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August 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au THE FIRST TEE 5 The massive galleries at the 2025 Australian Open following Rory and the interest Bryson has helped to generate at LIV Adelaide over the past three years, not to mention the impact he has through his digital channels, evidence as to their popularity. When Bryson won his US Open, he did it at the expense of Rory, and amidst his celebrations DeChambeau had little sympathy for his Irish rival. While their head-to-head confrontations have been less frequent with McIlroy on the PGA Tour, DeChambeau playing on LIV, they did meet again, playing in the final group at the 2025 Masters. This time Rory came out on top, Bryson apparently couldn’t get a word out of his playing partner, who esponded saying he was too busy winning to engage in idle conversation. At the Open Championship, it was on again, but from the proverbial ’10 paces’. Bryson, and whether he deserved a two-shot penalty for allegedly improving the path of his swing, again largely hinges on whether he is your hero or your villain. His actions however did leave him open to criticism, with his histrionics and actions on the Friday night of the Open, playing a role in delaying the release of the third-round draw. And Rory took the opportunity to offer some ‘advice’. He could easily have said nothing, or words to the effect of the R&A rules decision having nothing to do with him. McIlroy preferred to weigh in, calling DeChambeau “performative” for the act, then saying that he’s “not particularly fond of him.” Until our newest Kiwi ‘hero’ lifted the trophy on Sunday night, and all respect to our own Lucas Herbert, the secondround leader, or to the likes of Sam Burns, who occupied positions at or near the top of the leaderboard, Bryson’s situation and Rory’s subsequent comments dominated the media coverage. All publicity, most of the time, is good publicity. Was this the sort of attention that golf is craving? As to the incident, come to your own conclusion, form your own opinion, pick a side, and that’s in relation to both DeChambeau, and if what he got up to in the long fescue rough was within the rules, or whether McIlroy needed to make comment. The long hitting Masters champ is a journalist’s dream, no doubt a man with a view on various topics and someone happy to express it. We can now look forward to the 2027 Ryder Cup, maybe the Sunday singles when surely McIlroy representing Europe, tackles DeChambeau and team America. Lets hope that’s figuratively, not literally speaking. Are they the heroes and villains golf needs? And whose side are you on? Heroes and villains. But who’s who? IN team sports, it’s easy to identify the heroes and villains. One plays for your team, the other one doesn’t. The heroes wear your colours, the villain, on the other hand, whether they may be an outstanding, skillful, star of the game, maybe an upstanding citizen to go with it, in the eyes of their team’s biggest rivals, they become public enemy number one. At the same time, sports needs good guys and bad. They pique our interest in the games played, put bums on seats, sell newspapers, attract television audiences and give analysts plenty to talk about. The media eat up rivalries and love to fuel the fire. When it comes to golf, it’s harder to take sides. The most recent winner of the Open Championship, Ryan Fox, is universally liked and respected. With the burly Kiwi champ, it’s reasonably straightforward. For others, it’s not as easy to determine. Let’s look at Phil Mickelson, for many years the smiling hero, these days despised by the majority. Tiger Woods, in the conversation as the best there ever was, but a legendary figure who has tarnished his reputation in the eyes of many with his antics and actions away from the course. Greg Norman. We loved him when he was winning and contending in the biggest tournaments around the world. A lot of us worshipped his abilities. Shark almost singlehandedly drove a massive golfing boom in Australia during his prime, but now many are unsure what to think after his backing of LIV at the expense of the establishment. Throw in Wyndam Clark, Patrick Reed, not everyone warms to Jon Rahm and his intensity. Sergio Garcia perhaps the same. They are likely a lot closer to the ‘villains’ camp in the eyes of most followers of professional golf. Then we have Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau. Both outspoken, immensely talented, must watch when at the top of their game, also a pair who polarise opinions. Add to that, they have a relationship best described as strained. It is rather obvious that the two don’t particularly like one another, a conflict which resurfaced again at the Open Championship. As to which one is the hero, who is the villain, the answer likely depends on which side of the fence you sit, the ‘team’ you support. As good as World No 1 Scottie Scheffler is, and has been over the past couple of years, when it comes to getting people talking about the game, and/or tuning in when golf’s most significant events are taking place, McIlroy and DeChambeau are the number one and two needle movers. Rob Willis rob@insidegolf.com.au www.insidegolf.com.au Distributed to over 450 golf clubs, social golf clubs, driving ranges and retailers Australia wide every month. Combined print and online national monthly readership over 210,000. AUSTRALIA’S MOST-READ GOLF &TRAVEL MAGAZINE Cover photo: Ryan Fox - Photo by Oisin Keniry/R&A Media via Getty Images Aussie Owned - Aussie Operated AUSTRALIA’S MOST-READ GOLF & TRAVEL MAGAZINE PUBLISHER: Sam Arthur | sam@insidegolf.com.au Outdoor Sports Publishing Pty Ltd ACN 113 836 301 ABN 30 043 104 919 PO BOX 437, Miami, QLD 4220 EDITORIAL: Editor: Rob Willis | rob@insidegolf.com.au Editor-At-Large: David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au NSW/ACT Journalist: Michael Court michael@insidegolf.com.au VIC/TAS Journalist: Michael Davis michael.davis@insidegolf.com.au QLD Journalist: Peter Owen peter.owen@outlook.com.au Design & Layout: Stacey Broomhead CONTRIBUTORS: Larry Canning, Tony Webeck, Michael Cooney, Andrew Crockett SALES: National Sales: Sam Arthur P: 1300 4653 00 | M: 0410 575 303 E: sam@insidegolf.com.au Northen NSW/QLD/NT Sales: David Ross | M: 0439 612 458 E: david.ross@insidegolf.com.au NSW/ACT Corp Sales: David Andrews | M: 0404 871 479 E: david.andrews@insidegolf.com.au Sydney/NSW Sales: Michael Hamilton | M: 0423 455 572 E: michael.hamilton@insidegolf.com.au VIC/TAS/SA Sales: Marc Wilson | M: 0419 107 143 E: marc@insidegolf.com.au ACCOUNTS: Sheridan Murphy E: accounts@insidegolf.com.au Wbunmatched stability RBlaunch without spin BBeffortless speed
