently on the weekend.
MIN WOO LEE
World ranking: 36
Age: 25
Professional wins: Four
Best finish at the PGA: T18 (2023)
The lowdown: Confirmed the notion that he is built for majors when sharing 22nd at The Masters despite breaking a finger in the lead up while in the gym.
Lee has only teed it up once since, finishing T24 in Texas but on a big golf course like Valhalla he will like his chances of taking advantage of his power, while also thriving in among the packed crowds.
Has the Olympics and Presidents Cup as big carrots this year, and a good result here would help in both pursuits, however, Lee will be only focused on the Wanamaker Trophy that could be his if he can lift his approach play and putting to compliment his exceptional driving of 2024.
ADAM SCOTT
World ranking: 56
Age: 43
Professional wins: 32
Best finish at the PGA: Third (2018)
The lowdown: Arrives with four straight finishes inside the top-30, including a T22 at The Masters, and with the experience of a share of 15th at Valhalla back in 2014.
Multiple parts of Scott’s game have been the reason for his solid form so far in 2024, particularly driving and putting, with iron play and particularly proximity to the hole the key for the Queenslander’s chances this week.
Has 13 top-25s at the PGA, showing his suitability for the style of play required, with his two third place finishes both coming on venues owning similarities to Valhalla.
CAM SMITH
World ranking: 61
Age: 30
Professional wins: 12
Best finish at the PGA: T9 (2023)
The lowdown: Cracked the top-10 at the PGA for the first time last year and arrives in good form after a second at LIV Golf’s Singapore event behind Brooks Koepka.
Like Herbert, Smith will be buoyed by recent team success and a putter that has continued to prove a serious weapon when presented with quick and smooth greens like the players will enjoy this week.
Was the best of the Aussie contingent at The Masters when sharing sixth, with consistency the primary driver and the likelihood of more birdies on offer this week suiting the Queensland third of three Queensland major winners teeing it up this week.
THE COURSE
Hosting the PGA Championship for the fourth time (1996, 2000, 2014), Valhalla Golf Club was purpose-built for big tournament golf and has delivered great stories and results each time it has welcomed a major.
Undergoing a regrassing to Zoysia in 2021, the fairways will be firmer and faster than previous tournaments here, while small greens, expansive bunkering and creeks running throughout pose plenty of questions for the players on the Jack Nicklaus design.
Able to be stretched to 7609 yards this week, Valhalla typically rewards quality ball strikers and players who are willing to take on risk, with the PGA of America already suggesting some tees could be moved up on shorter par-4s during the week.
Avoiding the 62 bunkers dotted across the course will also be important for the eventual champion who will join Mark Brooks, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy on the list of PGA winners at Valhalla at week’s end.
HEADLINERS
Scottie Scheffler – 2024 Masters champion and 2023 PGA Championship runner-up
Brooks Koepka – 2023 PGA champion and five-time major winner
Rory McIlroy – Wells Fargo Championship winner and PGA champion at Valhalla
Jon Rahm – Two-time major winner and world No.5
Ludvig Aberg – 2024 Masters runner-up and PGA TOUR winner
Xander Schauffele – Seven straight top-25s in 2024 and 12 top-10s at the majors
Wyndham Clark – 2023 U.S. Open winner
Bryson DeChambeau – T4 2023 PGA Championship and 2020 U.S. Open winner
Viktor Hovland – 2023 PGA Championship runner-up and world No.7
Tiger Woods – Four-time PGA Championship winner
A number of new scholarships have been launched to give more students the opportunity to study at Australia’s only golf registered training organisation, the PGA Institute.
As a leader in education for the golf industry, the PGA Institute prepares students for a successful future, offering distinctive programs that equip students with the essential knowledge and skills required to excel in the broad world of golf.
The new scholarships have been launched to help encourage diversity and inclusion in the golf industry.
PGA of Australia Chief Executive Officer Gavin Kirkman is pleased to support the next generation of golf industry leaders.
“At the PGA Institute, we blend business, golf training, hospitality, and sports education to shape the next generation of golf industry leaders,” he said.
“Our new scholarships pave the way for aspiring professionals seeking excellence in golf management, sport, and business.
“The PGA Institute is a gateway to a career in the golf industry. Our innovative courses, backed by the PGA of Australia, and partnerships with top higher education providers like Griffith, Deakin and Torrens Universities, as well as Holmesglen Institute offer diverse career pathways.”
