Hubbry Logo
Australian Open (golf)Australian Open (golf)Main
Open search
Australian Open (golf)
Community hub
Australian Open (golf)
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Australian Open (golf)
Australian Open (golf)
Australian Open (golf)
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

The Australian Open, owned and run by Golf Australia, is the oldest and most prestigious golf tournament on the PGA Tour of Australasia. The Open was first played in 1904 and takes place toward the end of each year.

Key Information

The winner of the tournament receives the Stonehaven Cup, presented by Lord Stonehaven, the Governor-General of Australia from 1925 to 1930. It was first presented in 1930.[1]

Status

[edit]

The Australian Open was the flagship tournament of the PGA Tour of Australasia from 1992 to 2019. It had a special status in the Official World Golf Ranking's points system, awarding a minimum 32 points to the winner regardless of the strength of the field.

The tournament was part of the OneAsia Tour from 2009 to 2016. The 2022 edition was co-sanctioned by the European Tour.

Since the Open Qualifying Series was introduced for the 2014 Open Championship, the Australian Open has been the first of a number of qualifying tournaments, giving up to three non-exempt players entry into the Open Championship.[2]

The Australian Open was once referred to as the "fifth major" by Jack Nicklaus and Rory McIlroy.[3][4]

History

[edit]

The Australian Golf Union was formed in 1898 and from 1899 organised a championship meeting. From 1899 to 1902 this included the Australian Amateur championship contested over 72 holes of stroke play. In 1903 the format was revised, there being a 36-hole stroke-play stage after which the leading 8 played match-play with a 36-hole final. The 1904 championship meeting was held at The Australian Golf Club. In 1903, the club had hosted the New South Wales Amateur and had run the 36-hole stroke-play qualifying stage as an open event, with professionals as well as amateurs competing. The idea was used at the 1904 championship meeting. There was a 72-hole stroke-play event open to professionals, played over two days, after which the leading 16 amateurs competed for the amateur championship. The stroke-play event became the first Australian Open and was won by an English amateur, Michael Scott, with a score of 315. Two more amateurs Leslie Penfold Hyland and Dan Soutar finished second and third, while Carnegie Clark was the leading professional, tied for fourth place.[5]

The 1905 championship meeting was played at Royal Melbourne and the open and amateur championship were decided by the same 72-hole tournament. Dan Soutar, now a professional, won the open with Michael Scott second, 10 strokes behind. As the leading amateur, Scott won the amateur championship.[6] The 1906 open was won by Carnegie Clark, 5 ahead of Soutar.[7] Soutar was to be runner-up in five successive opens, from 1906 to 1910. In 1907 Scott repeated his success of 1904, and further amateur wins came in the following two years, Clyde Pearce winning in 1908 and Claude Felstead in 1909.[8][9][10] The 1910 open was held in South Australia for the first time and resulted in a second win for Clark, with a record score of 306, 11 strokes ahead of Soutar.[11] Clark won for the third time the following year, although only by a single shot from Fred Popplewell.[12] The 1912 open was won by an 18-year-old amateur, Ivo Whitton, 5 ahead of Popplewell and Soutar.[13] Whitton won again the following year with a new record score of 302. Another amateur Audley Lemprière came second with Soutar third, a distant 15 strokes behind Whitton.[14]

The open restarted in 1920 and was won by Joe Kirkwood Sr. with a score of 290, 12 strokes better than the previous record score. Dan Soutar was second, 5 shots behind, the seventh time he had been runner-up.[15] Five of the nine opens between 1924 and 1932 were won by amateurs. In 1924 Alex Russell led from the start after an opening round of 68 and, with further rounds of 79, 78 and 78, won by two strokes from Carnegie Clark.[16] Ivo Whitton won in 1926, 13 years after his last win, and won again in 1929 and 1931.[17][18][19] Mick Ryan won in 1932, the third successive amateur winner at Royal Adelaide.[20] Of the professionals, Fred Popplewell won twice, in 1925 and 1928, while Rufus Stewart won in 1927 and was runner-up in the other four opens between 1926 and 1930.[21][22][23] 1928 was the first Open played over 3 days, with 36 holes on the final day. There was a cut after 36 holes with the leading 60 and ties playing on the final day. With the leading 16 amateurs in the Open qualifying for the match play stage of the amateur championship, there was also a proviso that at least 24 amateurs should make the cut.[24] The 1930 open was the first to be held at the Metropolitan Golf Club and the winner, Frank Eyre, was the first to be presented with the Stonehaven Cup.[25]

1931 saw the emergence of 16-year-old Jim Ferrier. Needing 5 at the last hole to tie Ivo Whitton, he took 6 and finished runner-up.[19] He was also a runner-up in 1933 and 1935. He had another good change to win in 1935 but took 7 at the 71st hole and again finished a stroke behind the winner.[26] He didn't win the open until 1938, when he won by a record 14 strokes from Norman Von Nida.[27] He repeated his success in 1939.[28] 1934 saw the first serious American challenger when Gene Sarazen played in the event. He was on a world tour with Joe Kirkwood Jr. However Billy Bolger won the open with a new record score of 283, with Sarazen second and Kirkwood fourth.[29] Sarazen returned in 1936 and won with a score of 282, a new record.[30]