August 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au 6 INSIDE NEWS INSIDE NEWS IN THIS ISSUE PRO NEWS 8 AMATEUR GOLF 14 CLUB NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS LETTERS 23 16 41 COVER STORY 7 GOLF AUSTRALIA 13 BUNKER-TOBUNKER 40 REGIONAL CLUB OF THE MONTH 38 News, views and observations from around the golfing world With Inside Golf Editor Rob Willis rob@insidegolf.com.au WE TRIED IT 46 CLUB OF THE MONTH 42 64 55 HUNTER VALLEY FEATURE INSTRUCTION TRAVEL 47 EVENTS 65 DEMO DAYS 66 AFTER Nelly Korda won the first two major championships of 2026, there seemed little doubt as to the best player in the women’s game and the likely recipient of the LPGA Player of the Year. Enter Korean Haeran Ryu, with back-to-back majors at the KPMG PGA Championship, then her victory at the Amundi Evian Championship in France and it was two-all with the AIG Women’s Open at the Royal Lytham & St. Annes course to come. Ryu put on a clinic in Saturday’s third round at the Evian, returning an 11-under par 60, the lowest 18-hole total in major championship history, a round which included nine birdies and an eagle, in taking a three-shot lead into the final day. However, the Korean professional didn’t have things all her own way on Sunday. Trailing by one playing the final hole, Ryu was forced to birdie the par-five 18th to tie Canadian Brooke Henderson on 19-under par, before another birdie at the Evian Resort Golf Club’s finishing hole saw her claim victory in the sudden-death playoff. Just a few weeks earlier, at the KPMG PGA Championship played at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota, the 25-year-old Ryu became the first to win the event trailing by 10 shots after the first round, with her 13-under par total one shot clear of another young Korean Ina Yoon. Henderson was again amongst the challengers at the PGA Championship, ending her tournament in a tie for third. Australian Karis Davidson continued her strong form in the 2026 Women’s majors, finishing tied as leading Australian with Cassie Porter in 26th at the Evian and in 12th place at the Women’s PGA. SCOTTIE Scheffler’s streak of 78 consecutive cuts made, a record dating back to the 2022 FedEx St Jude Championship, came to an end at the Scottish Open the week prior to the Open Championship. At the event won by young Korean Tom Kim, Scheffler failed to come to terms with The Renaissance Club course, his 36-hole total of level par two shots shy of progressing to the weekend. In an indication of how special Scheffler’s streak was, Hideki Matsuyama (at time of writing) now leads the way with 28 cut made in a row, while Matt Fitzpatrick’s run ended at 27 when he failed to make the weekend at Royal Birkdale. Tiger Woods holds the consecutive cuts record on the PGA Tour, 142, a streak he achieved between 1998 and 2005. It was a bad week for world number one’s when it came to making the cut. At the Evian Championship played in France, leading women’s professional Nelly Korda also fell short of the 36-hole mark in finding herself watching on at the weekend for the first time since the 2024 Women’s PGA Championship, more than two years ago. Scheffler streak comes to an end DURING the week of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, the inaugural R&A Spirit of Golf Award was presented to Adam Scott for his significant impact on golf around the world. The award has been introduced by The R&A to recognise an individual who exemplifies the spirit of the game on a global scale and displays the values, behaviours and traditions inherent to golf. On the eve of The 154th Open, Scott was honoured to reflect the Australian’s impact in helping to grow the sport at home and abroad. A truly international player, Scott is a huge supporter of the global game and an outstanding role model for the values of golf. At Royal Birkdale Scott made his 101st consecutive appearance in major championships having reached the century milestone at last month’s US Open – joining Jack Nicklaus as the only players to achieve the feat. Also celebrating his 46th birthday during the week of the Open, Scott is a one-time major winner after his success at the Masters Tournament in 2013, was runner-up at The Open in 2012 and is a former world number one who has enjoyed 32 wins worldwide, while consistently exemplifying the values which underpin the new award. Scott was presented with a beautifully designed silver plate. “I am honoured to be the first recipient of the new R&A Spirit of Golf Award,” Scott said. “As someone who has spent my entire life in the game of golf it is so meaningful to be recognised for my impact on golf across the world, not only from a playing point of view but for also upholding values which are so integral to the sport. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed playing in 100 consecutive major championships. It has been a privilege and is something I’ll never take for granted.” The R&A Spirit of Golf Award will be awarded annually to an individual, although in exceptional circumstances it may be awarded to a team or organisation. It is not restricted to amateurs or professionals and is not purely performance-based. FEATHER’S DAY FEATURE 44 Adam Scott was a worthy recipient of the inaugural R&A Spirit of Golf Award, presented during The Open Championship for his significant impact on golf around the world. 67 19TH HOLE Korda and Ryu two-all, with the AIG Women’s Open to come Korean Haeran Ryu has won back-to-back major championships in 2026. Scottie Scheffler, who finished fourth at The Open Championship, saw his consecutive cut streak come to an end at the Scottish Open. 69 GOLF DIRECTORY R&A recognises Scott for his impact on golf