The new scholarships fall under four distinct areas where the PGA Institute has seen that its support can bolster a robust golf industry for the future.
One area of opportunity is to develop regional golf operations by providing assistance to regional clubs to upskill their staff, and for students residing in regional areas an opportunity to take a step towards working in the golf industry.
Another is to provide an educational pathway for metropolitan Melbourne students to provide recent year 12 graduates the opportunity to study the diploma of Golf Management at the Institute and earn credits for bachelor degrees at Holmesglen Tafe.
The “Achieving Potential” scholarships are focussed on providing Indigenous Australian students the opportunity to study at the Institute, while the final area of focus is on international students and affording them the opportunity to live, work and study in Melbourne.
“Whether you are starting out in the golf industry or want to upskill yourself or your staff our comprehensive programs blend business and management, and golf training expertise. This is an opportunity to progress your career in the sports or management field,” said Kirkman.
To find out more about these new scholarships, and details on the application process, click HERE.
PING’s Dr Paul Wood, who oversees a team of close to 100 engineers and scientists at one of the world golf’s leading equipment brands, is the latest keynote speaker to be locked in for this year’s Golf Summit in Melbourne.
Wood is the Vice President of Engineering at PING where he coordinates a department responsible for innovation, design, testing and commercialisation of new golf clubs.
He graduated from St Andrews University with a MSc and PhD in Applied Mathematics and started at PING in 2005, working on the physics of ball flight, impact dynamics, advanced measurement tools and innovations in club fitting.
Wood has a passion leading his team and for making the highest performing clubs in the world.
At Golf Summit on October 16-17, he will speak on PING’s extensive research collaborations with top golf coaches from around the world.
Through data-driven analyses, his team tackles pressing questions on golf technique every day such as the advantages of shot shapes, optimal wedge techniques, swing dynamics, and equipment specifications for elite players, demonstrating their systematic approach to addressing key coaching inquiries.
These questions and constant consultation with players and coaches drive the innovation and quality that Wood and his team aspire for at PING.
Out of the PING office, Wood is a passionate supporter of All Abilities golf, a field hockey player and a keen trail runner.
His interesting and unique perspective from within the golf industry is not to be missed at the 2024 Golf Summit later this year.
The Asia-Pacific region’s premier event welcoming the entire golf industry, tickets for the 2024 Golf Summit are on sale now.
Find tickets HERE.
The Golf Summit is proudly supported by the Melbourne Convention Bureau and the State Government’s National Business Event Program
He made waves as a rookie by staking his claim to Tiger Woods’ No.1 mantle and now Jason Day has had a subtle dig ahead of their pairing for Round 1 of The Masters Friday morning.
Day has been drawn to play with Woods and American Max Homa for the first two-rounds, the 2011 runner-up to begin his tournament at 3:24am AEST on Friday.
The 36-year-old will be the last of the six-strong Aussie contingent to take to the famed Augusta National Golf Club layout, Victorian amateur Jasper Stubbs off in Group 6 at 11pm Thursday night alongside former champion Zach Johnson and Canadian Correy Conners.
Day made headlines prior to his rookie season on the PGA TOUR by declaring his goal to reach No.1 in the world and “take Tiger down”.
That goal doesn’t seem to have changed given his response when told he would be playing with the five-time Masters champion in Thursday’s opening round.
“As long as I beat that old man, I’m happy,” Day joked.
Now in his 17th year on Tour, Day has established a close relationship with Tiger.
Woods once reached out to pick the 2015 US PGA champion’s brain about his chipping technique and the pair often engage in banter via text message.
They have played together often in golf’s showpiece events and Day insists that he won’t be impacted by all that comes with being inside the ropes with Tiger Woods.
“As long as you’re concentrating on what you need to do, then it shouldn’t matter,” Day said of possible crowd distractions.
“I’ve played out here a long time. There’s guys that don’t like people moving around the greens, but, for the most part, I’ve never really been too distracted with people moving.
“If I am distracted, just come off and readjust and go in again.
“It’s going to be fun knowing I’m playing with Tiger and Max the first two rounds. That’s exciting. Obviously, I’m looking forward to the challenge, especially the first two days.”