The championship resumed in 1946 at Royal Sydney and was won by Ossie Pickworth, who finished two ahead of the amateur Alan Waterson.[31] The Australian Amateur was also played at Royal Sydney, starting the following week. However, the Open no longer acted as a qualifying event for the amateur championship, which became match-play only.[32] 1947 was the first year that the open and amateur were played at different venues, Royal Queensland hosting the open for the first time. It was also the first time it had been played as early as June. Billy McWilliam scored 65 in the first round and took an 8 stroke lead. He still led by 4 at the start of the final round but took 78, while Pickworth scored 69 to retain his title by 5 shots.[33] From 1947 it was generally the case that the Open and the Amateur were played at separate venues. This naturally tended to reduce the number of amateurs playing in the open, since they no longer had to play it to qualify for the amateur championship. 1948 saw the first appearance of Jim Ferrier since 1939, creating much public interest in the event. Pickworth and Ferrier tied on 289, resulting in the first open playoff.[34] Pickworth won the 18 hole playoff with a score of 71 to Ferrier's 74, to win his third successive title.[35] Pickworth seemed likely to win his fourth title in 1949 as he led by 6 strokes after 3 rounds. However, Eric Cremin had a last round of 68 to Pickworth's 80 to win the title. Pickworth was later disqualified for recording an incorrect score at his final hole, so that Norman Von Nida, playing in his first open since 1939, became the runner-up.[36]

Norman Von Nida was the leading player of the early-1950s, winning the open in 1950, 1952 and 1953 and being a runner-up in the other four opens between 1949 and 1955. Peter Thomson won in 1951 while Ossie Pickworth took his fourth title in 1954.[37][38] 1952 was the first open held in Western Australia, being played at Lake Karrinyup. Von Nida won with a record score of 278.[39] Von Nida equalled that record in 1953 and also equalled the record for the lowest round, with his final 65.[40] Bobby Locke won in 1955, the first overseas winner since 1936. This was played at Gailes, near Brisbane, in late May, the earliest of any open.[41] Kel Nagle seems a likely winner in 1956 but finished badly, for a final round 76, while Bruce Crampton finished with two birdies for a 68 and won by two strokes.[42]

Gary Player made his first appearance in 1957, and would eventually win the title 7 times. He seemed a likely winner on his debut, but in the final round took 7 at the 13th and 6 at the 16th and lost by a stroke from Frank Phillips.[43][44] Player returned in 1958, winning by 5 strokes.[45] Kel Nagle had been close to winning a number of times and won his only open in 1959.[46] The 1960 open was held at Lake Karrinyup for the second time, a week after the amateur championship. Bruce Devlin, still an amateur, won his only open. Amateurs took 8 of the first 9 places.[47] Player returned in 1961 but only finished tied for third, Phillips winning by two strokes from Nagle.[48] Player won in 1962, by two strokes from Nagle. Jack Nicklaus made his debut in 1962, finishing 5th.[49] Player won again in 1963, his third win, by 5 shots from Bruce Devlin.[50] Devlin came close to winning in 1964. Needing a par-5 at the 72nd hole he took 6, and then lost to Jack Nicklaus by 3 strokes in an 18-hole playoff. The playoff was played on a Sunday, the first Sunday play in the open's history.[51] Player won his fourth title in 1965, setting a new record score of 264, despite taking a bogey-5 at the final hole. Player started with a record round of 62 and had another 62 in the third round. Nicklaus and Phillips tied for second place, 6 behind Player.[52]

The 1966 open was the first to be held over four days and the first to finish on a Sunday. Arnold Palmer made his debut in the event and won by 5 strokes from Kel Nagle.[53] Peter Thomson won his second open in 1967, the first Australian winner since 1961. He won by 7 strokes from Col Johnston.[54] Jack Nicklaus won for the second time in 1968, beating Gary Player by a stroke after making a birdie-3 at the final hole.[55] The 1968 open was sponsored by a local TV company, the first open to be sponsored. From 1969 the event was sponsored by Qantas.[56][57] In difficult conditions, Player had a final round 77, but still won his 5th title in 1969, equalling Ivo Whitton's record.[58] In 1970 Player led by 8 strokes after three rounds and, despite a last round 74, won by 3, for his 6th win in the event.[59] In 1971 the open was held in Tasmania for the only time, at Royal Hobart. Nicklaus had a 9-stroke lead after three rounds and won by 8 shots.[60] In 1972 there was an 18-hole playoff after a tie between Peter Thomson and David Graham.[61] Graham drove out-of-bounds at the first hole and Thomson took a three-stroke lead after making a birdie. Thomson eventually won by 6 strokes for his third title.[62] J. C. Snead won in 1973, by two strokes from Jerry Breaux, a little-known American.[63] In 1974 Player won his 7th title. Leading by 5 strokes at the start of the final round, he scored 73 and won by 3.[64]

From 1975 to 1978 the open was held at The Australian Golf Club. Kerry Packer had funded a redesign of the course by Jack Nicklaus. The event was broadcast through Packer's Channel Nine network. He also financed a large increase in the prize money.[citation needed] Nicklaus won three of the four events, in 1975, 1976 and 1978 while David Graham won in 1977.[65] The 1979 and 1980 events were sponsored by Dunhill but with less prize money than in 1978. Jack Newton won in 1979 with Greg Norman winning in 1980.[66][67] The 1981 event was multi-sponsored, without a title sponsor, and was won by Bill Rogers, beating Norman by a stroke.[68][69]

