Australian PGA play suspended /lightning...Canada's Sudarshan -2 69...Rd1 results.

 DP World Tour : BMW Australian PGA Championship Leaderboard  Tee Times

Sebastian Garcia opened up a two shot lead with three holes left to play before play was suspended due to lightning on the opening day of the new DP World Tour season at the BMW Australian PGA Championship.

Making the most of his first start back since regaining his DP World Tour card through the Road to Mallorca Rankings on the Hotel Planner Tour, the Spaniard went bogey-free for the first 15 holes on Thursday at Royal Queensland.

Garcia, who was in one of the many groups unable to complete their rounds on Thursday, will resume his opening round at 6am AEST on Friday, with second round tee times pushed back by 90 minutes.

He has just three holes left to play, while others will have to complete 11 holes of the first round before getting their second rounds under way, with the first groups of round two teeing off at approximately 7:30am AEST.

Behind him, Australian Daniel Gale sits in solo second and -5 through 12 holes, having produced the second hole in one of the new season at the par-three 11th (Kazuma Kobori had the first on the 17th).

With an 8-iron from 154 meters, Gale delighted home fans, taking one bounce to the left of the flag and then finding its way to the bottom of the cup to win a BMW M5 Touring.

He  was -2 for his opening ten holes when he arrived at the par-three 11th, then added a fourth birdie of his round at the 12th to sit two behind Garcia with six holes of his opening round left to complete.

Gale, who is 887th on the Official World Golf Ranking, played on the DP World Tour last year but finished 171st on the Race to Dubai Ranking, with a best of tied 17th in Austria, is not losing focus on the opportunity ahead of him this week after missing out on regaining his playing privileges at second stage of DP World Tour Qualifying School.

“The biggest thing for me straight after the hole-in-one is reset and onto the next and made a nice birdie on 12,” he added later.

Of those that did finish were home favourites Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott, who made it into the clubhouse on -3, but it was Scott's playing partner Ryan Fox that set the early clubhouse target at -4 67.

Fox, who hasn't played competitive golf anywhere since he finished tied 14th at the FedEx Open de France in September, also started from the tenth, making two birdies in his opening nine holes for a front-nine 33.

He bounced back from a dropped shot at the second hole (on his back nine) with back-to-back birdies from the fourth, parring his way in to set the target for the rest of the field.

Reflecting on his round after two months off, Fox said that while he hadn't been expecting much he was "really happy".

edit>>>> Newly minted Canadian, now a  PGA Tour member from the Korn Ferry Tour, Yellamaraju Sudarshan is T22 -2 69. The young lefty made 4 birdies on his first nine in his debut.

Fellow Canadian, Aaron Cockerill has made the trip down to Brisbane, a 16 hour time difference from EST, is +1 through 10 holes, and will be another player returning early on Friday to finish rd1 and begin his 2nd round. 

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Inside the BMW Australian PGA Championship...2026 begins...

The 2026 DP World Tour season gets under way Down Under as Royal Queensland Golf Club plays host to the BMW Australian PGA Championship

A new season

Eleven days after the 2025 Race to Dubai ended at Jumeirah Golf Estates, a new season begins for 2026. While a host of familiar venues and events return including Rolex Series extravaganzas and storied national opens, there is also plenty of new action to get excited about. 

The Dubai Invitational is back after a year off in 2025 and it joins the inaugural Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship and the Corales Puntacana Championship as additions to the schedule. 

Historic events also have some new venues with Royal Johannesburg Golf Club hosting the Alfred Dunhill Championship and Trump International Golf Links Ireland playing host to the Amgen Irish Open. 

The season is once again split into three phases with the five Global Swings being followed by the Back 9 and DP World Tour Play-Offs and with a minimum of 42 events in 25 different countries, Golf's Global Tour is truly Where the World Comes to Play.

For full details of the 2026 DP World Tour global schedule, click here.

Smylie defends

Twelve months ago, Elvis Smylie showed nerves of steel to fend off the challenge of his golfing idol Cam Smith to claim his maiden DP World Tour title with a wire-to-wire victory. The then 22-year-old only secured his first professional success at the Bowra & O'Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open a month earlier on the PGA Tour of Australasia and continued his rich vein of form with a two-shot triumph at Royal Queensland Golf Club. 

Smylie was one of two players to receive the Cameron Smith Scholarship in 2019 and he began the third and final round alongside the three-time winner of this event in an all-Australian final group including Marc Leishman. 

The son of four-time grand slam doubles champion Liz Smylie displayed calmness with a number clutch par putts down the stretch for a flawless 67 in his total of -14 finishing two clear of Smith. "It's a dream come true," Smylie said. "My mum and dad have been with me every step of the way. I saw my mum in the corner there, tearing up before I holed that last putt so everyone who has been on this journey with me they know how hard I've worked to be here and hopefully this is just the start of good things to come." 