August 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 7 WITH a thrilling victory at Royal Birkdale, Kiwi Ryan Fox joined New Zealand golfing legend Bob Charles as a winner of the Open Championship. The 39-year-old Fox moved into contention with a record-equalling 62 on Saturday, before producing a series of clutch shots over the closing holes on Sunday to claim the coveted Claret Jug, in becoming New Zealand’s fourth major championship winner. Chasing down Cameron Young’s 10-under par total, a mark set some two hours before the leaders were to finish their final rounds, Fox stood on the 72nd tee level with the American with the challenging 18th hole to play. Option ‘A’ was to play safe, aiming to match Young and take his chances in a playoff, Fox elected for ‘plan B’. “I did say to my caddie on the tee that we were going to take it on, that I was going to try to win the tournament, and I’d live with the consequences if I stuffed it up,” Fox said. “To go out there and execute that drive, which is not a very comfortable tee shot, and to hit it in the fairway and give myself a chance was huge.” A perfectly struck nine-iron to inside four metres of the hole followed and the rest is history, Fox joining the now 90-year-old Charles, Michael Campbell and Lydia Ko as New Zealanders to win a major championship title. Something of a late bloomer, Fox turned professional as a 25-year-old, qualified to play on the DP World Tour at 30, before becoming a PGA Tour rookie at 37. FPO NEW TR Lo me pe no co TA Up tac a c co eve Play wha Designed with performance Part Numb CP3S-60R-Z0 CP3M-60R-Z0 TRACTION ZONE Lower hand traction means consistent performance no matter the conditions. TACK ZONE Upper hand tack gives you a confident connection on every swing. Plus4 Technology simulates building up the grip with four extra wraps of tape. Less taper encourages lighter grip pressure and more power. Designed with a combination of tack and traction for comfort, performance and confidence that sticks. Available in Standard and Midsize. Reintroducing CP. Our softest performance grip. Play what feels good. NEW Following his fast finish, Ryan Fox is The Champion Golf of the Year 154TH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP Stats that matter WHO had the least amount of putts, drove the ball the furthest, which hole was the hardest and how much did Ryan Fox pocket for claiming his first major championship title? See some of the stats that matter from the 154th Open Championship. • As the ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’ in winning the Open Championship, Ryan Fox pocketed a handsome US$3.2 million. Young Australian Cameron John enjoyed a nice pay day, taking home US$102.817 for his tied 28th placing. • Making the 72nd hole birdie by Fox even more praiseworthy, the difficult par four finishing hole was ranked the hardest for the week, playing to an average of 4.345. Fox’s birdie was just the 28th made all week. The easiest hole was the 17th, the par five averaging 4.623, while giving up 195 bridies and 17 eagles. • The eventual champion ranked fifth on the putting stats amongst those to make the cut, with Fox boasting an average of 28 putts for the week. First place was young Aussie Cam John with 27.25. And last, with 32.50 putts, it should come as no surprise Alex Fitzpatrick would finish the tournament towards the tail of the field in 71st place. • The fairways may have been firm and bouncy, however the driving distance stats confirmed just how far the modern player hits the ball. Leading the way, Englishman Marco Penge averaged 350.7 yards per drive (approx. 315 metres) on the measured holes, which were the 14th and 17th. His longest drive for the week measured 371.5 yards on the 17th on Saturday. Not far behind was young South African Aldrich Potgieter with an average of 345.6 yards. Adam Scott was third with 341.6 yards. His first significant victory came on the Australasian Tour in Perth in 2019, he would win five times in Europe and now has three PGA Tour titles on his resume following wins at the Canadian Open and at Myrtle Beach last year. At the post event media conference, Fox reflected on his days on the Australasian Tour as pivotal to the success he was now enjoying. “It was where I learned professional golf and everything to do, the travel that’s involved, the grind that’s involved,” he said. “It’s a really underrated tour. “The fields in the smaller events, I always thought were really, really strong, and you felt like you had to play really well to contend at an Aussie Tour event. When I first got over to Europe, I kind of felt ready to compete with those guys purely from being on the Aussie Tour and having won a couple times.” With Rory McIlroy heading to Kingston Heath with his green Masters jacket, the challenge for Australasian Tour officials is now to have Fox, and the Claret Jug, join him at Australia’s major events this summer. – ROB WILLIS
August 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 8 From Royal Birkdale WITH a par at the final hole he had the chance to claim a special place in golfing history all for himself, however despite the bogey on 18, there was still plenty to celebrate when Bendigo boy Lucas Herbert equaled the lowest score ever shot in a major championship with his second round 62. The eight-under par round vaulted the Victorian into the 36hole lead at Royal Birkdale, with Herbert joining just five other players to have shot 62 in one of the ‘big four’ championships. However, before anyone had the opportunity to analyze and enthuse over the special round, comes Sam Burns a few hours later, six-under on the back nine, with birdies at his last three holes, the American matching Herbert’s 62. Bouncing, fast and challenging to most, at the same time a course was giving up low scores to those in control of their game, only 24-hours later eventual champ Ryan Fox managed a 62 of his own, in the process going from a tie for 52nd after two rounds, to playing in the final group on Sunday. With the three 62’s, a score shot at an Open Championship only once previously, by Brandon Grace back in 2017, making for a record week at Royal Birkdale. 