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October 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au THE FIRST TEE 5 And just on Scottie I’m a Scottie Scheffler fan. At the top of his game, his control of the golf ball, and his ability to close out a tournament when he gets his nose in front on a Sunday, is something special. And who doesn’t like watching the best, be the best. Sure, he could play with a little more emotion, have perhaps a touch more charisma to go with his elite skills, but his consistency is off the charts, very rarely does he have an off week and his ability unquestioned. However. if there is one bone to pick with Scottie, it is to question his desire to ‘grow the game’ as they say, to spread his wings and take his talents to a wider audience, to play all around the world like many of his predecessors did back in the day. Again, as the PGA Tour season winds down, so does Scheffler’s schedule, with no chatter or speculation at all about him playing away from home. Annually he packs his TaylorMade’s away for the northern hemisphere winter and re-emerges on the US west coast or in Hawaii sometime in the New Year. He justifies his reluctance to travel to wanting to spend more time with family and his two young children, which we sort of understand, but where would the game of golf be today if the legends of the past had done the same. Would we talk about Jack Nicklaus the way we do, rate him as the greatest golfer that ever was, if he had played sixseven months of the year in the US, then knocked around the house with his five kids the rest of the time? Gary Player, with seven Australian Open’s to his credit, would the game of golf be as global as it currently is without his efforts to spread his talents and take his game to the earth’s four corners during his prime? Arnold Palmer was another to play away from the US, while someone of my vintage remembers when Nick Faldo, US Open champs Curtis Strange and Payne Stewart, Seve Ballesteros, Tom Watson and other big names visited our shores to contest our biggest tournaments. Tiger came as well, playing two Australian Open’s and an Australian Masters, while Jordan Speith, who is reportedly considering teeing it up at Kingston Heath later this year, would win the Masters and US Open in 2015 after taking out our national championship in 2014. Now we celebrate the appearance of Rory McIlroy, and rightly so due to the worldwide attention and recognition he brings to the Australian Open and we appreciate Rory for that. C’mon Scottie, pay us a visit and show us what you’ve got. Bring the kids, yes, it’s a long flight but it’s not so tough sitting up the front of the plane and there’s plenty to do away from the course once you get here. Australian golf fans would love to see you. Americans beware! Is the rest of the world catching up? THE United States in the eyes of many, especially those carrying an American passport, is the centre of the golfing universe. The US PGA TOUR, now even more so with the demise of LIV, is the most financially lucrative place to play for professional golfers. Rightly or wrongly, (that’s a debate for another time) three of the four majors are played on US soil, and the majority of those ranked amongst the top 10, 50, 100, at least amongst the men, are American. Nelly Korda is the women’s number one, although that said she has a long line of Asian born challengers not far behind. However, is the tide turning and the power base in world golf shifting?? The major champions in 2026 were Irish, English and a New Zealander, only Wyndham Clark with his win at the US Open was American. After Nelly claimed the first two women’s majors, Korean Haeran Ryu won the next two and Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki the AIG Women’s Open Championship. On the LIV Tour, while Bryson DeChambeau has had his moments, a Spaniard Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann from Chile were the dominant players. And of late, when it comes to team competitions, the Americans have also had a tough time of it. Last year the Europeans turned the tables and recorded a memorable victory in the Ryder Cup, making it even more special, the win came away from home. Attracting less headlines was the recent Walker Cup, an amateur team competition matching the US against players from Great Britain and Ireland. With those from continental Europe not eligible to add strength and depth to the GB & I squad, the Americans have dominated, winning 40 out of the 51 times the event has been contested since 1922. This time around, with some inspirational play on the final day at Lahinch Golf Club in County Clare, Ireland, it was team GB & I scoring a 13½–12½ victory. And then there was the Solheim Cup, the women’s equivalent of the Ryder Cup. Before this year, it was 11 wins to seven (with one tie) in favour of the US, but it was Team Europe with a 15 points to 13 triumph in the Netherlands. With deadlines the way they are, you will know the result before reading this, but is this the year the Internationals upstage their heavily favoured opponents? Maybe, maybe not, but irrespective of the result, Americans beware, as the rest of the world is catching up. 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: Lucas Herbert. Pic courtesy of LIV Golf Media 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 LEARN MORE
