Australia’s summer of golf is expected to feature former world No.1 Adam Scott and another of the country’s most consistent performers, but Jason Day’s long absence from home shores will continue for at least another year.
Having already confirmed Cameron Smith, Min Woo Lee, Lucas Herbert and Cameron Davis would return for the Australian PGA and Australian Open, PGA of Australia boss Gavin Kirkman gave the strongest hint yet Scott and Leishman would be joining them.
The days of tournament organisers luring international stars to Australia appear numbered due to the huge appearance fees commanded, making the attraction of the country’s best talent imperative for the local tour’s big events.
But having rocketed back into the world’s top 20 after a career renaissance, Day had spoken earlier this year about his desire to make a playing appearance in Australia. He hasn’t played in the national open since 2017.
Bur Kirkman confirmed on Thursday the former PGA Championship winner would be staying in the United States next month after the recent birth of his fifth child, daughter Winnie, and eyeing a return to Australia next year.
“Going through his manager, the timing is not going to be right so soon after little baby Winnie was born,” Kirkman said. “I think we’ll see Jason playing in Australia from 2024 and beyond. He’s very keen to return and the discussions we had this year were more promising than any other year.
Australian golfers (l-r): Marc Leishman, Jason Day and Adam Scott.Credit: Getty
“Adam and Marc, I’m very confident [about]. I’m talking with their managers, and with both of them. I’m confident they’ll be coming home to play. We’ve just got to make sure everything is in place.”
Davis was the latest star announced to be coming home for the Australian PGA at Royal Queensland from November 23. The Australian Open, featuring both men and women, will be played at The Australian and The Lakes in Sydney the following week.
The PGA Tour of Australasia is sweating on a decision on whether the framework agreement between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will evolve into a new commercial entity.
Representatives of the world’s two biggest traditional tours, the PGA Tour and the European-dominated DP World Tour, are planning to thrash out the arrangement with PIF officials, who launched the breakaway LIV Golf, before December 31.
Kirkman is confident a new global schedule can make room for a permanent event in Australia.
“We’ve got to constantly be there telling them what we want and what will benefit Australian golf and our tour,” Kirkman said. “I think the discussions they’re having and what we’re being told at this stage, and it’s very preliminary, is we’ll benefit [from a potential merger].
“We would love the global events to come down here and [there] be a regular [Australian] event on their schedules. They’re the discussions we’re putting forward. We know we’re excited about the Presidents Cup coming up in 2028, but we’d like more regular events.”
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