154TH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP For the record - three 62’s TWO-TIME major champion Bryson DeChambeau signed for a second day 66, coupled with an opening round of 67, to sit just three shots behind leader Lucas Herbert. Unfortunately for the outspoken and charismatic American, R&A rules officials were alerted to a potential rules infraction on the par four, fifth, checked vision of the possible infraction, took him back to the scene of the ‘crime’, before ruling DeChambeau had improved the intended path of his swing by stepping down the long fescue rough. The result was a two-stroke penalty, a 68 rather than a 66, a considerably unhappy DeChambeau, and widespread conjecture as to whether the penalty imposed by the R&A was justified or not. Bryson threatened to boycott the final two rounds and head home, Rory McIlroy was amongst those to express he thought the penalty was fair and reasonable, while DeChambeau’s band of supporters believed it to be a travesty. While he likely wasn’t over it by Saturday, DeChambeau turned up to play the third round and failed to mount a serious challenge over the weekend, eventually finished in a tie for 14th, six strokes behind the winner. DeChambeau in rules controversy FIRSTLY, Inside Golf apologises to Cameron John for leaving him off a list published in our July edition of Australians playing at Royal Birkdale. No excuse, however, John snuck under our radar by qualifying for the event courtesy of his second place finish at the International Series event in Singapore. Secondly, in looking for understanding from the young Victorian, Inside Golf offers congratulations to John, second on the 2025-2026 Australasian Tour order of merit, for his performance in his first appearance in a major championship. In and around the top 10 after the second and third rounds, while John may have been slightly disappointed with a last day 72, slipping from 11th to finish tied 28th, it gave Australian golf fans another example of what the talented 27-year-old is capable of. We also rejoiced after Lucas Herbert’s second day 62, holding out hope he could become the sixth Australian winner of the Open Championship, however rounds of 71-71 saw the LIV golf star wind up tied sixth on six-under par, four strokes behind Ryan Fox. Then just one back of Herbert, Adam Scott, teeing it up in his 101st consecutive major championship, and on a week where he celebrated his 46th birthday, showed there is plenty of fight left in the ‘old dog’ with his tie for ninth. Of the other three Aussies in the field at Royal Birkdale, (Elvis Smylie withdrew in the lead up with injury), only Min Woo Lee was able to make the cut, finishing two-over and tied 59th, with Cam Smith (2-over) and Travis Smyth (3-over) narrowly falling short of qualifying for the final two rounds. Aussies at The Open Lucas Herbert joined a select group with his second round 62. Cameron John played strongly in his first appearance in a major championship. Bryson DeChambeau had his troubles on Friday, with R&A officials imposing a two-stroke penalty for a perceived rules infraction.
August 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 9 Wyndham wire to wire HE took the lead at 7pm on the fog-delayed first round, with Wyndham Clark then going on to record a wire-to-wire win at the 2026 US Open. In what was his second US Open victory in four years, darkness on Thursday forced Clark to return on Friday morning to complete an opening round of six-under par 64, and from that point he was never headed. Clack would finish the tournament one shot ahead of fellow American Sam Burns, who as he did at the same event 12 months prior, came up agonisingly short. Going into the last day with a five-stroke lead, Clark battled a challenging Shinnecock Hills course and a pro-Scotty Schefller crowd before shooting a four-over par 74 on Sunday, with his two-putt par form 50-feet on the 72nd hole enough to secure a second US Open title to go with his victory at the LA Country Club in 2023. 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Tour Highlights • 8 games including The Royal Gems City Golf Club, Alpine Golf Club, Nikanti Golf Club, Black Mountain and Pineapple Valley Golf Clubs. • 4 nights at Hilton Bangkok Grand Asoke • 9 nights at Hyatt Regency Hua Hin • Airport transfers • Private transportation throughout the tour • Sight seeing entrance fees • Day 5 lunch FROM AUD $5,095 PP* ALL INFORMATION IS CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINT AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANCE WITHOUT NOTICE, DUE TO MATTERS OUTSIDE OUR CONTROL SUCH AS ADVERSE CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS, TAXES AND FUEL SURCHARGES. 2026 US OPEN | SHINNECOCK HILLS GOLF CLUB Wyndham Clark became a two-time US Open champion with his victory at Shinnecock Hills. Par for the course for Keith Mitchell WITH four straight 70’s, American Keith Mitchell became the first player to ever shoot four consecutive par rounds at a US Open. Mitchell managed to achieve something that had never been done in the previous 126 US Opens, however following his first nine on holes on Thursday, when he was six-over on the back nine after teeing off on the 10th, nobody could have predicted the record he would set. In opening with an even-par 70, Mitchell came home on the front nine in 6-under 29, in doing so recording another first in the history of the US Open by playing one nine in the 20s, and the other in the 40s in the same round, While he continued to play strongly for the remainder of the week, his next three rounds were somewhat less eventful, with Mitchell backing up his first day score by signing for three more 70’s to finish the tournament in a tie for fourth. With four straight par rounds, Keith Mitchell achieved a US Open record which may never be matched. It was a frustrating week for Adam Scott at his 100th consecutive major championship appearance. There were a few hiccups along the way, however Joaquin Niemann would post a career best finish at a US Open. ON the same day the Socceroos went down 2-0 to the United States at the football World Cup, Australia went 0-5 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club with four of our representatives missing the cut, while Jason Day withdrew with injury. It was the first time since the 1959 event played at Winged Foot Golf Club, that not a single Australian managed to progress to the final two