If not for an extraordinary back nine charge by Charl Schwartzel, Day came within a whisker of succeeding Raymond Floyd in 1976 as the most recent first-time winner in 2011.
In a heartbreaking Monday morning for Australian golf, he and Adam Scott both finished in a tie for second, two shots back of Schwartzel.
He has recorded further top-five finishes in 2013 and 2019 but is adamant that Augusta owes him nothing.
“Augusta doesn’t owe anyone,” Day replied.
“Golf doesn’t owe anything to me. I owe a lot to golf, and especially this place here, as well, because of just the opportunity that I’ve had.
“I’ve just got to not think about it, not get too worked up about it. To be honest, just trying to get my ball going straight where I need it to go, so that’s kind of taken most of the pressure off my head.”
Round 1 tee times AEST
The Masters
Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia
Round 1
11pm Zach Johnson, Corey Conners, Jasper Stubbs (a)
11:12pm Sergio Garcia, Chris Kirk, Ryan Fox (NZ)
12:06am Patrick Cantlay, Min Woo Lee, Rickie Fowler
12:54am Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland, Cameron Smith
1:18am Camilo Villegas, Denny McCarthy, Cameron Davis
3:12am Adam Scott, Sam Burns, Cameron Young
3:24am Tiger Woods, Jason Day, Max Homa
Round 2
10:12pm Camilo Villegas, Denny McCarthy, Cameron Davis
12:06am Adam Scott, Sam Burns, Cameron Young
12:18am Tiger Woods, Jason Day, Max Homa
2:12am Zach Johnson, Corey Conners, Jasper Stubbs (a)
2:24am Sergio Garcia, Chris Kirk, Ryan Fox (NZ)
3:12am Patrick Cantlay, Min Woo Lee, Rickie Fowler
4am Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland, Cameron Smith
Defending champion: Jon Rahm
Past Aussie winners: Adam Scott (2013)
Prize money: $US18 million
TV times: Par 3 Contest Live 5am-7am Thursday on Fox Sports 503/Kayo/9Now; Live 11pm-9:30am Thursday, Friday on Fox Sports 503/Kayo/9Now; Live 12am-9am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 503/Kayo/9Now.
Korean PGA Tour
19th DB Insurance Promy Open
Ravie Belle CC (Old Cse), Chuncheon
9:20am Jaehyun Jeong, Seonghyun Jeon, Kevin Chun (NZ)
9:30am Taehee Lee, Taehoon Kim, Junseok Lee
2pm Wonjoon Lee, Youngsu Kim, Sanghee Lee
Defending champion: Go Guntaek
Prize money: 700,000,000 KRW
Past Aussie winners: Nil
A 7-under-par 65 has propelled Corey Lamb into a share of the halfway lead at the Final Stage of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Qualifying School at Moonah Links.
After starting with an even-par 72 on Tuesday, the Hunter Valley professional, who almost broke through for a Tour victory at Webex Players Series South Australia last October, is alongside rookie Victorian pro Max Charles (66-71) at -7 after 36 holes.
Western Australia’s Ryan Peake (66-72) is a shot back in third, one clear of NSW’s Nathan Barbieri (68-71) and WA’s Adam Brady (71-68).
The two leading amateurs in the field, Australian representative Jye Pickin (70-72) and Argentina’s Segundo Oliva Pinto (71-71), are tied for 10th at -2.
Lamb’s 65, the low score in the opening two rounds, was highlighted by an eagle two at the 355m par-4 ninth hole, with his only bogey coming two holes later on the 404m par-4 11th.
After starting the day in a share of the lead with Peake, Charles dropped his first shots of the tournament with a double-bogey on the 385m par-4 12th but bounced back with an eagle on the par-5 15th (491m).
The top 30 finishers after the 72 holes conclude on Friday will earn Full Tournament Membership of the PGA of Australia and be placed in a Tournament Exemption Category.
Those players finishing beyond 30th place and ties, who complete 72 holes at Final Stage, will be eligible for Full Tournament Membership of the PGA of Australia, however, they will not hold an exemption category for the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
All players who play 72 holes of the Final Stage will earn a pro-am exemption category and be eligible to enter adidas PGA Pro-Am series events.
Photo: Corey Lamb, tied for the lead at Final Stage of Q-School
Paralympian Elle Steele and three-time AFL premiership winner Bachar Houli have joined the list of keynote speakers who will share their inspirational stories at this year’s Golf Summit.
