This November, the Australian PGA Championship makes a highly anticipated return to New South Wales for the first time in almost three decades, following a successful bid to relocate the event from Queensland.
Previously held at Royal Queensland on the Brisbane River since 2022, this year’s championship will take place at The Lakes Golf Club, situated in Sydney’s inner-west.
It marks the fourth occasion the course has hosted the event, with the last being in 1987. The previous time NSW hosted the tournament was in 1998, when English golfer David Howell triumphed at the picturesque New South Wales Golf Club, winning by an impressive seven strokes.
Min Woo Lee claimed victory at the 2023 Australian PGA Championship. Getty
The Lakes Golf Club has previously hosted the Australian Open on seven occasions and co-hosted the most recent edition in 2023 alongside The Australian. Renowned golfers, including Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman, have lifted trophies at this prestigious venue.
With Royal Queensland set to be the golf venue for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, plans for renovations and upgrades are underway, prompting the search for a new host site for the championship.
Gavin Kirkman, CEO of PGA Australia, expressed his enthusiasm at the prospect of returning the tournament to NSW in collaboration with the state government, stating, “The city is synonymous with world-class sporting events and we are thrilled that we are able to return to The Lakes Golf Club.”
With Rory McIlroy committed to the Australian Open, organisers are also keen to attract him for this event. Graham Denholm via Getty Images
“The venue has a rich history in hosting Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia events, so we know that a warm welcome awaits us in November,” Kirkman added.
This year’s tournament will again be co-sanctioned by the European PGA Tour and will kick off the 2026-2027 season, setting the stage for the highly anticipated 2027 Ryder Cup, which is set to take place at Adare Manor in Ireland.
Organisers are hopeful that the Ryder Cup will enhance the competition, drawing in European players eager for points to secure their spots on the team.
As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, conversations with player agents representing top-50 players at The Masters last weekend were described as “promising” by PGA Australia officials.
Bryson DeChambeau reportedly tops the association’s wish list, having already made an appearance in Australia earlier this year during the LIV Golf event in Adelaide in February.
Rory McIlroy, the back-to-back Masters champion, is also on the radar, as he is committed to play in the Australian Open the following weekend at Kingston Heath.
Kirkman expressed excitement, saying, “This is the most promising Masters I’ve attended in a while, with managers approaching us regarding top 50 players in the world.” He added that while there is heightened interest in Australia, careful consideration will be given to financial aspects before making any quick decisions.
The usual lineup of Australian talent, including Cameron Smith, Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee, and others, is anticipated to compete.
NSW sport minister Steve Kamper labelled the event’s return as “a fantastic coup for our local golf-loving community.”
The Australian PGA Championship is set to take place from November 26 to 29.
Compiled by SportArena.au.
Fanpage: SportArena.au.
LiveScore – Live Sports Results & Odds.