rounds. With the cut falling at four-over par, 72 players moved onto the weekend, however the Aussies weren’t amongst them, Ripper GC teammates Cameron Smith and Lucas Herbert falling two shots short at six over, Min Woo Lee was a shot further back, while Adam Scott, in his 100th consecutive major championship appearance returned scored of 73-75 to miss by four. Excepting Day, who was struggling before his withdrawal, all had their chances, none more so than Lee, who’s week could have been considerably different if not for a disastrous four-putt triple-bogey at the par-4 14th. FOR Joaquin Niemann, the LIV star from Chile and the 2023 Australian Open champion, it was an interesting week at Shinnecock Hills to say the least. On Thursday, Niemann became the first victim of the crackdown on player conduct when handed a two-stroke penalty for throwing a club in anger and frustration on the sixth hole towards the end of a long first day. After hitting two balls out of bounds off the tee, the South American’s temper boiled over when his third tee ball resulted in him having to chop out the fescue rough after not getting requested relief from an anthill. His actions were determined to be serious misconduct under Rule 1.2b. Even par before the meltdown, the conduct penalty turned his 9 into an 11. Niemann bounced back with a second round 65 to make the cut, before eventually posting a career-best finish at a US Open of tied seventh, just five behind the winner. Socceroos down 0-2, Aussies go 0-for-5 An interesting week for Joaquin
August 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 10 David Graham joins a prestigious honour roll DAVID Graham joined one of golf’s most exclusive roll calls in June when he was named the honouree of the Jack Nicklaus Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village. The annual induction, which recognises legendary contributors to the game, has previously honoured fellow Australians Peter Thomson (1998) and Greg Norman (2017). “This is one of the greatest honours I have ever received,” said Graham, 80, who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2015. “I’m just tickled to death as a past winner of the Memorial (1980) and a proud member of Muirfield Village Golf Club to have been selected by the Captains Club. It’s even more rewarding knowing the decision came from such a distinguished committee. This is a really special honour, especially given my close relationship with Jack Nicklaus.” A native of Melbourne, Graham was a tenacious competitor and one of the finest ballstrikers of his era. He secured eight PGA TOUR victories, including two majors: the 1979 PGA Championship and the 1981 US Open. Both triumphs came on demanding, historic courses that fulfilled his ambition of becoming a worldclass player. “Without a doubt David was one of the toughest competitors on the TOUR when I was playing,” said two-time Memorial winner Tom Watson, a Captains Club member. “He was a strong man; he was strong mentally.” In the 1979 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills, Graham stormed back from four strokes behind with a final-round 5-under 65 to tie Ben Crenshaw at 8-under 272. He then claimed the Wanamaker Trophy with an eight-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole, becoming just the second Australian-born player to win the event after Jim Ferrier in 1947. Two years later at the U.S. Open at Merion, Graham again produced a memorable finalround charge. Trailing George Burns by three strokes, he fired a 3-under 67 in a performance still regarded as a ball-striking masterclass. Sandwiched between those majors was his emotional 1980 Memorial victory. A devoted admirer of Nicklaus who had already joined Muirfield Village, Graham opened with a 73 but rallied with rounds of 67-70-70. He birdied three of the last four holes—including a 30-foot downhill putt on the 18th—to edge Watson by one stroke. Just two days after turning 34, Graham posted a record 8-under 280, breaking the tournament mark Nicklaus had set in 1977. “David has been a great friend for a very long time,” Nicklaus said. “We have played a lot of golf together and worked alongside each other outside the ropes. David worked with MacGregor, the clubs I played for decades and the company I owned for a while, and he actually helped me make clubs. “He was a very good player when he came to the United States, but he really learned how to win once he got here. He is a really good man and an excellent choice by the Captains Club.” Born Anthony David Graham on May 23, 1946, he was introduced to golf at a local nine-hole course in Melbourne. He fell in love with the game, quit school at 13 to pursue it full-time, and switched from left-handed to right-handed play at the urging of his mentor, George Naismith. Graham turned professional at 16, worked club jobs while sharpening his game, and enjoyed early success in Asia, winning the Singapore Open (1969), Thailand Open, Yomiuri International, and French Open (1970). He also teamed with Bruce Devlin to win the World Cup in Argentina. Graham moved to the United States, earned his PGA TOUR card in 1971, and claimed his first TOUR title at the 1972 Cleveland Open in a playoff over Devlin. Credited with 36 professional wins across six continents, he added five victories on the PGA TOUR Champions before retiring in 2004 following congestive heart failure. He captained the International Team in the inaugural 1994 Presidents Cup, served on the Masters Tournament’s Cup and Tee Committee, and has designed several golf courses, primarily in the U.S. Among his many honours are the Order of Australia (1992), induction into the Australian Sports Hall of Fame, the Australian Golf Hall of Fame, and the World Golf Hall of Fame. Graham and his wife Maureen live in Dallas, Texas. They have two sons, Andrew and Michael, three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. David Graham remains the only Australian to win two different major championships. – ANDREW CROCKETT David Graham is congratulated by Jack Nicklaus on being named an honouree of the Memorial Tournament. David Graham, with Memorial Tournament host Jack Nicklaus. A two-time major championship winner, David Graham was one of the leading players of his time.