While the duo has had great success in their sporting endeavours, it’s their accomplishments outside the sporting setting that have made them leaders in the Australian community.
Their presentations will be a feature of the Golf Summit at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from October 16-17.
Both Elle and Bachar know what it is like to face adversity in sport, and their presentations will focus on what golf can do to become more accessible and welcoming to people from all walks of life.
Elle describes herself as having a resume like no one else – Paralympian, gold medallist, model, entrepreneur, and mentor.
At just 17, Elle swam for Australia in the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, breaking the 400-metre freestyle national record in the process, and went on to captain a number of Australian swimming teams.
Born with a congenital disability called Arthrogryposis, and Amniotic band syndrome, Elle has had more than 30 surgeries throughout her life and had to relearn to walk multiple times.
Elle’s session at the Golf Summit, will delve into her experiences growing up with a disability, offering insights into challenges faced within the golf industry due to societal attitudes.
Emphasising the need for a “disability revolution” specific to golf, the session will explore themes of equal rights, challenges to stereotypes, and envisions a more inclusive golfing community.
Similar to Elle, Bachar Houli has used his unique experiences in professional sport to become a leader for social and community change in his retirement.
An ex-Richmond Tigers player, Bachar was the first devout Muslim to play AFL at the highest level, already becoming a leader for his community with his first game.
He went on to play 232 games in the AFL, including three premiership wins with Richmond and being named in the 2019 All-Australian team.
In retirement, he has founded the Bachar Houli Foundation, which aims to foster the development of young Muslims and offer a sense of belonging through football development.
Using his own experience, the Bachar Houli Foundation is developing young leaders with the Muslim community.
Both Elle and Bachar are role models for younger members of the community, and through their work, are enring that opportunities for those who look up to them are forever increasing.
The Asia-Pacific region’s premier event welcoming the entire golf industry, tickets for the 2024 Golf Summit are on sale now.
Find tickets HERE.
The Golf Summit is proudly supported by the Melbourne Convention Bureau and the State Government’s National Business Event Program
Victorian Cameron John absorbed every punch Daniel Gale could throw to claim a breakthrough professional victory at The National Tournament presented by BMW at The National Golf Club.
Three shots clear of Kyle Michel at the start of the final round on the Moonah Course, it soon became clear that John’s greatest threat would come from Gale.
A two-time winner already this season on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, Gale made eagle at the par-5 second and birdie at the par-4 fourth to turn a five-shot deficit into a two-shot inconvenience.
Michel’s double-bogey on four would effectively end his charge, leaving John and Gale to fight it out over the final 14 holes.
John took twice as many shots on the par-3 fifth as he did a day earlier but the birdie edged him three shots clear of Gale, who countered with birdies on seven and eight to draw within one.
But as hard as he fought, Gale would get no closer, John’s three straight birdies from the 10th hole and a crucial up and down on 14 effectively keeping Gale at arm’s length.
The 24-year-old needed just 11 putts on the back nine for a round of 3-under 69 and 16-under total, two clear of Gale (67) with veterans Josh Younger (68) and Aaron Townsend (68) sharing third.
Congratulations @CamGolf99, the 2024 #TheNationalTournament Champion! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/IU1vC0r66d
— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) March 17, 2024
“I didn’t think pars were going to be enough,” John said of the inward nine.
“As much as I played that stretch really well the whole week, ‘Galey’ was playing great. He’s never making bogey, and if he did make a bogey, he’d bounce back with a birdie the next hole.
“It was very much back and forth that back nine. It was good fun.”
It marked the end to an outstanding season for Gale who had earlier victories at the NT PGA and Webex Players Series Hunter Valley.
His runner-up finish meant that he moved past Brett Coletta into second on the Order of Merit, the pair joining Order of Merit champion Kazuma Kobori as the recipients of DP World Tour cards for the 2025 season.
“Cam won that event. I threw my best shot at him but just a few bogeys that killed me,” said Gale.
“Gave it my best shot and he went out and made the putts when he had to.
“I’m pretty chuffed for him because it was a good battle.
“The big goal was to lock up that Europe card for next year, that category, and I’m pretty chuffed.
“Obviously worked really hard for that. Never really succeeded at the Q Schools internationally when I had opportunities but made some good strides this season and getting better and better.”