FIVE past NSW Senior Open champions have locked in their entries, headlining a field that also includes Peter Senior and multipletime PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit champion Andre Stolz, as the event marks its eighth staging at Thurgoona Golf & Country Club Resort from October 30 to November 1. David McKenzie (2024), Adam Henwood (2023), Brad Burns (2020), Michael Long (2019) and Grant Kenny (2018) are all confirmed in the field for the $150,000, 54hole tournament. They will be joined by Peter O’Malley, a three-time European Tour winner and five-time winner on the PGA Tour of Australasia, and Brendan Jones, a 15-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour with two Asian Tour titles to his name. “The Albury-Wodonga community and the Liverpool Catholic Club have supported this event from day one, and that loyalty means everything to us,” said Golf NSW Chief Operating Officer Graeme Phillipson. “Thurgoona has been the home of the NSW Senior Open since the beginning, and with good reason. The players love it, the crowds keep coming back, and the whole region gets behind it.” The Thurgoona course, designed by Peter Thomson and Mike Wolveridge, stretches to 6,372 metres and plays to a par of 72. Earlier in the month, Australian golfing greats including Senior and Peter Lonard were to be a part of a star-studded field for the return of the Australian Senior Open at City Golf Club in Toowoomba. Back on the schedule for the first time since 2012, the Australian Senior Open tees off from October 2-4. A two-time Australian Open champion, Lonard brings an outstanding resume to Toowoomba, one that includes a PGA Tour victory, three Australian PGA titles, two Australian Open titles and two Australian Masters wins. Senior, the winner of 67 titles worldwide, is a two-time Australian Open, three-time Australian PGA and three-time Australian Masters champion, while he will be returning to the Australian Senior Open championship which he won in 2010 at Royal Perth Golf Club. October 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au 6 INSIDE NEWS INSIDE NEWS IN THIS ISSUE COVER STORY 7 News, views and observations from around the golfing world With Inside Golf Editor Rob Willis rob@insidegolf.com.au AMATEUR GOLF 18 INDUSTRY NEWS 20 GOLF AUSTRALIA 27 CLUB NEWS 28 LETTERS 40 BUNKER-TOBUNKER 41 LIFESTYLE FEATURE 42 TRAVEL 47 FASHION FEATURE 58 GEAR 62 WE TRIED IT 63 INSTRUCTION 64 65 EVENTS 66 19TH HOLE DEMO DAYS 68 GOLF DIRECTORY 69 Armstrong the champ, but rugby league’s Luai steals the show CANBERRAN Josh Armstrong put years of near misses behind him when he earned the first Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia win of his career with a victory at the 2026 PNG Open. Armstrong survived a tumultuous final day at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club to win by two shots, but it was NRL star and avid golfer Jarome Luai who attracted the majority of the media interest without even hitting a shot. Recently announced as the star signing for the PNG Chiefs, a new franchise set to enter the NRL competition in 2028, Luai stood with PNG Prime Minister James Marape as Armstrong was presented the trophy. As good as Armstrong’s play was over the four days, he was always going to struggle to upstage the appearance of Luai, in a country where rugby league is almost a religion and is recognised as the national sport. But before Luai became the centre of attention, the 27-year-old Armstrong, who had accrued six previous top-five finishes, the best of which was a tie for third at the Heritage Classic in April, impressed with four solid rounds of golf in challenging conditions. His last day score of 3-under par 69, for a 14-under par total, saw Armstrong hold off joint runners-up Louis Dobbelaar and Lachlan Aylen “I don’t even know what to say. It probably won’t be until I get back to the hotel or probably even later that it’ll sink in properly,” said Armstrong of finally breaking through. “Everyone works to win golf tournaments and I’ve been knocking on the door lately, so it’s nice to finally do it.” Armstrong can now look forward to the BMW Australian PGA Championship and the Capital.com Australian Open after assuming No.1 spot on the Order of Merit. Lunson’s star continues to shine NRL star Jarome Luai, PNG Prime Minister James Marape and PNG Open champ Josh Armstrong. Tasmanian Jonty Lunson is a young star on the rise. NSW Senior Open turns eight, and the Australian Senior Open is back HE featured on the pages of Inside Golf’s September edition, with Peter Owen detailing the rise of Tasmanian Jonty Lunson. The 19-year-old burst onto the scene by placing inside the top six in seven world amateur golf ranking (WAGR) events, including a fourth at the Australian Amateur. And that form has well and truly continued, with Lunson, from the Devonport Golf Club, taking out the Queensland Amateur Championship in late August in a thrilling final played at the Beerwah Golf Club. Four down early against local hope Harrison Gomez, the pair were all squad at the 18th, with Lunson prevailing on the 21st hole to seal the comeback and continue his red-hot form. The month prior Lunson won the Singapore Open Amateur Championship for his first WAGR title, finished third at the Pacific Harbour Amateur before securing the Queensland Amateur and his second WAGR victory. In the Women’s Queensland Amateur Championship, local Grace Rho secured her long-awaited home-state title after coming agonisingly close in each of the past two years, where she fell in the semi-finals on both occasions. The Royal Queensland Golf Club member entered the match play as the second seed, before beating top seed Rachel Lee in the 18-hole championship final. Lee had claimed the Queensland Stroke Play earlier in the week. In a back-and-forth battle between two of Australia’s leading women’s amateurs, Rho won the final hole to secure the win. It was the fifth career World Amateur Golf Ranking victory for Rho. Australian golfing legend Peter Senior will contest both the NSW Senior Open and Australian Senior Open in October.