Having not been played in 2020 or 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event returned in 2022. It was announced that the 2022 tournament would feature the men's and women's Opens played on the same course at the same time. They would also share a prize fund of US$3,400,000. In addition to this announcement, it was also confirmed that the European Tour would sanction the men's event for the first time.[70]

Venues

[edit]
Venue Location First Last Times
The Australian Golf Club Sydney 1904 2023 22
Royal Melbourne Golf Club Melbourne 1905 2025 17
Royal Sydney Golf Club Sydney 1906 2016 15
Royal Adelaide Golf Club Adelaide, South Australia 1910 1998 9
Metropolitan Golf Club Melbourne 1930 1997 7
Royal Queensland Golf Club Brisbane, Queensland 1947 1973 3
Kingston Heath Golf Club Melbourne 1948 2024 9
Kooyonga Golf Club Adelaide, South Australia 1950 1972 5
Lake Karrinyup Country Club Perth, Western Australia 1952 1974 4
Gailes Golf Club Brisbane, Queensland 1955 1955 1
Victoria Golf Club Melbourne 1961 2024 5
The Lakes Golf Club Sydney 1964 2023 8
Commonwealth Golf Club Melbourne 1967 1967 1
Royal Hobart Golf Club Hobart, Tasmania 1971 1971 1
The Grand Golf Club Gold Coast, Queensland 2001 2001 1
Moonah Links Golf Club Rye, Victoria 2003 2005 2
New South Wales Golf Club Sydney 2009 2009 1