August 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 11 Celebrating 70 years of the Vic Open THE Vic Open will return to 13th Beach Golf Links in 2027, with next year’s tournament marking the 70th anniversary of the men’s championship and the 20th staging of the women’s event. Golf Australia will again partner with the Victorian Government to deliver the tournament, with the 2027 Vic Open to be played from January 2124 as a part of both the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and WPGA Tour of Australasia schedules. As it has since 2012, the Vic Open will feature separate tournaments for women and men played concurrently across 13th Beach’s renowned Beach and Creek courses, with players competing for a combined $400,000 in prizemoney. Widely recognised as the first event of its kind, the Vic Open’s innovative dual-gender format has become a blueprint replicated in professional golf around the world. The men’s Vic Open was first played in 1957, won by 10 shots by the great Ossie Pickworth, while Helen Hopkins won the first edition of the women’s event in 1988. The previous 19 stagings of the women’s Open have produced an outstanding champions list that includes the likes of major champions Minjee Lee, Hannah Green, Celine Boutier, Georgia Hall and Jiyai Shin. Min Woo Lee and 2026 winner Cam John, who last month made his major debut at the Open Championship, are recent men’s Vic Open champions. Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said: “The Vic Open has become a unique and popular events on our calendar and we’re thrilled to be returning to 13th Beach Golf Links again in 2027. “To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the men’s championship, and the 20th staging of the women’s event, at a venue that has become synonymous with the modern Vic Open makes next year’s tournament even more special.” Golf continues to play a significant role in Victoria’s visitor economy, contributing approximately $900 million annually to the state economy and supporting close to 7000 jobs. Smith locked in for the Open and PGA CAM Smith will look to add an historic fourth BMW Australian PGA Championship title to his trophy collection and resume, while the Ripper GC star has also confirmed his entry and participation in the Capital.com men’s Australian Open the week following. A winner of 12 professional tournaments around the globe, including the 2022 Open Championship, Smith will headline the BMW Australian PGA Championship which will be contested in Sydney for the first time in nearly 30 years, with The Lakes Golf Club the host venue. A week later, Smith heads south and to the Kingston Heath Golf Club to take on Rory McIlroy and a quality field of local and international talent at the national open. Smith’s last victory at the Australian PGA Championship came in 2022, the same year he became a major winner after triumphing at The 150th Open Championship on the famed Old Course at St Andrews. “It’s always a highlight of the year to compete on home soil. The home fans really get behind us and the events we have,” Smith said. Cam Smith has confirmed his participation in Australia’s two biggest professional tournaments this summer. Cam John and Lydia Hall are the reigning Vic Open champions. The BMW Australian PGA Championship, scheduled for November 26-29 and Capital. com men’s Australian Open from December 3-6, will both be co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour through its Strategic Alliance with the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia. The PGA Championship will launch the DP World Tour’s 2027 Race to Dubai. IN the days following the Open Championship, Canadian Corey Connors confirmed he will contest both the Australian PGA and Open championships during the local golfing summer. A two-time winner on the PGA TOUR with victories at the Valero Texas Open in 2019 and 2023, the 34-year-old Connors is currently ranked No.48 in the world. He is a twotime Olympian, representing his nation at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, and he has also made two Presidents Cup appearances, playing for the International Team in 2022 and 2024. Connors made the halfway cut in all four men’s major championships this year and finished T14 in The Open Championship. Before turning professional, Conners’ amateur golf career included a trip to Australia where he won the prestigious Lake Macquarie International Amateur, as well as being a quarter-finalist in the Australian Amateur Championship. STOP PRESS: Canadian Connors to compete down under
August 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 12 Nicole the new President WHEN Nicole James tells you there are boundless opportunities for women in the golf industry, and that the game benefits from the involvement of females, you know she speaks from personal experience. Once an outstanding player who spent eight years on the ALPG tour and missed qualifying for the European Tour by a single shot, James has filled a wide range of positions in Australian golf over the past two decades. A trainee professional at NSW Golf Club, and then an assistant there to longtime head pro Bill Exten, James became director of golf at Melbourne’s Spring Valley Golf Club before accepting a role as club professional at Mullumbimby on NSW’s North Coast. She joined Coolangatta-Tweeds Head as golf operations manager in 2015, then worked for the Australian PGA as tournament coordinator for Queensland and the Northern Territory. She returned to Coolangatta-Tweed in 2019 and has been general manager there for the past three years. Last year she became one of the first women appointed to the PGA’s Vocational Members Council. James’ career has touched almost every part of the industry – as a player, PGA professional, coach, administrator, tournament organiser, club manager and women’s advocate. Now she has been appointed president of the WPGA Tour of Australia, replacing Julia Boland, who stood down after leading the national women’s tour since 2018. Expressing her delight at stepping into the role, James said she would be focused on ensuring Australia’s female professional golfers had as many playing opportunities as possible. By Peter Owen Boland and Kim awarded Honorary Life Membership to the WPGA Tour THE WPGA Tour of Australasia announced Julia Boland and Grace Kim as the latest recipients of Honorary Life Membership. Boland recently stepped down as President of the WPGA Tour, having served in the role since 2018, while Kim earned her first major championship at last year’s Amundi Evian Championship in France. Boland a leading amateur before turning professional, competed on the Epson Tour (then known as the Symetra Tour) in 2012, winning that year’s Four Winds Invitational and earning a spot on the LPGA Tour, on which she competed for two years. During her eight years as President, Boland helped guide the WPGA Tour of Australasia through a transformative period for women’s golf, helping to create new opportunities for the next generation of