October 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 7 The rise and rise of Lucas Herbert LUCAS Herbert had lost his touch, and some of his confidence, when he called on his Queensland-based coach Dom Azzopardi to fly to the US in April for some one-on-one attention. Herbert, a multiple winner on the DP World Tour and a US PGA Tour winner before joining LIV, had started the 2026 LIV season well – top 10s in Riyadh, Adelaide and Hong Kong. But he’d missed out in his next three LIV starts and was keen to get his game back on track before the majors came around. Azzopardi is not the sort of coach to disclose anything he said to any of his stable of players – certainly not to a golfer of Herbert’s stature. Rather, he prefers to explain what happened next as a natural progression, something that comes with maturity and experience, the culmination of a decade or more of hard work. Whatever the reason, from that moment on Lucas Herbert’s game soared. So much so that, right now, he’s clearly Australia’s best player – arguably one of the best in the world. And, at 30, he’s really just getting started. By Peter Owen At his next appearance after that week with Azzopardi, Herbert won the LIV Tour’s Virginia event, played at the Trump National Golf Club in Washington. Herbert set up the victory with extraordinary opening rounds of 64 and 63, before weekend scores of 68 and 69 rewarded him with a fourstroke victory over Sergio Garcia. That victory earned him a start in the US Open at Shinnecock Hills. He missed the cut there, but a fortnight earlier he had notched up another top 10 on the LIV Tour – this time in South Korea. Herbert’s strong form in Australia last summer had gained him an entry into the Open at Royal Birkdale in July. After a solid opening round of par 70, the young Australian played a magnificent Friday round – an eight-under-par 62 that tied the best round ever recorded in a major golf tournament. Weekend rounds of one-over 71 saw him finish tied sixth – his best performance in a major, to be sure, but one that left him just a little disappointed. That was a feeling that lasted only a few days. The following weekend he completed an astonishing performance – shooting rounds of 61, 66, 69 and 62 for an emphatic six-stroke victory in the LIV Golf UK event at JCB Golf and Country Club in England. Along the way he set a course record, recorded the lowest winning score in LIV Golf history (30 under), and collected the most birdies and eagles (30 birdies and two eagles) in any LIV tournament. Even his opponents were left open-mouthed. “Just invincible,” said Bryson DeChambeau, who played with him in the final round. “I beat fourth place by four shots and Lucas beat top 5 by 16 shots. I don’t think that’s ever been done in golf history. It was quite amazing.” A modest Herbert said after his victory: “Last week (the Open) gave me a lot of confidence that I can mix it with the best guys. It was one of those weeks, just when you needed a good break. I played great this week, but also, I got a lot of good breaks, which is really nice. It’s good to take advantage of those when they come.” With his UK win, Herbert joined DeChambeau and points leader Jon Rahm as two-time LIV winners in 2026. Back home on the Sunshine Coast, where he operates teaching academies at Peregian Springs and nearby Noosa Springs, Dom Azzopardi was equally measured about his star pupil’s exceptional form. “He’s at an age now where he’s really matured,” Azzopardi said. “He’s got great teammates in his (Ripper) team, and he loves the team environment. He’s worked very hard for a long time and it’s really paying off.” But even Azzopardi was stunned by the excellence of his win at JPC. “Thirty under par,” he said. “They couldn’t get near him. He’s certainly the in-form Aussie.” Azzopardi was equally pleased that, despite the limited opportunities for world ranking points for LIV golfers, Herbert’s form had seen him reach the top 50 – a mark that would get him starts in next year’s majors, including the US Masters. “The events he plays for the rest of this year will be aimed at giving him the best opportunity to retain that top 50 ranking,” he said. Herbert will be back for the Australian summer, with his eyes on the Australian Open, Australian PGA Championship, as well as some of the smaller events. “Lucas is really proud of what he’s done to give back to the game in Australia,” Azzopardi said. Lucas Herbert returns home for the Australian golfing summer following a successful 2026 campaign. Meet ALIGN MAXTM. The newest ALIGN® Technology pushes our raised ridge to the limit to help golfers’ hands stay locked in for more consistency throughout the swing. Available in MCC® & MCC Plus4TM Standard, Midsize & Jumbo. LEARN MORE
October 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au BMW AUSTRALIAN PGA 8 THE BMW Australian PGA Championship, an event which returns to Sydney for the first time in 28 years, will feature a field headlined by Australia’s leading professionals. Led by Lucas Herbert, on the back of a year which included two wins on the LIV Tour and a top10 at the Open Championship, the ageless Adam Scott who continues to be a major force on the international scene, Min Woo Lee, Australia’s highest ranked player, along with 2022 Open champ Cam Smith and the 2024 BMW Australian PGA winner Elvis Smylie and it’s an impressive list of big-name Aussies already confirmed. Former Australian Open champion Cam Davis, Canadian Corey Conners, Spain’s Josele Ballester and Presidents Cup International Team captain Geoff Ogilvy add even more depth to the tournament which is jointsanctioned with the DP World Tour. Then throw in a crop of hungry European’s looking to kickstart their 2027 seasons and the BMW Australian PGA Championship, teeing off from November 26-29, promises to deliver a memorable week of golf at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney. However, while all the high profile competitors will be keen to add to another significant title to their resumes, the win by Smylie, who captured the biggest victory of his professional career at the 2024 championship, shows just what is possible for the local line up of young guns if they can step up and have their names engraved on the Joe Kirkwood Cup at the end of the week. Smylie, who since his win at Royal Queensland two years ago has enjoyed a rapid rise, winning both individual and team titles with Ripper GC on LIV Golf in 2026, returns to the championship where he first made his name. “I’ve got some incredible memories from winning the BMW Australian PGA Championship. It’s a tournament BMW AUSTRALIAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP | THE LAKES GOLF CLUB | NOVEMBER 26-29 that will always mean a lot to me,” said Smylie. “Winning in 2024 was a huge moment in my career. It gave me real belief that I could compete against some of the best players in the world and opened the door to