Winners

[edit]
PGA Tour of Australasia (Flagship event) 1992–2019
PGA Tour of Australasia (Regular) 1973–1991, 2022–
Pre-PGA Tour of Australasia 1904–1972
# Year Tour(s)[a] Winner Score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up Winner's
share (A$)		 Venue Ref.
Crown Australian Open
108th 2025 ANZ, EUR Denmark Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen 269 −15 1 stroke Australia Cameron Smith 340,000 Royal Melbourne [71]
ISPS Handa Australian Open
107th 2024 ANZ, EUR United States Ryggs Johnston 269 −18 3 strokes Australia Curtis Luck 289,000 Kingston Heath
Victoria		 [72]
106th 2023 ANZ, EUR Chile Joaquín Niemann 271 −14 Playoff Japan Rikuya Hoshino 289,000 The Australian
The Lakes		 [73]
105th 2022 ANZ, EUR Poland Adrian Meronk 268 −14 5 strokes Australia Adam Scott 289,000 Kingston Heath
Victoria		 [74]
Australian Open
– 2021 ANZ Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [75]
Emirates Australian Open
– 2020 ANZ Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [76]
104th 2019 ANZ Australia Matt Jones (2) 269 −15 1 stroke South Africa Louis Oosthuizen 270,000 The Australian [77]
103rd 2018 ANZ Mexico Abraham Ancer 272 −16 5 strokes Australia Dimitrios Papadatos 225,000 The Lakes [78]
102nd 2017 ANZ Australia Cameron Davis 273 −11 1 stroke Sweden Jonas Blixt
Australia Matt Jones		 225,000 The Australian [79]
101st 2016 ANZ, ONE United States Jordan Spieth (2) 276 −12 Playoff[b] Australia Ashley Hall
Australia Cameron Smith		 225,000 Royal Sydney [80]
100th 2015 ANZ, ONE Australia Matt Jones 276 −8 1 stroke Australia Adam Scott
United States Jordan Spieth		 225,000 The Australian [81]
99th 2014 ANZ, ONE United States Jordan Spieth 271 −13 6 strokes Australia Rod Pampling 225,000 The Australian [82]
98th 2013 ANZ, ONE Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy 270 −18 1 stroke Australia Adam Scott 225,000 Royal Sydney
97th 2012 ANZ, ONE Australia Peter Senior (2) 284 −4 1 stroke Australia Brendan Jones 225,000 The Lakes
96th 2011 ANZ, ONE Australia Greg Chalmers (2) 275 −13 1 stroke Australia John Senden 270,000 The Lakes
Australian Open
95th 2010 ANZ, ONE Australia Geoff Ogilvy 269 −19 4 strokes Australia Matt Jones
Australia Alistair Presnell		 270,000 The Lakes
94th 2009 ANZ, ONE Australia Adam Scott 273 −15 5 strokes Australia Stuart Appleby 270,000 New South Wales
93rd 2008 ANZ South Africa Tim Clark 279 −9 Playoff[c] Australia Mathew Goggin 270,000 Royal Sydney
MFS Australian Open
92nd 2007 ANZ Australia Craig Parry 277 −11 1 stroke Australia Won Joon Lee
Australia Nick O'Hern
United States Brandt Snedeker		 315,000 The Australian
91st 2006 ANZ Australia John Senden 280 −8 1 stroke Australia Geoff Ogilvy 270,000 Royal Sydney
90th 2005 ANZ Australia Robert Allenby (2) 284 −4 1 stroke Australia Nick O'Hern
Australia John Senden
Australia Paul Sheehan		 216,000 Moonah Links
Hillross Australian Open
89th 2004 ANZ Australia Peter Lonard (2) 281 −3 1 stroke Australia Stuart Appleby 270,000 The Australian
88th 2003 ANZ Australia Peter Lonard 279 −9 1 stroke Australia Chris Downes
Australia Stephen Leaney		 270,000 Moonah Links
Holden Australian Open
87th 2002 ANZ Australia Stephen Allan 198[d] −12 1 stroke Australia Aaron Baddeley
United States Rich Beem
Australia Craig Parry		 270,000 Victoria
86th 2001 ANZ Australia Stuart Appleby 271 −13 3 strokes Australia Scott Laycock 270,000 The Grand
85th 2000 ANZ Australia Aaron Baddeley (2) 278 −10 2 strokes Australia Robert Allenby 250,000 Kingston Heath
84th 1999 ANZ Australia Aaron Baddeley (a) 274 −14 2 strokes Australia Greg Norman
Australia Nick O'Hern		 180,000 Royal Sydney
83rd 1998 ANZ Australia Greg Chalmers 288 E 1 stroke Australia Stuart Appleby
Australia Peter Senior		 115,200 Royal Adelaide
82nd 1997 ANZ England Lee Westwood 274 −14 Playoff[e] Australia Greg Norman 180,000 Metropolitan
81st 1996 ANZ Australia Greg Norman (5) 280 −8 8 strokes Australia Wayne Grady 153,000 The Australian
Heineken Australian Open
80th 1995 ANZ Australia Greg Norman (4) 278 −10 2 strokes Australia Peter McWhinney 114,750 Kingston Heath
79th 1994 ANZ Australia Robert Allenby 280 −8 1 stroke Australia Brett Ogle 115,000 Royal Sydney
78th 1993 ANZ United States Brad Faxon 275 −13 2 strokes Australia Mike Clayton
Australia Jeff Woodland		 153,000 Metropolitan [83]
Australian Open
77th 1992 ANZ Australia Steve Elkington 280 −8 2 strokes Australia Peter McWhinney
United States Duffy Waldorf		 144,000 The Lakes
76th 1991 ANZ Australia Wayne Riley 285 −3 1 stroke Australia Robert Allenby (a) 126,000 Royal Melbourne
75th 1990 ANZ United States John Morse 283 −5 Playoff[f] Australia Craig Parry 108,000 The Australian
74th 1989 ANZ Australia Peter Senior 271 −17 7 strokes Australia Peter Fowler 90,000 Kingston Heath [84]
National Panasonic Australian Open
73rd 1988 ANZ United States Mark Calcavecchia 269 −19 6 strokes United States Mark McCumber 63,000 Royal Sydney [85]
72nd 1987 ANZ Australia Greg Norman (3) 273 −15 10 strokes Scotland Sandy Lyle 54,000 Royal Melbourne [86]
71st 1986 ANZ Australia Rodger Davis 278 −10 1 stroke Australia Ian Baker-Finch
Australia Graham Marsh
Australia Bob Shearer		 49,500 Metropolitan [87]
70th 1985 ANZ Australia Greg Norman (2) 212[d] −4 2 strokes Australia Ossie Moore 45,000 Royal Melbourne [88]
69th 1984 ANZ United States Tom Watson 281 −7 1 stroke Australia Bob Stanton 36,000 Royal Melbourne [89]
Australian Open
68th 1983 ANZ Australia Peter Fowler 285 −3 3 strokes Australia Ian Baker-Finch 27,000 Kingston Heath [90]
67th 1982 ANZ Australia Bob Shearer 287 −1 4 strokes United States Jack Nicklaus
United States Payne Stewart		 40,500 The Australian [91]
66th 1981 ANZ United States Bill Rogers 282 −6 1 stroke Australia Greg Norman 27,000 Victoria [69]
Dunhill Australian Open
65th 1980 ANZ Australia Greg Norman 284 −4 1 stroke Australia Brian Jones 35,000 The Lakes [67]
64th 1979 ANZ Australia Jack Newton 288 E 1 stroke Australia Graham Marsh
Australia Greg Norman		 30,000 Metropolitan [66]
Australian Open
63rd 1978 ANZ United States Jack Nicklaus (6) 284 −4 6 strokes United States Ben Crenshaw 44,000 The Australian [92]
62nd 1977 ANZ Australia David Graham 284 −4 3 strokes United States Don January
United States Bruce Lietzke
New Zealand John Lister		 36,000 The Australian [93]