As the leaders battled it out in the final group, players throughout the field were playing for their immediate futures on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
Over the course of a gorgeous afternoon on the Mornington Peninsula Nathan Barbieri (70), Jack Munro (71), Kit Bittle (68), Townsend and Younger moved in and out of the top-50 cut-off who keep their category for next season.
Ultimately it would be only Younger who finished the season inside the top 50, Munro (51), Bittle (52), Townsend (53) and Barbieri (54) now facing the prospect of a return to Qualifying School next month to improve their category.
It could not have come at a better time for Younger whose five-year winner’s exemption has now expired and who 18 months ago thought a foot injury had ended his career.
“When I originally stopped, I thought that might be it, only because it was giving me grief,” said Younger, who chipped in on both 16 and 17 on Sunday.
“Pitched in on 16 and then chipped in on 17 so who knows, maybe it’s meant to be.”
Bringing together PGA of Australia members from across the country with other golf industry professionals for two days of unmissable learning, sharing and more, the 2024 Golf Summit will be held from October 16-17.
Taking place in Melbourne, the event is the premier coming together of the entire golf industry in one place across the Asia-Pacific region, with tickets on sale now for PGA Professionals and other golf industry members.
Delivered through the on-going shared vision and work of the PGA of Australia and Golf Australia, the Golf Summit will see global golf leaders, fellow PGA members and other golf businesspeople as keynote speakers, leading sessions and networking.
“I couldn’t personally be more excited for the industry to come together in one place and share their experiences and knowledge for the betterment of the golf industry as a whole,” PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said.
“The PGA of Australia network of professionals have always shared a cause and mission, however gathering in one place is not an easily achieved feat. With that in mind, I encourage as many PGA members as possible, and the rest of the industry, to join us in Melbourne.”
Held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Golf Summit will allow for greater expansion on how the PGA of Australia is working with Golf Australia under the shared driver of the Australian Golf Strategy, in addition to all the other amazing opportunities on offer.
With exhibitions of products and services, learning sessions and the chance to connect with fellow members of the golf industry, the event will see attendees leave with greater knowledge, best practices and greater networks to better support businesses and succeed in their respective jobs.
For PGA members, whether they are looking to grow their audience, diversify their coaching offering, learn how to best present and operate a shop, or manage businesses, the Golf Summit is unlike any other event in Australia.
Attended by representatives from clubs and facilities, government, organisations, tourism, suppliers, media and manufacturers, as well as PGA of Australia members, the two days of the Summit are supported with a social networking event delivering a chance to mix with delegates, industry leaders and partners.
Find tickets HERE.
Everything you need to know ahead of the fourth edition of The Athena on February 24-25.
Being played for the first time at the renowned Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club, The Athena is golf done differently. Each of the players will face nine skills-based challenges on day one with the top eight players on the points tally proceeding to the matchplay play-offs on the second day.
Most of the day one skills challenges will take place on PK’s world-class short-game practice facility, with all players completing a challenge before they move on to the next as a group.
The day two playoff matches are over four holes of the North Course, with the eventual winner having to win three matches in a row to claim the trophy.
The Athena provides a platform for some of Australia’s best young players to showcase their skill and tell their stories.
While the comradery will be high, so too will the competitive atmosphere, with the 12 players battling it out for a $50,000 prize purse.
FORMAT
Day 1: The Combine – Saturday
Day 2: The Playoffs – Sunday
HOW TO FOLLOW
For live scoring and the latest news visit https://theathena.wpga.org.au/
Exclusive content and tournament updates will also be posted regularly on the WPGA Tour of Australasia channels.
Instagram: @WPGATour
Twitter: @WPGATour
Facebook: @WPGATour
Official hashtag: #TheAthena
HOW TO WATCH
In person – spectators will be admitted FREE at Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club.
On your screen – the only place to watch The Athena live is on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo 3pm-7pm AEDT on Saturday and Sunday. Click HERE.
FORMER CHAMPIONS
2023: Grace Lennon (Vic)
2022: Kirsten Rudgeley (WA)
2021: Kristalle Blum (SA)
COURSE DESIGNER
OCMM – Mike Cocking (lead designer)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Cassie Porter: 2023 Epson Tour player
Jess Whitting: Top-10 at Webex Players Series Hunter Valley
Kelsey Bennett: Consistent Webex Players Series performer since 2022
Click HERE to find out more about all 12 players.