the DP World Tour plus some major championships. “To come back and play in front of Australian fans is going to be a great way to end the year.” Sidelined with a rib injury throughout much of 2026, Smylie was set to make his comeback to tournament golf in another BMW-sponsored event, at the DP World Tour’s BMW PGA Championship, played at the Wentworth Golf Club in England in mid-September. Elvis, Lucas, Cam and Cam, Min Woo and Scotty, along with a strong supporting cast, and Sydney golf fans, who have waited a long time for the PGA Championship to return, are in for a special golfing treat. BMW PGA to get the party started! THE signature Party Hole has found an exciting new location for the 2026 BMW Australian PGA Championship, bringing Dabble’s on-app community experience to life once again. A feature of the tournament when held at Royal Queensland the past two years, this year’s Dabble Party Hole will be the 176m, par-3 15th at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney, a hole – ‘Where Parties Are Made’ – with the BMW Australian PGA aiming to creating more unforgettable highlights and experiences, in front of sellout crowds. Bringing music, entertainment and world-class golf together, the Dabble Party Hole will be a focal point of the championship’s renowned vibrant, family friendly atmosphere. Tickets are on sale to the Dabble Party Hole’s hospitality experiences which will provide the best vantage points to get close to the action. “Our Dabble Party Hole has quickly become one of the most exciting, and fun, experiences in Australian golf and the move to the 15th hole at The Lakes will give us a fantastic new setting,” said Antonia Beggs, PGA of Australia General Manager, Major Events and Operations. “A Party Hole like this one isn’t something Sydney has seen before and we can’t wait to pack it out with fans enjoying the atmosphere and being almost in the middle of the action.” The Dabble Party Hole offers two hospitality experiences, the premium Champions Lounge and the Champions Deck, with both boasting great views, a buzzing atmosphere, live DJ entertainment, and the excitement of players taking on one of the most talked-about holes on the course. It was ‘party time’ for Spain’s David Puig, winner of the BMW Australian PGA Championship in 2025. Elvis Smylie kickstarted his international career with his victory at the 2024 Australian PGA Championship. Aussie big guns locked in for The Lakes
October 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 9 BMW’s global footprint in professional golf AS a premium partner and title sponsor across the world’s most prestigious tours and golfing championships, BMW maintains a powerful global footprint in professional golf. BMW’s portfolio is anchored by major events including the BMW Championship on the US PGA Tour, the second to last event of the FedEx Cup playoffs, the flagship BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on the DP World Tour, the BMW International Open in Munich, and the BMW Ladies Championship on the LPGA Tour. While in recent years, the luxury automaker has expanded into the Southern Hemisphere, with Australian Queenstown to host BMW Golf Cup National Final AN event with around 100,000 participants, from over 50 countries competing worldwide, the BMW Golf Cup is recognised as the largest tournament series for amateur golfers. Countries all over the world, including Australia, hold local tournaments organised by BMW Dealerships, where players can qualify for the BMW Golf Cup National Final. And those lucky, or good, enough to have won their way to the National Finals for Australia & New Zealand, in both men’s and women’s divisions, are now well into preparations for the tournament which tees off from October 12-15. A total of 40 male competitors will play at the highly acclaimed and spectacular Jack’s Point course, 40 women to play at Millbrook Resort’s Coronet 18, with the winners in the respective divisions to then qualify and move on to the BMW Golf Cup World Final, Competitors at the National Final will be staying at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown, New Zealand, with a tournament briefing, welcome function and practice round on day one, before the National Final tournament round and Awards Dinner the following day. Category winners then progress to represent Australia or New Zealand at the BMW Golf Cup World Final, to again be played in South Africa early next year. The BMW Golf Cup World Final for the 2025/2026 season took place back in March 2026, at the Fancourt Golf Resort in George, South Africa, where Team Mexico claimed the overall team title. Since 1982 more than 800 qualifying tournaments per year have been played all over the world to determine the world finalists, with BMW selecting a unique venue for the BMW Golf Cup World Final. There are a number of eligibility criteria for participation in the BMW Golf Cup tournament series, the first being that all participants must be current BMW owners. Sandra Wang, Scott Sibson and John Palombo won their way through to the World Final last year, with all three describing the event as a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience. golf and the PGA Tour of Australasia a major beneficiary. In 2022 BMW became the first joint major partner to span the entire Australian golf ecosystem signing a landmark multiyear deal simultaneously with all three national governing bodies - Golf Australia, the PGA of Australia, and the WPGA Tour of Australasia – a partnership which saw BMW align itself with every tier of the sport under the collective ‘Australian Golf’ banner. However, the crown jewel of BMW’s presence is its title sponsorship of the BMW Australian PGA Championship, this year scheduled to be played at Sydney’s The Lakes Golf Club, with BMW continuing their involvement after becoming namingrights partner in 2024. An event pitting top homegrown heroes against elite international contenders, the BMW Australian PGA represented their first major golf title sponsorship in the Southern Hemisphere. This comprehensive alignment positions BMW as the official automotive partner across a wide array of prominent domestic tournaments, including the Australian Open, the Australian WPGA Championship, the Vic Open, the Webex Players Series, as well as the BMW Australian PGA Championship. The collaboration extends beyond vehicle fleets, embedding the brand across digital platforms, broadcast assets, and community programs nationwide. BMW’s commitment to the region is further personified through a star-studded roster of Australian brand ambassadors BMW brand ambassador and 2024 BMW Australian PGA champion Elvis Smylie tees off at the 2025 championship at Royal Queensland. in nurturing elite talent and grassroots, highlighted by direct sponsorships with Australia’s finest golfing exports and rising stars, including major champion Minjee Lee, PGA TOUR powerhouse Min Woo Lee, LPGA