61st 1976 ANZ United States Jack Nicklaus (5) 286 −2 4 strokes United States Curtis Strange 32,000 The Australian [94]
60th 1975 ANZ United States Jack Nicklaus (4) 279 −9 3 strokes United States Bill Brask 8,820 The Australian [65]
Qantas Australian Open
59th 1974 ANZ South Africa Gary Player (7) 277 −11 3 strokes Scotland Norman Wood Lake Karrinyup [64]
58th 1973 ANZ United States J. C. Snead 280 −8 2 strokes United States Jerry Breaux 4,000 Royal Queensland [63]
57th 1972 Australia Peter Thomson (3) 281 −7 Playoff[g] Australia David Graham 3,600 Kooyonga [61][62]
56th 1971 United States Jack Nicklaus (3) 269 −19 8 strokes Australia Bruce Crampton 3,600 Royal Hobart [60]
55th 1970 South Africa Gary Player (6) 280 −8 3 strokes Australia Bruce Devlin 3,000 Kingston Heath [59]
54th 1969 South Africa Gary Player (5) 288 E 1 stroke England Guy Wolstenholme 2,500 Royal Sydney [58]
Australian Open
53rd 1968 United States Jack Nicklaus (2) 270 −18 1 stroke South Africa Gary Player 2,500 Lake Karrinyup [55]
52nd 1967 Australia Peter Thomson (2) 281 −11 7 strokes Australia Col Johnston 1,600 Commonwealth [54]
51st 1966 United States Arnold Palmer 276 −20 5 strokes Australia Kel Nagle 1,600 Royal Queensland [53]
50th 1965 South Africa Gary Player (4) 264 −28 6 strokes United States Jack Nicklaus
Australia Frank Phillips		 Kooyonga [52]
49th 1964 United States Jack Nicklaus 287 −1 Playoff[h] Australia Bruce Devlin The Lakes [51]
48th 1963 South Africa Gary Player (3) 278 −18 7 strokes Australia Bruce Devlin Royal Melbourne [50]
47th 1962 South Africa Gary Player (2) 281 2 strokes Australia Kel Nagle Royal Adelaide [49]
46th 1961 Australia Frank Phillips (2) 275 2 strokes Australia Kel Nagle Victoria [48]
45th 1960 Australia Bruce Devlin (a) 282 1 stroke Australia Ted Ball (a) Lake Karrinyup [47]
44th 1959 Australia Kel Nagle 284 5 strokes Australia Vic Bulgin (a)
Australia John Sullivan		 The Australian [46]
43rd 1958 South Africa Gary Player 271 5 strokes Australia Kel Nagle Kooyonga [45]
42nd 1957 Australia Frank Phillips 287 1 stroke Australia Ossie Pickworth
South Africa Gary Player		 Kingston Heath [43][44]
41st 1956 Australia Bruce Crampton 289 2 strokes Australia Kel Nagle Royal Sydney [42]
40th 1955 South Africa Bobby Locke 290 1 stroke Australia Kel Nagle
Australia Norman Von Nida		 Gailes [41]
39th 1954 Australia Ossie Pickworth (4) 280 8 strokes Australia Norman Von Nida Kooyonga [38]
38th 1953 Australia Norman Von Nida (3) 278 2 strokes Australia Peter Thomson Royal Melbourne [40]
37th 1952 Australia Norman Von Nida (2) 278 5 strokes Australia Ossie Pickworth Lake Karrinyup [39]
36th 1951 Australia Peter Thomson 283 4 strokes Australia Norman Von Nida Metropolitan [37]
35th 1950 Australia Norman Von Nida 286 1 stroke Australia Peter Thomson Kooyonga [95]
34th 1949 Australia Eric Cremin 287 7 strokes Australia Norman Von Nida The Australian [36]
33rd 1948 Australia Ossie Pickworth (3) 289 Playoff[i] Australia Jim Ferrier Kingston Heath [34][35]
32nd 1947 Australia Ossie Pickworth (2) 285 5 strokes Australia Billy McWilliam Royal Queensland [33]
31st 1946 Australia Ossie Pickworth 289 2 strokes Australia Alan Waterson (a) Royal Sydney [31]
1940–1945: No tournament due to World War II
30th 1939 Australia Jim Ferrier (a) (2) 285 2 strokes Australia Norman Von Nida
Australia Martin Smith		 Royal Melbourne [28][96]
29th 1938 Australia Jim Ferrier (a) 283 14 strokes Australia Norman Von Nida Royal Adelaide [27][97]
28th 1937 Australia George Naismith 299 1 stroke Australia Doug Davies (a)
Australia Tom McKay (a)
Australia Ossie Walker
 The Australian [98][99]
27th 1936 United States Gene Sarazen 282 4 strokes Australia Harry Williams (a) Metropolitan [30][100]
26th 1935 Australia Fergus McMahon 293 1 stroke Australia Jim Ferrier (a) Royal Adelaide [26]
25th 1934 Australia Billy Bolger 283 3 strokes United States Gene Sarazen Royal Sydney [29][101]
24th 1933 Australia Lou Kelly 302 3 strokes Australia Jim Ferrier (a)
Australia Gus Jackson (a)
Australia Reg Jupp
 Royal Melbourne [102][103]
23rd 1932 Australia Mick Ryan (a) 296 1 stroke Australia Fergus McMahon Royal Adelaide [20]
22nd 1931 Australia Ivo Whitton (a) (5) 301 1 stroke Australia Jim Ferrier (a) The Australian [19]
21st 1930 Australia Frank Eyre 306 7 strokes Australia George Fawcett (a)
Australia Rufus Stewart		 Metropolitan [104]
20th 1929 Australia Ivo Whitton (a) (4) 309 5 strokes Australia Frank Eyre
Australia Rufus Stewart		 Royal Adelaide [18]
19th 1928 Australia Fred Popplewell (2) 295 1 stroke Australia Rufus Stewart Royal Sydney [22]
18th 1927 Australia Rufus Stewart 297 2 strokes Australia Harry Sinclair Royal Melbourne [23]
17th 1926 Australia Ivo Whitton (a) (3) 297 3 strokes Australia Rufus Stewart Royal Adelaide [17]
16th 1925 Australia Fred Popplewell 299 2 strokes Australia Tom Howard The Australian [21]
15th 1924 Australia Alex Russell (a) 303 2 strokes Australia Carnegie Clark Royal Melbourne [16][105]
14th 1923 Australia Tom Howard 301 3 strokes England Arthur Ham Royal Adelaide [106]
13th 1922 Australia Charlie Campbell 307 3 strokes Australia Arthur Le Fevre Royal Sydney [107]
12th 1921 Australia Arthur Le Fevre 295 10 strokes Australia Tom Rutledge (a) Royal Melbourne [108]
11th 1920 Australia Joe Kirkwood Sr. 290 5 strokes Scotland Dan Soutar The Australian [15]
1914–1919: No tournament due to World War I
10th 1913 Australia Ivo Whitton (a) (2) 302 3 strokes Australia Audley Lemprière (a) Royal Melbourne [14]
9th 1912 Australia Ivo Whitton (a) 321 5 strokes Scotland Dan Soutar
Australia Fred Popplewell		 Royal Melbourne [13]
8th 1911 Australia Carnegie Clark (3) 321 1 stroke Australia Fred Popplewell Royal Sydney [12]
7th 1910 Australia Carnegie Clark (2) 306 11 strokes Scotland Dan Soutar Royal Adelaide [11]
6th 1909 Australia Claude Felstead (a) 316 2 strokes Scotland Dan Soutar Royal Melbourne [10]
5th 1908 Australia Clyde Pearce (a) 311 3 strokes Scotland Dan Soutar The Australian [9]
4th 1907 England Michael Scott (a) (2) 318 8 strokes Scotland Dan Soutar Royal Melbourne [8]
3rd 1906 Australia Carnegie Clark 322 5 strokes Scotland Dan Soutar Royal Sydney [7]
2nd 1905 Scotland Dan Soutar 337 10 strokes England Michael Scott (a) Royal Melbourne [6]
1st 1904 England Michael Scott (a) 315 8 strokes Australia Leslie Penfold Hyland (a) The Australian [5]