Smylie would be in the mix for dual membership with the PGA TOUR all season, finally finishing 23rd as the top Australian on the 2025 Race to Dubai.

Home heroes set to shine

Following this week's event comes the Crown Australian Open and the cream of Australian golfing talent will be joining Smylie in spending the next two weeks on home soil. 

EDIT >>>> The big news of course is Rory Mcllroy has signed up to play the Australian Open this year and again in 2026 at Kingston Heath returning for the first time since 2014. He won in 2013 at Royal Sydney. 

" The success of the Australian Open is important for the global game. I am proud to be committing for the next 2 year especially since it is being played on the world class Melbourne sandbelt somewhere I have always wanted to play professionally"

World Number 46 Min Woo Lee will lead the home charge and he is joined by Major Champions Adam Scott and Smith. DP World Tour regulars Jason Scrivener and David Micheluzzi will also be looking to shine on home soil as will Connor McKinney, who makes his first start as a full member after coming through the Qualifying School. Add in veteran stars like Peter Lonard, Greg Chalmers and Geoff Ogilvy and the home fans will have plenty to cheer.

New season, new starts

With an influx of graduates from both the HotelPlanner Tour and Qualifying School, a mix of old and new faces tee it up this week in the hope of starting the season strongly. David Law, a winner in Australia on the DP World Tour, returns from the HotelPlanner Tour along with veteran Englishman James Morrison who has also regained his card, while Austrian Maximilian Steinlechner and Italy's Stefano Mazzoli lead the new faces making the step up.

 Eddie Pepperell and Adri Arnaus are both back via the Qualifying School after seasons away and join Aaron Cockerill, Shubhankar Sharma and Nathan Kimsey who all regained their cards at the first time of asking after not making the top 115 on the Race to Dubai Rankings in 2025. 

Portuguese Daniel Rodrigues makes just his second start and first in six years after coming through the INFINITUM marathon, joining fellow newcomers Jack Yule, Mike Toorop, Hunter Logan, Federico Biondi Figueiredo and Andres German Gallegos.

Yellow for Jarrod

It is seven years since Jarrod Lyle sadly lost his long battle with leukemia at the age of just 36 but the Australian is still well and fondly remembered throughout the golfing world. 

Having first been diagnosed with the disease as a teenager, Lyle did much to raise awareness through wearing his trademark yellow, the colour of Leuk the Duck, the mascot for Challenge, a not for profit organisation that supports children with cancer. In that spirit, Friday at the BMW Australian PGA Championship is Yellow Day in Lyle's honour, with players, staff and fans all encouraged to wear yellow.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

McIlroy, Cockerill, Sudarshan begin DP World Tour 2026 in Australia..PGA Championship TEE TIMES

 DP World Tour : BMW Australian PGA Championship.  

• Tee Times

       

While the PGA Tour sleeps, bowing to the NFL, NHL, NBA amongst other sports, the DP World Tour wastes no time with their 2026 season beginning this week in Brisbane Australia for the BMW Australian PGA Championship.

This year, I must say, there is an extra buzz, with a beefed up presence this week at Royal Queensland where a big group of DP World Tour members have entered including Aaron Cockerill and fellow Canadian 24 year old Yellamaraju Sudarshan, who has qualified for the PGA Tour through the Korn Ferry Tour.

Cockerill recently lost his card on the last week of the 2025 season in Korea, then 2 weeks later played his best golf of the year to finish T2 at Final Stage Q School to regain the card and here he is to make the most of it, beginning in Australia. 

In addition Rory McIlroy has signed up to play in Australia for the next two years, next week's Open at Royal Melbourne and in 2026 at Kingston Heath which will also host the Presidents Cup in 2028.

The legendary Northern Irishman won the Australian Open in 2013 at Royal Sydney, but hasn't played down under since 2014. 

“I’m proud to be committing to the Australian Open for the next two years, especially with it being played on the world-class Melbourne sandbelt, somewhere I’ve always wanted to play professionally” McIlroy said. “The success of the Australian Open is important for the global game."

Having won the Grand Slam as part of his most brilliant 2025 season, McIlroy whom we expect to soon be knighted has accomplished most everything he wanted in the game, also played in India last year to promote the game there as he takes on a little more of an ambassador role as part of his annual schedule. 

Follow all the live scoring by clicking on my link above.