Tour winner Grace Kim, and 2024 BMW Australian PGA champion Elvis Smylie. Simultaneously, the brand maintains a strong connection to amateur players through the local legs of the BMW Golf Cup, the world’s largest international tournament series for amateur golfers, an event giving everyday Australian players a direct pathway to compete on a global stage. Through this multi-tiered structure, BMW successfully bridges the gap between elite international exposure and deep local engagement. Daniel Gale became the proud owner of a BMW M5 Touring following his hole-in-one at the 2025 BMW Australian PGA Championship. ROYAL FAIRWAYS THAILAND GOLF TOUR 13 NIGHTS | 8 GAMES Discover a 14-day luxury golf journey through Thailand, combining premium city stays in Bangkok with a relaxing coastal escape in Hua Hin. Play at some of Thailand’s most prestigious courses including The Royal Gems City Golf Club, Alpine Golf Club Bangkok, Nikanti Golf Club, Pineapple Golf Club, Black Mountain Golf Club, Springfield Royal Country Club, and Palm Hills Golf Club and Residence. The itinerary also includes private transfers, daily breakfast, sightseeing at Phra Nakhon Khiri Palace, boutique accommodation, and leisure time to explore Hua Hin’s beaches, cafés, and markets. Experience South Africa through a beautifully curated 14-night hosted journey combining championship golf, safari at Kruger, premium Cape Town and Winelands stays, and a finale on the Garden Route. The tour visits Johannesburg, Southern Kruger (Lukimbi Safari Lodge with a round at Leopard Creek), Cape Town (with Table Mountain and Cape Peninsula sightseeing), Franschhoek and the Cape Winelands (with rounds at Erinvale and Pearl Valley), and finishes at Fancourt on the Garden Route with rounds at Pinnacle Point, Fancourt Montagu and The Links. Includes safari, whalewatching at Hermanus, premium dining, wine tasting, and all internal transfers and domestic flights. Tour Highlights • Kruger National Park Game Drive • Leopard Creek Golf Course • Cape Town City & Table Mountain Tour • Seal island cruise, Chapmans Peak • Pearl Valley Golf Course • Cape Winelands • Arabella Golf Course • Montagu Golf Course • Pinnacle Point Golf Course • Links Golf Course • Erinvale Golf Course • Watching tour and tours for the non golfers • Private Transfers ... And much much more!!! 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 $15,495 PP* FROM AUD $5,095 PP* TEE-OFF IN AFRICA 15 NIGHTS | 7 GAMES 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.
October 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 10 Spieth in the sights of Aus Open organisers AUSTRALIAN Open boss Antonia Beggs was instrumental in securing Rory McIlroy to commit to playing in Australia because of her previous relationship with McIlroy’s management team through her previous involvement in the Ryder Cup. The Northern Irishman led a resurgence of local gallery numbers not seen in 20 years at Royal Melbourne last year. Now Beggs has American Jordon Spieth in her sights for this year’s Open at Kingston Heath. Spieth, a three-time major championship winner is believed to be within a whisker of signing a deal to come to here for our national championship. But there was no official announcement at the time of going to press. The other two top players in the sights or Australian tournament officials are thought to be Xander Schauffle and Colin Morikawa. In an ideal world all three would come to Australia to play both the Australian Open and PGA championships. With time running out, the most likely scenario is that just Spieth will be here for the Australian Open. The American will be a wonderful addition to the field at the Heath and he loves coming to Australia. Michael Davis michael.davis@insidegolf.com.au A tragic loss – Vale Jessica Bang IT may have been just a NSW country proam . . . but it signalled the start of what shaped as a stellar career. And no-one could have predicted the tragic end to such a promising golf talent in Jessica Bang. Yet the loss of Bang was such a terrible loss of someone who was just beginning to make her mark in golf. Bang died in August after suffering a brain haemorrhage after she looked to have the golf world at her feet. She was just 18. Bang collapsed and was rushed to hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. The WPGA Tour of Australasia made the sad announcement of Bang’s death: “The WPGA Tour of Australasia and the broader Australian golf community is deeply saddened by the passing of young Tour member Jessica Bang in Thailand,” said the statement. “The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the WPGA Tour of Australasia and the broader Australian golf community are with Jessica’s family, friends and all those who knew and loved her at this incredibly difficult time.” Bang was in Thailand preparing to play in the International Qualifying Tournament for the Korean Women’s Professional Tour. But she had begun to make her mark in tournament golf and in just her fifth professional start, she won her first tournament in February, the Women’s NSW Open Regional Qualifying Event at Moss Vale. Bang won by five shots, which included an eight-under-par final round of 65, which set a new course record at Moss Vale Golf Club. Michael Court michael@insidegolf.com.au Her family said they wanted Bang to be remembered not only for her accomplishments on the golf course, but also for her cheerful personality, sense of humour, passion and dedication. “We are truly heartbroken by this news,” wrote Bang’s cousins in a note to express their gratitude for the overwhelming support shown to Jessica and her family. SAD LOSS: Following an impressive win at Moss Vale earlier this year, Jessica Bang had the golfing world at her feet. At the peak of his powers – he won his first major very early in his career - Spieth lifted the Stonehaven winner’s Cup at Royal Sydney following a three-hole playoff with Australians Cameron Smith and Ashley Hall. The prospect of Spieth going head-to-head with Rory McIlroy at the superbly presented, world class Kingston Heath layout will add another exciting layer to our national championship. Spieth won his first major – the Masters at Augusta - when he was 19. He shot 18-under to equal the record winning score of Tiger Woods in 1997. Two years later he won the US Open aged 21 to sit alongside Bobby Jones as the two youngest winners of championship. The legendary Jones won the US Open in 1923. Spieth won his third major at the 2017 Open Championship before a form slump followed. He did not win another professional tournament for four years. He has won 13 times on the PGA TOUR. Spieth would be a strong chance to play in the Australian PGA Championship at the Lakes in Sydney the week before the Australian Open, if he commits to teeing it up at Kingston Heath a week later. Jordan Spieth, a former Australian Open champ, is being targeted for the 2026 championship at Kingston Heath.