Sources:[109][110]

Future sites

[edit]
Year Course Location Dates
2025 Royal Melbourne Golf Club Melbourne[111] Dec 4-7
2026 Kingston Heath Golf Club Cheltenham[112] TBD

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Australian Open (golf)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Australian Open is Australia's oldest and most prestigious professional tournament, contested annually since as the national for men, with a women's edition established in 1974. Owned and organized by Golf Australia, it serves as a flagship event on the and has historically attracted elite international fields, including multiple major champions. The men's competition awards the Stonehaven Cup to the winner, a trophy first presented in 1930, while the event was not held during (1914–1919) and (1940–1945). Played as a 72-hole stroke-play over four days, the Australian Open typically features a field of 156 players, with a cut after 36 holes (recently to the top 60 and ties for men), followed by sudden-death playoffs if necessary. It has been co-sanctioned by various tours over time, including the DP World Tour in recent years, enhancing its global appeal and , which reached equal levels for men and women from 2022 to 2024 when the events were combined; the events reverted to separate scheduling in 2025. Notable host courses include The Australian Golf Club (21 editions), (16), and Royal Sydney Golf Club (15), with the often rotating among Australia's premier venues to showcase diverse challenges. The event's rich legacy is defined by its honor roll of champions, featuring Australian icons like Peter Thomson (3 wins) and international legends such as (record 7 victories), (6), (5), , Tom Watson, and more recent stars including and . These victories underscore the tournament's status as a proving ground for talent, having been dubbed a "fifth major" in its mid-20th-century heyday when it drew the era's top players during the Australasian summer swing. Today, the Australian Open continues to evolve, blending tradition with modern innovations like enhanced spectator experiences and charitable initiatives through the Australian Golf Foundation (official partner for the 2025 men's event), while maintaining its role in bridging domestic and world-class golf.

Overview

Status

The Australian Open stands as the oldest and most prestigious tournament on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, having been first contested in 1904. Owned and operated by Golf Australia since the organization's formation in 2006 through the merger of the Australian Golf Union and Women's Golf Australia, the event serves as a cornerstone of professional in the region. As of 2025, the men's tournament is co-sanctioned by the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and the DP World Tour, enhancing its international appeal and attracting top global talent. It previously held flagship status on the from 1992 to 2019 and was co-sanctioned by the OneAsia Tour between 2009 and 2016, reflecting its evolving role in bridging Australasian and Asian professional circuits. The Australian Open contributes significantly to player pathways in elite golf, forming part of the Open Qualifying Series since 2014 and offering exemptions to for the top three non-exempt finishers. Finishers also earn points toward the , bolstering career progression for participants. With a prize fund of AUD$2,000,000 for the men's event, it underscores the tournament's economic importance within the professional golf landscape.

Format

The Australian Open (golf) is contested as a 72-hole tournament over four days, with the field playing 18 holes each day. After the second round (36 holes), a cut is made to the top 65 professionals and ties, plus any leading amateurs, allowing them to advance to the weekend rounds. This format emphasizes cumulative scoring, where the lowest total strokes determine the champion, and it applies to both the men's and women's events in their current separate iterations. The field typically comprises 156 players for the men's event, drawn from a mix of members, sponsor exemptions, leading amateurs, past champions, and international invitees based on world rankings or tour performance. Eligibility is open to both professionals and amateurs, with dedicated slots reserved for previous winners (lifetime exemption for Australians) and high-ranked players from global tours like the DP World Tour or to ensure a competitive international lineup. From 2022 to 2024, the adopted a groundbreaking combined men's and women's format, played concurrently on shared or adjacent courses at the same venue, with equal totaling AUD $3.4 million split evenly between the fields. This dual-gender setup featured adjusted cuts—such as top 60 and ties for men and pro-rata equivalents (e.g., 32–40 for women) after 36 holes—to accommodate differing field sizes, which varied from 144 each in 2022 to 156 men and 84 women in 2024. After the combined format, the 2025 edition featured only the men's , with the women's event not held that year and resuming as a separate in 2026. The men's edition offers a minimum purse of AUD $2 million. Courses for the Australian Open are typically set up as par-72 layouts measuring 6,500–7,000 yards from the men's championship tees, with adjustments for Australia's characteristic firm greens, strong coastal winds, and bunkered fairways to challenge accuracy and strategy over power.