players. A prolific winner at amateur level before turning professional in 2021, like Boland, Kim earned a spot on the LPGA Tour via the Epson Tour, winning her first LPGA Tour title at her third start in her rookie season at the 2023 Lotte Championship. In 2025 she became the And she’s keen that those who choose not to pursue a career as an international touring professional remain involved in the industry. She said earning a living as a professional golfer could be challenging, and that when women completed their playing careers, there were many rewarding opportunities available in the golf industry. “Women bring valuable skills, experience and perspective to golf clubs and the wider industry, with meaningful career opportunities in pro shop operations, coaching, corporate golf and club management,” she said. “There have never been more females in leadership positions,” she said. “They are showing others that anything is possible. There are real opportunities for women to get into this industry.” James said she was delighted that so many Australian women were competing with success on major tours in the United States and Europe. “And it’s wonderful that so many of them return to Australia each summer to play in our major tournaments,” she said. James acknowledged the leadership of Julia Bowland during an important period in the WPGA Tour’s history. “I have thoroughly enjoyed serving on the board under Julia’s leadership and I endeavour to bring the same dedication and passion to the role,” she said. James will lead a board that includes vicepresident Jessica Dengate, member directors Bree Arthur and Cathryn Bristow, and non-executive directors Sam Squiers and Trefor Clayton. Nicole James has been appointed president of the WPGA Tour of Australia. fifth Australian to win a women’s major title at the Amundi Evian Championship. WPGA Tour of Australasia CEO Karen Lunn said she was delighted to convene the award of Honorary Life Membership on both Boland and Kim. “Julia and Grace are richly deserving of Honorary Life Membership of the WPGA Tour of Australasia,” she said. “Julia dedicated the last eight years of her life as President of the WPGA Tour, leading with exceptional courage and integrity during what has been a transformational period for the organisation. “Grace wrote her name into history last year as she became our country’s 17th major champion. She is a wonderful ambassador for Australian golf, having excelled at every level and also giving back to the next generation.” Julia Boland has been awarded honorary life membership of the WPGA Tour of Australasia. Grace Kim, a major champion in 2025, recently announced as an honorary life membership of the WPGA Tour of Australasia.
August 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au GOLF AUSTRALIA 13 Breaking records: Clubs and PGA Pros creating lifelong golfers THE future of golf is being shaped right now, by the kids picking up a club for the first time through MyGolf, and by the women and men learning the game through Get Into Golf. These are the golfers who will fill our fairways, join our clubs and sustain our sport for decades to come. And behind them sits a network of clubs, venues, PGA Professionals and volunteer program deliverers making it happen on the ground, every single week. In the past 12 months, Golf Australia’s national participation programs have delivered a record-breaking year. More than 67,000 junior and adult registrations for MyGolf powered by Ripper GC and Get Into Golf programs nationally, delivered across more than 569 clubs and venues by hundreds of PGA Professionals and accredited National Program Deliverers. MyGolf reached a record 44,543 registrations — up 9.3 per cent — while Get Into Golf grew 13 per cent to 22,774 new golfers, with women representing 88 per cent of adult participants. Add in 123,793 students reached through MyGolf Schools across 707 schools, and the scale and impact is nothing short of remarkable. Collectively, these programs generated more than $6.6 million in registration revenue, every dollar going directly to the clubs, venues and PGA Professionals delivering them. Golf Australia does not take any portion of program fees. Instead, our investment goes into the national marketing, technology platforms, club support and operational infrastructure that drives participants to venues and helps clubs convert them into long-term golfers. It is one of the most significant ways we deliver on our core purpose: more people to play more golf. The people powering participation None of this happens without the people delivering programs in communities across the country. PGA Professionals remain the backbone, running more than 83 per cent of all programs nationally. Their expertise and passion for growing the game is what turns a first-time participant into a lifelong golfer. Alongside them, 265 active National Program Deliverers — 47 per cent of whom are women and 53 per cent based in regional areas — are helping clubs meet growing demand, particularly where coaching capacity has traditionally been limited. James Sutherland CEO, Golf Australia Together, they delivered more than 5,500 programs across 488 MyGolf venues and 372 Get Into Golf venues this year. That national footprint continues to grow. From programs to players to members What makes these numbers meaningful is what happens next. These aren’t one-off experiences, they are genuine pathways into the game. Nineteen per cent of MyGolf participants go on to become junior club members. Six months after completing Get Into Golf, 45 per cent of participants report having joined a club. More than 90 per cent continue playing golf after their program ends. The national marketing campaigns supporting these programs reach more than 6.5 million Australians annually for MyGolf and over 3 million for Get Into Golf. One in three participants discovers their program through national marketing, demand generated and directed to clubs. These programs are free for clubs to deliver, funded through Golf Australia’s participation investment. Clubs receive national marketing, technology platforms, registration systems, coaching resources, insurance and operational support at no additional cost. The opportunity ahead Golf participation has grown by 1.3 million adults since 2022. A further 2.4 million Australians say they want to take up the game in the next year, more than half of them women. To every club, PGA Professional and program deliverer who contributed to this record-breaking year, thank you. You are the reason more Australians are discovering this game, and the reason they are staying. If your club isn’t yet running MyGolf or Get Into Golf, there has never been a better time to start. To find a program near you or to learn more about delivering programs at your venue, visit GOLF.com.au/mygolf and GOLF.com.au/get-into-golf. Australians, young and old, are ‘getting into golf’ as a result of the Golf Australia programs. MyGolf powered by Ripper GC, is enjoying record registration numbers.
