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The Australian summer of golf is taking shape with confirmation of the end of season PGA Tour of Australasia schedule.
Following on from the exciting announcement that the Australian PGA Championship will be co-sanctioned by the European Tour, a further five events have set their tournament dates.
“The European Tour heading back to Australian shores for the Australian PGA Championship is an exciting development for golf in this country however it is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Brian Thorburn, CEO of the PGA of Australia.
“We have a very busy schedule of tournaments which will take professional golf to all corners of Australia and the South Pacific to the benefit of sports fans.”
“Every year we witness scintillating action from the world’s best Professionals and the emergence of the brightest young talent, I am sure 2015 will be no different.”
The PGA Tour of Australasia has been on hiatus since a successful start to the 2015 season which saw professionals compete at five tournaments across two countries.
The season is set to relaunch at the Isuzu Queensland Open from 20-23 August at Brookwater Golf and Country Club for a prize purse of $110,000.
This is the third year the tournament has competed on the Greg Norman-designed layout and the tournament has a history of launching its champion’s careers.
In 2013 Nick Cullen won the tournament before going onto win the 2014 Australian Masters. In 2014 Andrew Dodt was victorious, parlaying that into success on the European Tour.
The Tour then heads to Noumea in New Caledonia, for some French-inspired hospitality at the South Pacific Open Championship from 30 September – 3 October.
Played at Tina Golf Course for AU$150,000 the tournament first started as a pro-am and has continued to expand and attract a strong field each year it’s been featured on the PGA Tour of Australasia schedule.
From New Caledonia golf stays in the South Pacific region with the Tour heading to its fourth country of the season, and the happiest place on earth, Fiji!
The Fiji International is again set to wow the world when it is played at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course with the stunning Coral Coast providing a unique backdrop for professional golf.
The tournament is set to attract a star-studded line up to compete for a minimum $1 million in prize money from the 15 – 18 October.
West Australia will then open its golf courses to the PGA Tour of Australasia with Professionals set to spend two weeks competing in the state.
Kalgoorlie Golf Course will first play host from 29 October – 1 November with professionals teeing up on one of the most unique layouts on Tour for the WA Goldfields PGA Championship.
The lush green fairways are in stark juxtaposition to the red earth outback of the Australian desert but the Graham Marsh design is a challenging test for the $110,000 tournament.
From the bush to the seaside, the Nexus Risk Service WA Open will be played at Royal Fremantle Golf Club from 5-8 November, also for $110,000.
Then it’s back to the east coast of Australia for the NSW Open to be played at Stonecutters Ridge from 12-15 November for a minimum prize purse of $110,000.
The Australian Masters will launch the PGA Tour of Australasia’s famed Triple Crown. The first of the big three tournaments on Tour will be played from 19-22 November at Huntingdale Golf Club.
The Emirates Australian Open, to be played at The Australian Golf Club from 26-29 November for AU$1.25 million, is set to attract a strong field with rumours swirling of Jordan Spieth returning to defend his title.
The PGA Tour of Australasia’s richest tournament in 2015, the Australian PGA Championship will welcome the European Tour to RACV Royal Pines Resort from 3-6 December.
In a break from tradition the NSW PGA Championship will be played from 10-13 December and will be the curtain closer to Australia’s summer of golf. Being played at Riverside Oaks Golf Resort on the Bungool layout, Sydney’s newest golf course, there’s a lot on the line for players.
The $110,000 tournament will decide the PGA Tour of Australasia’s Order of Merit whilst also deciding which Tour Professionals will retain their tour cards for the 2016 season.
With 15 tournaments on the PGA Tour of Australasia schedule the 2015 summer of golf is set to be another bumper year.
The Perth International will take on a new slot in the international golf schedule with a move to a date at the start of 2016.
“It has been confirmed that the fourth staging of the Perth International will be scheduled in the first quarter of 2016 with positive negotiations continuing with event owner, IMG, and its stakeholders.”
“We remain optimistic and positive about the continued success of the Perth International and believe the start of season date will work more favourably to attracting a strong field to Western Australia.”
Australian 2015 Summer of Golf events
Date | Tournament | Venue | Prize money |
20-23 August | Isuzu QLD Open | Brookwater Golf & Country Club | $110,000 |
30 September – 3 October | South Pacific Open Championship | Tina Golf Club | $150,000 |
15-18 October | Fiji International | Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course | US$1 million |
29 October – 1 November | WA Goldfields PGA Championship | Kalgoorlie Golf Course | $110,000 |
5-8 November | WA Open | Royal Fremantle Golf Club | $110,000 |
12-15 November | NSW Open | Stonecutters Ridge Golf Club | $100,000min |
19-22 November | Australian Masters | Huntingdale GC | TBC |
26-29 November | Emirates Australian Open | The Australian Golf Club | $1.25million |
3-6 December | Australian PGA Championship | RACV Royal Pines Resort | $1.75million |
10-13 December | NSW PGA Championship | Riverside Oaks Golf Resort | $110,000 |