/mgigolf mgigolf.com
October 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 12 Golf’s No 1s: Norman, Scott and Day among the greats WHEN the Official World Golf Ranking was launched in 1986, few people would have predicted the role Australia would go on to play at the summit of world golf. But Australia has always punched well above its weight against the traditional powerhouses of the men’s game – particularly the United States, Europe and South Africa. Since the ranking was introduced, just 25 golfers world-wide have occupied the coveted position of world No. 1. That exclusive club includes some of the greatest names in golf, but there are also some conspicuous absences. Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino – legends who dominated golf before the modern ranking system existed – never officially held the world No. 1 ranking. David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au The first man to do so was Germany’s Bernhard Langer, who occupied the position for three weeks when the inaugural ranking was published on April 6, 1986. Since then, the crown has changed hands almost 100 times. At the very top of the list sits one name that is unlikely ever to be displaced from golf’s record books – Tiger Woods. Woods spent an extraordinary 683 weeks as world No. 1 – more than twice as long as anyone else. He also holds the record for the longest uninterrupted reign, spending 281 consecutive weeks at the summit. And at No. 2 is Greg Norman. The Great White Shark accumulated 331 weeks at No. 1, a record that stood as the benchmark for much of the 1990s and remains one of the most remarkable achievements in Australian sporting history. Norman’s reign was part of a fascinating era. First, he and Ballesteros swapped No. 1 places regularly before the Shark and Nick Faldo did the same before Tiger eventually began to dominate the sport. For Australia, however, Norman was not a one-off. Two more Aussies reached the top – Adam Scott, who spent 11 weeks as world No. 1 and Jason Day, who held the position for 51 weeks. That’s not too shabby. Three Aussies among the 25 golfers who have ever reached No. 1 is quite remarkable, but unsurprising when you consider Australia’s sporting prowess. Cameron Smith came tantalisingly close to becoming Australia’s fourth. He reached No. 2 in the world before his move to LIV Golf, leaving him just one step short of joining the most exclusive club in golf. And then there is the man currently rewriting the modern record book. Scottie Scheffler has emerged as the dominant force of his generation. As of September 25, 2026, the American has accumulated 210 weeks at No. 1 and remains firmly entrenched at the top of the rankings. Scheffler’s trajectory is already extraordinary. He is climbing a leaderboard populated by Woods, Norman, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Faldo – names that defined entire eras of professional golf. The question is no longer whether Scheffler belongs among the greats. It is how far up that list he can climb. Norman’s 331 weeks are now within sight over the longer term, while Woods’ seemingly untouchable 683-week record remains the ultimate mountain. But Scheffler has one crucial advantage that many of his predecessors did not – time. At 30, he has already established a sustained period of dominance and continues to occupy the world’s No. 1 ranking. If his extraordinary consistency continues, Norman’s 331 weeks as No.1 could eventually come under serious threat. Woods, however, is another matter entirely. For now, the 683-week mark remains one of sport’s great statistics. Rank Country Weeks Majors Players Top player First player Latest player 1 *USA 1137 34 9 Tiger Woods Fred Couples Scottie Scheffler 2 Australia 393 4 3 Greg Norman Greg Norman Jason Day 3 England 188 7 4 Nick Faldo Nick Faldo Justin Rose 4 N. Ireland 122 6 1 Rory McIlroy 5 Spain 113 7 2 Seve Ballesteros Seve Ballesteros Jon Rahm 6 Wales 50 1 1 Ian Woosnam 7 Zimbabwe 44 3 1 Nick Price 8 Fiji 32 3 1 Vijay Singh 9 Germany 11 4 2 Martin Kaymer Bernhard Langer Martin Kaymer 10 South Africa 9 1 1 Ernie Els Weeks at No.1 by country *Country with the current No.1 player at the time of going to press. Adam Scott, one of only three Australians to hold the top spot on the Official World Golf Rankings list. Greg Norman, the Great White Shark, held the world No 1 ranking for 331 weeks.