August 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au AMATEUR GOLF 14 Cam Smith Scholarship recipients announced TWO of Australia’s most promising junior amateurs, Spencer Harrison and Jackson Leonard, have been named recipients of the 2026 Cameron Smith Scholarship, continuing one of Australian golf’s most valuable High Performance development opportunities. Established in 2016 by the 2022 Open champion, the scholarship reflects Smith’s ongoing commitment to supporting the next generation of Australian talent. Smith created the initiative to give emerging players a firsthand look at life inside an elite professional golf environment, with the scholarship developing a strong reputation as a pathway for future stars. Previous recipients included 2024 BMW Australian PGA champion Elvis Smylie, 2023 New Zealand PGA champion Louis Dobbelaar and 2026 Australian Amateur champion Billy Dowling. As part of the scholarship, Harrison and Leonard will spend a week at Smith’s home in Florida, where they will train, practise and experience the day-to-day life of a touring professional. The pair will also travel with Smith to LIV Golf New York at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, spending time with the Ripper GC team, including Smith, Lucas Herbert, Marc Leishman and 2019 scholarship recipient Smylie. They will also visit Golf Australia’s new US base in Jacksonville and practise alongside Smith at Glen Kernan Golf & Country Club. Western Australia’s Harrison enjoyed a breakout 2025 campaign, recording 10 top-10 finishes from 13 World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) events in Australia and a tied-ninth result at the Junior PGA Championship in the United States. The 17-year-old Royal Perth Golf Club member has carried that form into 2026, producing a top-10 finish at the WA Amateur and a tied-22nd result on debut at the Australian Amateur Championship. Leonard, from South Australia’s Glenelg Golf Club, claimed his breakthrough victory at the 2025 Queenslander Takis soars to 16 in world amateur rankings BRISBANE star Harry Takis joined the top bracket of world amateur golfers when he helped Team International claim a one-point victory over the United States at the Arnold Palmer Cup in Ireland last month. Played at the Tralee Golf Links in Ireland, the Arnold Palmer Cup brings together the world’s top collegiate golfers, with a mixed United States team taking on a mixed International team. Takis was the only Australian selected in the 12-man, 12-woman International team, and performed with distinction. He teamed with Spain’s Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio for a 3&2 victory in the mixed fourball, before losing 2-down in the following day’s foursomes when he partnered New Zealand champion Zack Swanwick. Takis and Fernandez GarciaPoggio reunited for Sunday’s mixed foursomes, which they won 4&2, before he capped his week with a convincing 4&3 singles win over world No 32 William Walsh. Played across four days in four formats, Team International edged the United States 30.5-29.5 to successfully defend the title they won in 2025. It added to an outstanding year for Takis, who is now ranked 16 in World Amateur Golf Rankings. South Australian Jackson Leonard. Queenslander Harry Takis has climbed to a career-high on the World Amateur Golf Rankings. Now in his sophomore year with the San Diego State Aztecs, Takis was recently named a 2026 NCAA Division 1 First-Team AllAmerican, recognising the nation’s top collegiate golfers across the 2025-26 season. He became just the sixth FirstTeam All-American in SDSU history and the program’s first since 1983. Takis also owns the lowest scoring average in recorded program history (since 1993-94) at 70.34 across 62 rounds and is currently ranked sixth in the NCAA Division 1 rankings. – PETER OWEN South Australian Junior Masters, securing his first WAGR title, while taking another step forward in 2026, highlighted by an impressive tied-seventh finish on debut at the Australian Amateur Championship and a runner-up finish at the Singapore Junior Golf Championship. Golf Australia High Performance Director Matt Cutler said the scholarship continues to play a vital role in developing Australia’s next generation of elite golfers. “For Spencer and Jackson, the opportunity to spend a week training, practising and competing alongside one of the world’s best players is invaluable. “To then experience life inside the Ripper GC environment at LIV New York is something they will remember for a very long time.” Western Australian Spencer Harrison. Boutique over-50s resort living. 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