PHOTO: the 18th green on PK’s North Course. Ross Flannigan.
The predicted head-to-head battle for the Webex Players Series Hunter Valley eventuated on Sunday, with a three-way tussle eventually seeing Daniel Gale triumph after holing a curling birdie putt at the 72nd on Sunday.
The 27-year-old reaching 19-under-par to edge out amateur Phoenix Campbell by one shot, with Kazuma Kobori in third alone another shot back.
Gale’s win his second of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season and first in front of his parents.
“It is, they’re over there. Mum’s in tears, poor thing,” Gale said when asked if this win was extra special.
“I had a couple of buddies come up for the weekend, which is even more special because they’ve seen numerous times how good I can actually play. And to get the win in front of them as well, it’s awesome.”
Once again bogeying the 1st hole as he did in round three, Gale got the shot back at the next, with Campbell also level par as the pair reached the 6th hole and the Victorian’s two-shot advantage still intact.
Gale finding his moment to apply pressure on Campbell, with four straight birdies to close the front nine and a one shot lead after Campbell made bogey from the right trees at 9.
Things turned back in the Victorian’s favour after a remarkable second shot almost along the ground and barely missing on course commentator Paul Gow found the 10th green, with Gale making bogey at the next to Campbell’s birdie to switch places on the leaderboard.
Gale’s four coming after a heavy handed chip from the fringe that failed to stay on the putting surface at the same hole where Kobori’s charge for a fourth straight Webex Players Series title truly began.
Holing a chip from long of the 11th green, the New Zealander then holed a long left-to-right putt almost the length of the 12th green, then another at 13 to have chatter spread throughout the course.
Sitting on 17-under with five holes to play and needing more birdies, unlike the rest of 2024, Kobori failing to capitalise on his chances, with putts going close at 17 and 18 to ultimately leave him two short.
“I think I’ve used my fair share of putts, think that’s what happened. I was hitting good putts they just didn’t quite drop,” Kobori said.
Through that same stretch, it looked as if Gale’s charge might also hit a hurdle, with another bogey at 13. His five matched by Campbell, a play-off seemingly inevitable.
Campbell paring his way to the clubhouse, with Gale drawing level with a wedge to tap-in range at the par-5 16th, before his wedge and subsequent putt from 10 feet at 18 secured the win.
“I feel like those bogeys down the stretch, they hurt because I hit such good shots. And Phoenix was just rock solid, not letting anyone in,” Gale said.
“Then just hit a clutch wedge shot in there at 16 to draw level, then I thought my one into 17 was going to be good, but I think it just dug a little in the ground and didn’t fly that ridge.
“Then I had just the perfect number, obviously in the rough, which actually helped, because the greens were spinning. It was the perfect number, it came off perfect.”
Living up to Gale’s assessment of “rock solid” in the closing stages, QLD PGA winner Campbell left disappointed but also optimistic.
“To be leading 71 holes of 72 is pretty incredible for me, and to hold my nerve there towards the end … I got a lot out of this week,” Campbell said.
“I think coming second is probably the best thing that could have happened to me as well, I think it is just going to drive me to get better and keep growing. I am only looking up from here, it’s just the beginning of the journey.”
Also looking at his journey, Gale now has the DP World Tour in his sights, with a jump on the Order of Merit potentially putting one of the three cards in reach.
“The ultimate end goal is to win, I’ve set goals numerous times in the past and plans change and all that. I just want to go out there and play golf and wherever it leaves me at the end of the season, it leaves me.”
Kobori’s hot run home also helping his Order of Merit aspirations, while Elvis Smylie finished one back of the Kiwi in fourth on 14-under, with Jeffrey Guan a shot further back and one in front of Kotono Fuyaka and amateur Justice Bosio.
Earlier in the day Garth Allen claimed his first All Abilities win with a seven-over 77 giving him a two shot win over Wayne Perske.
“It feels great and I’m a local boy, so coming from Hawks Nest about an hour away and winning here, is exciting for me,” Allen said.
Meanwhile Zoe Arcus claimed Junior honours via a play-off with Jesse Linden after the pair were tied on three-over.
“It was really exciting, I was so nervous over the putt,” the 16-year-old said.