October 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 13 With a victory at the FedEx Cup, Scottie Scheffler is not only world No 1, but undisputed as the best player of the current era. Tiger Woods, with 683 weeks as world No 1, has set a record that will certainly take some catching. *Current streak **The rankings were frozen during the Covid-19 pandemic. Rankings were produced on March 15, 2020 and restarted on June 14, 2020. No rankings were produced for the 12 weeks between these dates and so Rory McIlroy’s total weeks at number one do not include these 12 weeks. Player Weeks No. 1 Tiger Woods (USA) 683 Greg Norman (Aus) 331 *Scottie Scheffler (USA) 210 Dustin Johnson (USA) 139 **Rory McIlroy (N Ire) 122 Nick Faldo (Eng) 97 Seve Ballesteros (Spain) 61 Luke Donald (Eng) 56 Jon Rahm (Spain) 52 Jason Day (Aus) 51 Ian Woosnam (Wales) 50 Brooks Koepka (USA) 47 Nick Price (Zim) 44 Vijay Singh (Fiji) 33 Jordan Spieth (USA) 26 Lee Westwood (Eng) 22 Fred Couples (USA) 16 David Duval (USA) 15 Justin Rose (Eng) 13 Adam Scott (Aus) 11 Ernie Els (S Africa) 9 Martin Kaymer (Ger) 8 Justin Thomas (USA) 5 Bernhard Langer (Ger) 3 Tom Lehman (USA) 1 GOLF’S EXCLUSIVE NO. 1 CLUB HE has owned the number one ranking since taking over at the top on May 21, 2023, and after claiming the FedEx Cup crown last month Scottie Scheffler shows no signs of slowing down or of relinquishing the title as golf’s best player. At the time of writing, Scheffler had held the No 1 ranking for 177 consecutive weeks, for a total of 210 weeks spent at the golfing summit. His run is one of the longest consecutive stretches at No.1 in OWGR history, trailing only Tiger Woods who recorded consecutive streaks of 281 and 264 weeks. Scheffler came from behind in the final round to beat Viktor Hovland at the FedEx Cup finale in Atlanta, for what was his second victory at the PGA TOUR’s richest event. Starting the last day three strokes behind, Scheffler’s 66 at the East Lake course was good enough to beat his Norwegian rival by three shots. Undisputed: Scheffler still tops after claiming the 2026 FedEx Cup It was Scheffler’s third win this year - two of those coming during the FedEx Cup playoff events – a total which matched Chris Gotterup, Matt Fitzpatrick and US Open champion Wyndham Clark for most tournament victories in 2026. It was also his 22nd PGA TOUR title and Scheffler’s 25th professional victory worldwide, including the Olympic gold medal won in Paris two years ago. In collecting the US$10 million winner’s purse, Scheffler also became the PGA TOUR’s all-time leader in career on-course earnings with about US$130.4 million, ending Woods’ 26year reign. Woods has collected about US$121 million during his career. Woods, however, never played for more than a US$10 million total purse during his peak years from 1997 through 2008 and had been at the top of the career money list for nearly 26 years. Scheffler should also join Woods as the only golfers to be named PGA TOUR Player of the Year five consecutive times when the winner is announced in December. Woods won it every season from 1999 to 2003. – ROB WILLIS
October 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 14 From feeding ducks to coaching stars: Ali’s remarkable journey ALI Orchard’s first memory of a golf course was driving around the fairways of Gympie Golf Club, north of Brisbane, in a buggy with her dad, head professional Paul Orchard, stopping occasionally to feed the ducks. She was four, and far more interested in the wildlife than playing a game that would later become an integral part of her life, and see her become one of Queensland’s most respected golf coaches. “We would pick up pinecones and take them home for the fireplace,” she recalls. “That was really the beginning of my understanding of what a golf course was.” Inevitably, though, Ali became immersed in golf, and began lessons with her father at the age of nine. A year later she received her first official golf handicap – a very friendly mark of 45. A few days later she won a junior competition at Gympie, competing against girls and boys aged up to 17, and was thrilled to see her handicap cut to 44. Young Ali would practice in the mornings, then return to the course after school was finished to play and practice. She became an outstanding junior, representing Queensland 10 times and finishing runner-up in the national championship. When she was 15, Ali left Gympie and moved with her family to the Gold Coast, where Dad Paul had been appointed head professional at Surfers Paradise Golf Club. She attended Robina High School before joining the Queensland Academy of Sport. Ali gained the PGA International Golf Institute’s Diploma of Golf Management and a Bachelor By Peter Owen of Business (Sports Management) degree from Griffith University, where veteran professional Mark Gibson served as a PGA mentor. Under the watchful eye of her father, Ali completed her PGA traineeship in 2015, became the first female to win the Pampling Plate – one of the tournament highlights of Queensland trainees – and began playing professionally around the world. For the next two years she played in Australia, Asia and the United States before realising touring wasn’t for her. “I knew that I’d given it everything and it still wasn’t what I thought it would be,” she said. “I wanted to come home and find something more stable.” She began coaching, firstly at Surfers Paradise, then at McLeod and at Top Golf, before joining Mark Gibson at Royal Pines six years ago. When Gibson decided last year to step back from managing the academy he started 20 years ago, Ali took over what is now known as Ali Orchard Golf Performance. Gibson, a life member of the PGA, continues to coach there along with Nancy Harvey, Craig Chandler and Douglas Chow. “I honestly believe that golf is a game for everyone,” Ali said. “I currently work with all ages and skill levels – including women, men, juniors and elite players.” Ali works with players from the age of three to 94 – from complete beginners to established stars like WPGA touring professional Jordan O’Brien and trainee Liam Cafferkey. “I love coaching,” she said. “It’s good that I can play the shots – playing the game at a high level has certainly helped there – but there’s nothing like the feeling you get from coaching. “I really want to get the best out of everyone, to help them achieve the best things they’re capable of. “My unique skill, I believe, is being able to pass on what I’ve learned about the game of golf in a way that feels easy and fun.” At 69, and a Life Member of the PGA of Australia in his 48th year of service, Gibson has no plans to retire completely. He was, however, ready to hand over the reins to somebody he trusted. “I needed someone who was smart, a good coach, business minded, professional, respected and with a growing profile. Every box she ticked was a no brainer,” said Gibson. Ali has been able to call upon Gibson throughout her career. “He’ll always be a role model or a mentor,” she said. “If I’m questioning something, I’ll just always ask him.” Ali Orchard is enjoying a successful career at her Gold Coast coaching facility.