History

Origins and Early Years

The Australian Open golf championship was established in 1904 as Australia's premier national event, held at The Australian Golf Club in from September 2 to 3. The inaugural competition featured 72 holes of over two days and was open to both amateurs and professionals, embodying the club-centric origins of in the country where social and competitive elements intertwined from the sport's introduction in the late . English-born amateur Michael Scott, representing Victoria after emigrating to , won with a total score of 315 (77-74-80-84), beating runner-up H. L. Hyland by eight strokes and marking the event's immediate appeal to top local talent. In its formative years, the tournament showcased a mix of professionals and emerging Australian players, with British immigrants instrumental in shaping the sport's rules and standards based on Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews guidelines. Scottish-born professional Dan Soutar, a resident club pro, claimed the first professional victory in 1905 at with a score of 337, followed by Australian native Carnegie Clark's win in 1906 at Royal Sydney Golf Club (322). These early successes highlighted the integration of international expertise—many pros were British or Scottish s—with domestic growth, as clubs proliferated post-gold rush era despite rudimentary infrastructure like variable course lengths and basic equipment. The championship expanded in prominence through the pre-World War II period, becoming an annual tradition except for suspensions during World War I (1914–1919) and (1940–1945), when military demands halted play. By the 1920s, it had solidified as a 72-hole event drawing larger fields and rotating venues between key and clubs, such as Royal Sydney, Royal Melbourne, and The Australian, to broaden accessibility and stimulate regional development. This scheduling promoted golf's socio-cultural role in a young nation, offering a genteel outlet for and amid sparse facilities, while expatriate influences ensured alignment with global standards and helped cultivate a dedicated following.

Key Developments

Following , the Australian Open experienced a significant revival, resuming in 1946 after a hiatus from 1940 to 1945 due to the conflict, with Ossie Pickworth claiming victory at Royal Sydney Golf Club. This post-war boom marked a period of renewed interest in professional golf in , drawing international talent and elevating the tournament's profile as the nation's premier event. The influx of global stars began prominently in the late 1950s, exemplified by South African Gary Player's first win in 1958 at Kooyonga Golf Club, where he set a new tournament record of 271, winning by five strokes and signaling the event's growing appeal to overseas competitors. Player's success, part of his record seven Australian Open titles, underscored the tournament's internationalization during this era. The 1960s further solidified this trend with American Jack Nicklaus's dominance, securing victories in 1964 at The Lakes Golf Club (via playoff) and 1968 at Lake Karrinyup Country Club by eight strokes, contributing to his eventual six titles and highlighting the Open as a must-play for top international professionals en route to major championships. Media exposure expanded with the introduction of television coverage in 1975 by TCN and GTV networks, which substantially increased and deployed extensive cameras around the course, broadening the event's reach to a wider Australian . Sponsorship growth accelerated in the and 1980s under influential backers like , whose financial support in the late transformed the tournament into what was often regarded as a "fifth major," attracting elite fields and increasing to compete with global standards. Title sponsorships, such as those from starting in 1969 and Dunhill in 1979-1980, further professionalized the event, though prize levels fluctuated amid economic challenges. The tournament's integration into structured professional circuits advanced in the 1970s with the formation of the in 1973, establishing the Australian Open as its flagship competition and a key stop for international players preparing for majors like The Masters. Venue selections during this decade shifted toward prestigious layouts to match the event's rising stature, including repeated hosting at The Australian Golf Club from 1975 to 1978, which hosted wins by Nicklaus in three consecutive years (1975-1976-1978) and enhanced the tournament's reputation for challenging, high-caliber play. This professionalization paralleled a decline in amateur participation; the last amateur winner was Devlin in 1960 at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, after which fields became overwhelmingly professional by the 1980s, reflecting the sport's shift toward full-time circuits and excluding non-pros from contention.

