NSW poach Australian PGA Championship in 30-year first as Olympics preparation forces venue switch
The Australian PGA Championship will return to NSW for the first time in nearly 30 years this November after the state successfully lured the event away from Queensland.
Having been held at Royal Queensland on the Brisbane River since 2022, the event will instead be held at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney's inner-west.
It will be the fourth time the course has hosted the event, and the first since 1987. NSW last held the tournament in 1998 when Englishman David Howell tore up the stunning New South Wales Golf Club to claim a seven-shot victory.
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Min Woo Lee won the 2023 Australian PGA Championship. Getty
The Lakes has also hosted the Australian Open seven times, and co-hosted the 2023 edition with The Australian. Some of golf's biggest names have won at the course, including Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman.
Royal Queensland has been selected as the golf host for Brisbane 2032, and is expected to undergo renovations and improvements over the coming years, forcing the event to find a new home.
PGA of Australia chief executive Gavin Kirkman said the organisation was "delighted" to bring the tournament back to NSW in a partnership with the state government.
"The city is synonymous with world-class sporting events and we are thrilled that we are able to return to The Lakes Golf Club," he said in a statement.
Already locked in to play the Australian Open, organisers are also targeting Rory McIlroy. Graham Denholm via Getty Images
"The venue has a rich history in hosting Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia events, so we know we are in for a warm welcome in November."
The tournament will once again be co-sanctioned by the European PGA Tour. It will be the opening event of the 2026-2027 season, which will be highlighted by the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Ireland.
Organisers will be hoping the Ryder Cup will give the field some added firepower as European players chase points to make the team.
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According to The Sydney Morning Herald, PGA of Australia officials held "promising" conversations with player agents of several top-50 players at The Masters last weekend.
Bryson DeChambeau is reportedly at the top of the association's list. DeChambeau has already played in Australia once this year, when LIV Golf made its annual visit to Adelaide in February.
In the second of a two-year deal to play in the Australian Open, once again to be held the following weekend at Kingston Heath, back-to-back Masters champion Rory McIlroy is also a target.
"This [was] the most promising Masters I've been to in a while, where the managers are coming to us, and this is all top 50 in the world players," Kirkman told the Herald.
"So there's more interest in Australia than ever. We've still got to work on the economics, but that allows us to not make rushed decisions."
The usual Aussie contingent of top-level Aussie talent including Cameron Smith, Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee and others are also expected to play.
NSW sport minister Steve Kamper said securing the event was "a fantastic coup for our local golf-loving community".
The Australian PGA will be held from November 26–29.