October 2026 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 15 Burns’ 61 not quite low enough to join ‘age shooters’ club QUEENSLAND veteran Brad Burns needed to birdie just one of his final three holes in the Wolston Park Legends Pro-Am in mid-August to join an elite group of golfers to shoot their age in a professionally sanctioned tournament. Unfortunately, he could do no better than par those last three holes at the Brisbane suburban club. Nevertheless, he signed for a bogey-free round of six-under 61 – good enough for a twostroke win for the reigning PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit winner. Though he maintained he had ‘played great’ and ‘turned in a solid game of golf,’ 60-yearold Burns must have given some thought, during those last few holes, to just how close By Peter Owen he had come to joining the exclusive club of professional ‘age shooters.’ Shooting your age – the holy grail for most golfers getting on in years – means recording a score for an 18-hole round of golf that is equal to, or lower than, the player’s age. For example, a 70-year-old golfer who shoots 70 or better has just ‘shot his age.’ It’s a feat that’s not all that unusual at club level these days, with many talented players maintaining their fitness and form into their twilight years. For instance Bob Trevor, the evergreen 80-year-old from Headland Golf Club on the Sunshine Coast, recently celebrating the 100th time he’d shot his age. That becomes almost run-of-the-mill when you consider the achievement of T. Edison Smith, of Moorhead, Minnesota who, in 2006, set the world record for shooting his age the most times – an almost unbelievable 2,624 times. Smith, a doctor, first shot his age when he was 68. Before he was finished, he matched or beat his age an amazing 3,359 times. For professional golfers competing in sanctioned tournaments, shooting your age is a much more difficult – and infinitely rarer - occurrence. The youngest pro to shoot his age was American Bob Hamilton - a 59-year-old when he matched his age in a minor tournament at Hamilton Golf Club in Evansville, Indiana, in 1975. In his prime, Hamilton had been an excellent player, claiming the PGA Championship at Manito Golf and Country Club in 1944. Hamilton won 10 professional titles, including five on the US PGA Tour, and was a member of the 1949 Ryder Cup team. The golfer who holds the age-shooting record on major professional tours is Walter Morgan, who shot 60 in the 2002 Canada Senior Open, at the age of 61. On the PGA Tour, the record belongs to Sam Snead, who shot a round of 67 at the Quad Cities Open in 1979 when he was 67. Next day he went around in 66, eclipsing his own day-old record. On the pro tours, New Zealand legend Bob Charles holds the record for breaking his age by the greatest number of shots. In 2012, when he was 76, Sir Bob shot 66 in the European Tour’s Senior Open – 10 strokes below his age. The oldest golfer to shoot his age was 103-yearold Canadian Arthur Thompson, of Victoria, British Columbia, who matched his age at the Uplands Golf Country, in Victoria, in 1972. The player who beat his age by the greatest number of strokes was John Powell who, in 2017, shot 64 in the final round of a Southern California PGA section senior tournament at Indian Spring Golf Club in La Quinta, Calif. He was 86 and his round was the equivalent of 22 strokes under his age. And, if that’s not extraordinary enough, in 2012, 71-year-old Bob Kurtz set a record by shooting his age seven times in one day. He was doing a golf marathon to raise money for charity. American Bob Hamilton - at 59, the youngest pro to shoot his age. Brad Burns (centre) shares the stage with sponsors after shooting 61 at Wolston Park. The legendary Sam Snead was a regular ‘age breaker’ on the PGA Tour. *Rebate refers to the trade-in of an old electric golf buggy for $100 discount. See online for details THE sPI RI T Priced from $2,52O FEATURES: Light, compact and will fit into most car boots. A high-tech frame, responsive handling, course-friendly tyres, comfortable seat plus powerful and reliable motors. WALKER & 4 WHEEL MODELS ALSO AVAILABLE View the complete range of Parmaker buggies, walkers and accessories online.
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