Basketball
AFL
Cricket
Horse Racing
NRL
Soccer
Tennis
All Sports
American Football
Boxing
Betting Masterclass
eSports
Golf
Greyhounds
Motor Sport
Rugby Union
UFC / MMA
The Australian PGA Championship returns to New South Wales for the first time since 1998, at The Lakes in Sydney from 26 to 29 November. Dates, field, past champions and betting angles.
The Australian PGA Championship returns to New South Wales for the first time since 1998. The 2026 tournament runs from Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 November at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney, a course that last hosted it in 1987. It is the older of Australia’s two national championships, dating to 1904, and the winner takes the Joe Kirkwood Cup. Below: the dates, the field, past champions and how to bet it.
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Tournament details
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Dates | Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 November 2026 |
| Venue | The Lakes Golf Club, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Tours | DP World Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia, co-sanctioned |
| Trophy | The Joe Kirkwood Cup, first awarded in 1928 |
| First played | 1904 |
| Defending champion | David Puig of Spain, who won at Royal Queensland in 2025 |
| Most wins | Kel Nagle, six |
Why the venue matters
Two separate gaps are worth keeping straight, because coverage tends to blur them. The Championship has not been played in New South Wales since 1998, when New South Wales Golf Club hosted it, so this is a return to the state after 28 years. The Lakes itself has not staged it since 1987, a gap of 39 years. Both facts are true and they describe different things.
For the golf, The Lakes is a genuine test: a sandbelt-style layout in the middle of Sydney with water in play and wind that arrives off Botany Bay most afternoons. It has hosted the Australian Open more recently than the PGA and it tends to identify ball-strikers rather than bombers, which is worth knowing before you back a long hitter on reputation.
Recent champions
| Year | Champion | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | David Puig (Spain) | First Spanish winner since Seve Ballesteros |
| 2024 | Elvis Smylie (Australia) | |
| 2023 | Min Woo Lee (Australia) | Won by three at Royal Queensland |
| 2022 (Nov) | Cameron Smith (Australia) | His third title |
| 2022 (Jan) | Jediah Morgan (Australia) | A second edition in the same calendar year during a schedule shift |
| 2019 | Adam Scott (Australia) | |
| 2018 | Cameron Smith (Australia) | |
| 2017 | Cameron Smith (Australia) | |
| 2016 | Harold Varner III (USA) | |
| 2015 | Nathan Holman (Australia) |
Note the two 2022 editions: the tournament was played in January and again in November that year while the calendar was being realigned, so a straight list of ten champions covers only nine years.
The 2026 field
Confirmed so far: Adam Scott, Cameron Smith, a three-time champion of this event, Canada’s Corey Conners, making his first start in Australia, and Spain’s Josele Ballester. Bryson DeChambeau has been discussed by organisers but is not confirmed. Fields for the Australian summer firm up through October and November, so treat any list this early as partial.
Min Woo Lee won this title in 2023 and is the obvious drawcard for a Sydney crowd, but his entry has not been confirmed. See our Min Woo Lee profile for his current form.
How to bet the Australian PGA
- Outright winner. Co-sanctioned fields are shallower than a PGA Tour event, so the favourites are shorter and the each-way place terms matter more than usual.
- Top Australasian. The most useful market on the card, because a strong local contingent means the outright favourite is often not the best Australian in the field.
- First-round leader. Wind at The Lakes tends to build through the day, so the morning wave has a real advantage. Check tee times against the forecast before betting.
- Made cut and top-20. Sensible plays when a field has a wide spread of playing standards, which a co-sanctioned event always does.
How to watch in Australia
The 2025 tournament was shown live on Nine and 9Now free to air and on Fox Sports through Foxtel and Kayo Sports. A 2026-specific broadcast announcement has not been made, so expect the same arrangement but confirm closer to the week.
Where to bet
Compare golf markets at our top-rated Australian bookmakers, and see our best betting sites in Australia guide for full reviews.
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Exclusive 365AUCODE referral code: bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers.18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Australian PGA Championship FAQs
When is the 2026 Australian PGA Championship?
Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 November 2026 at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney.
Why is it being played in Sydney?
The Championship has moved to New South Wales for the first time since 1998, having been based at Royal Queensland in Brisbane in recent years. The Lakes last hosted it in 1987.
Who won the 2025 Australian PGA Championship?
David Puig of Spain, the first Spanish winner of the title since Seve Ballesteros.
What is the trophy called?
The Joe Kirkwood Cup, named after the Australian professional who donated it, and first awarded in 1928.
Who has won the Australian PGA the most times?
Kel Nagle, with six titles between 1949 and 1968.
Is the Australian Open the same week?
No. The Australian Open follows the week after, from 3 to 6 December 2026 at Kingston Heath in Melbourne, with Rory McIlroy confirmed to play.