Bryan Angus

Thai star Thitikul tops the CME Group Tour Championship..Final Results

  LPGA : CME Group Tour Championship  

Leaderboard

Image source,Getty Images

Image caption,

The win at CME Group Tour Championship was the seventh of Jeeno Thitikul's LPGA career

No surprise Thailand star player Jeeno Thitikul rode her 6 shot lead to win the CME Group Tour Championship 67 63 64 68 -26, with it she will begin 2026 as the LPGA Tour #1 ranked player, 2025 Rolex Player of the Year, $4,000,000 minus taxes richer are amongst the titles she will be awarded.

She led the LPGA in 8 different categories on her way to a 2nd consecutive CME Group championship.

Less known fellow Thai, Pajaree Anannarukarn was the other 7 figure winner, 2nd 68 67 65 66 -22, $1,000,000 featuring the growth of the game in Thailand, and in Asian golf in general.

Canada's Brooke Henderson finished her season nicely T7 68 67 70 699 -14.

More importantly in the 2nd half of this season she became competitive again when she showed flashes of her old form. emerging from a 2 year down time in her career where she has slipped to 28th in the world and 27th in the CME Group standings heading into 2026 where she will be the only Canadian on Tour.

See all the scores by clicking on my leaderboard link above.

Bryan Angus

Just 5 Canadians on PGA Tour 2026...RSM Classic final results

   PGA Tour: The RSM Classic Tee Times 

On Sunday evening on Sea Island, the pros who made the top 100 and those who didn't was finally decided. 

First the joy for Finnish veteran 2 time winner from the DP World Tour, Sami Valimaki 66 62 65 66 -23 who wins it by a shot, 2 year exemption, #51 Fed Ex Cup means 2 signature events, $1,260,000 are amongst the baubles in the jackpot he won.

There was no change in players 95-100 and that includes the status of all 4 Canadians who played the Fall season.

Final Fed Ex Cup Standings 2025

Out of PGA Tour for 2026:

Adam Hadwin 71 64 68 72 -7 #139    Q School Final Stage/ Korn Ferry Tour

Ben Silverman 64 68 71 67 -12  #140 Q School Final Stage/ Korn Ferry Tour

Adam Svensson 67 71 MC  #167        Q School Final Stage / Korn Ferry Tour

In PGA Tour for 2026 :

Corey Conners T4

Nick Taylor  T19

Taylor Pendrith 33

Mac Hughes 72

Yellamaraju Sudarshan  (qualified from Korn Ferry Tour)

The PGA Tour decision to tighten their qualifications to the top 100, and just 5 places available at Q School were factors resulting in some well known names who have lost full status.

Matt Wallace 103, Max Homa 105, Tom Kim 113, Billy Horschel 116, Adam Scott 112, Matt Kuchar 118, Sam Ryder 123 will all have conditional status offered to 101-125 which means they will get into some lower status events, rely on sponsor exemptions, play the Korn Ferry Tour if they want or use other PGA Tour categories that are applicable.

A guy like Matt Kucher doesn't need a penny, and at 47 is too young for the Champions, so he will likely play the PGA Tour when invited or gets an open spot, other available PGA Tour categories like past champion, or all time money list will keep him from retirement.

More to follow...

Bryan Angus 

Jeeno Thitikul romping home, Henderson vying for T10...CME Group Tour Championship

  LPGA : CME Group Tour Championship  

Leaderboard

World #1 Jenno Thitikul, the Asian star from Thailand is romping home with Sunday to play, 67 63 64 -22 an unconverted touchdown (6) ahead of Nelly Korda, with the $4,000,000 1st prize and Player of the Year on the line.

Brooke Henderson is in a pack at -11 T9 68 67 70 looking to finish her 2025 season with another top 10 in Naples Florida today.

She is now ranked 28th in the world and #30 in the Race to CME Globe standings.

Bryan Angus

Q School looming for Canadian trio RSM Classic..54 hole results/projections

   PGA Tour: The RSM Classic Tee Times 

With the birdie barrage continuing at this final event of the PGA Tour season down to the final Sunday -19 is the leader from Finland, Sami Valimaki 66 62 65. Low 60's galore dot the scoreboard, that's what it takes for those trying to crack the top100, or move into the top 50 or 60.

Such is not the case for 3 of the remaining 4 Canadians, all of whom are T47 -9

Ben Silverman  T47 64 68 71 -9   projected 142  Q School Final Stage Dec 11

Adam Hadwin  T47 71 64 68 -9   projected 137   Q School Final Stage Dec 11

Adam Svensson MC 67 71           projected 167    Q School Final Stage Dec 11

Mac Hughes  T47  67 68 68 -9     projected 71      PGA Tour 2026

It appears unlikely Silverman or Adam Hadwin can close the gap enough to make the 100, both would need a low 60 to have a chance at the conditional status at 125.

Another sunny, fairly calm warm Sunday on Sea Island is predicted, just what the holiday makers come for, but it will be no holiday for many in this final 18 hole field today.

Bryan Angus