Recent Changes

In the early 2000s, the Australian Open underwent significant tour alignments, but by 2019, it lost its longstanding designation as the flagship event of the amid shifting scheduling and sponsorship dynamics that prioritized other tournaments like the . This change reflected broader challenges in maintaining international prestige during a period of domestic focus. However, a major revival came in 2022 when the event gained co-sanctioning from the DP World Tour for the first time, alongside the , which elevated its global status and attracted stronger international fields, including top European players. The severely disrupted the tournament in and 2021, leading to the postponement of the edition from its traditional slot and the outright cancellation of both the men's and women's events in 2021 due to international travel restrictions, requirements, and health concerns that made assembling a world-class field impossible. These cancellations marked the second consecutive year without the event, prompting Golf Australia to reevaluate its format for a post-pandemic return. By 2022, the tournament resumed in its customary / timeframe, signaling a return to stability and fan engagement. A bold arrived in 2022 with the introduction of a combined format, marking the first equal-prize-money mixed professional event, held at Victoria Golf Club in with men, women, and all-abilities competitors playing concurrently over 72 holes. This format continued in 2023 at Kingston Heath Golf Club and in 2024 with rounds split between Kingston Heath (rounds three and four) and Victoria Golf Club (rounds one and two), aiming to boost inclusivity and attendance while sharing prestigious Sandbelt venues. However, the mixed setup drew substantial player criticism, particularly regarding pace-of-play issues—such as rounds exceeding five hours due to alternating tee times and group compositions—and course conditioning adjustments that some felt compromised the challenge for elite male competitors. These concerns, voiced by figures like Cameron Smith and Lucas Herbert, culminated in Golf Australia's decision in to end the mixed format, with the men's event reverting to a separate tournament that year at under the Crown Australian Open banner, while the women's event was not held in 2025 and resumed as a stand-alone competition in 2026 at Royal Adelaide Golf Club. To enhance its global draw post-reformatting, the 2025 men's event secured a high-profile commitment from , who agreed to headline both the 2025 and 2026 editions at , positioning the tournament as a key offseason showcase and potentially elevating its ranking on the DP World Tour pathway. This move, announced in May 2025, underscores efforts to blend local heritage with international star power. Parallel to these structural shifts, Golf Australia has integrated sustainability initiatives into the Australian Open since the , aligning with the national Golf Course 2030 roadmap launched in 2022 to promote eco-friendly practices such as , native vegetation preservation, and waste reduction at venues. These efforts include adopting sources for event operations and minimizing environmental impact through biodiversity-friendly course management, reflecting a broader commitment to making more sustainable amid challenges.

Venues

Past Venues

The Australian Open golf tournament, inaugurated in 1904, has been hosted at a variety of prestigious courses across , with early editions primarily concentrated in and Victoria. The inaugural event took place at The Australian Golf Club in , which served as the venue for the first tournament and returned frequently in the initial years, hosting it nine times between 1904 and 1931. Subsequent early venues included in 1905, Royal Sydney Golf Club in 1906, and rotations to Royal Adelaide Golf Club starting in 1910, reflecting a pattern of alternating between Sydney-based clubs and emerging options during the tournament's formative decades. By the and , shifts to courses like Metropolitan Golf Club in 1930 and further returns to The Australian Golf Club underscored the tournament's growing national scope while favoring established and layouts. Several courses have emerged as frequent hosts over the 120-year history, with The Australian Golf Club leading at 22 editions, followed by Royal Melbourne Golf Club with 16, and Royal Sydney Golf Club with 15. Kingston Heath Golf Club has hosted 9 times, while Royal Adelaide Golf Club has hosted 9 times, first in 1910, highlighting a preference for clubs with challenging, historic designs. Royal Melbourne first hosted in 1905 and has been a staple since 1933, contributing to its status as a cornerstone venue through multiple eras. Kingston Heath debuted in 1948 and hosted key post-war events, while The Victoria Golf Club entered the rotation in 1961 and has appeared four times, including recent shared setups. Other notable repeat hosts include Kooyonga Golf Club (5 times in the 1950s–1970s). Regionally, the tournament has been distributed with a strong emphasis on southeastern Australia, where Victoria accounts for 34 editions—over 30% of all events—dominated by 's Sandbelt region, followed closely by with 31 hostings centered on courses. hosted 14 times, primarily at Royal Adelaide and Kooyonga, while , , and saw fewer rotations at 5, 5, and 1 respectively, often to promote national inclusivity in the mid-20th century. The Sandbelt venues, including Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, and The Victoria Golf Club, represent over half of Victorian hostings and more than 25% overall, valued for their strategic bunkering and native sandy terrain. These Sandbelt courses are renowned for their firm and fast playing conditions, which emulate links-style golf through bouncy turf and minimal rough, allowing skilled players to achieve low scores via run-outs and precise approach play. From 2022 to 2024, the tournament adopted a combined men's and women's format, utilizing shared venues such as Kingston Heath and The Victoria Golf Club in 2022 and 2024, and The Australian Golf Club with The Lakes Golf Club in 2023, to streamline logistics and enhance event prestige. Venue selections by Golf Australia prioritize top-ranked courses that offer world-class challenges, exemplified by Royal Melbourne's West Course, consistently rated as Australia's No. 1 and among the global elite for its design and firm, strategic layout. This approach ensures the Australian Open maintains its reputation as a major national championship on courses that test professional fields while showcasing Australia's finest golf architecture.
Frequent Host Courses (1904–2024)Editions HostedFirst YearRegion
The Australian Golf Club221904NSW
161905VIC
Kingston Heath Golf Club91948VIC
Royal Sydney Golf Club151906NSW
Royal Adelaide Golf Club91910SA

Future Venues

The 2025 edition of the men's Australian Open will be held at the in , Victoria, from December 4 to 7, marking the venue's first hosting of the tournament since 1991. The event will utilize the club's Composite Course, a challenging layout combining elements from its West and East courses, renowned for its strategic bunkering and fast greens. World number two is confirmed to headline the field, aiming for a second Stonehaven Cup victory after his 2012 win. In 2026, the tournament shifts to the nearby Kingston Heath Golf Club, also on the prestigious Melbourne Sandbelt, continuing the emphasis on elite, world-class venues to elevate the event's status. is again slated to compete, underscoring the commitment to attracting top international talent. Golf Australia's long-term strategy post-2024 focuses on an annual -centric approach for the men's event, separating it from the women's tournament to optimize scheduling, resources, and player experience while building the national championship's global profile. This shift includes potential rotations among Sandbelt courses like Royal Melbourne on a biennial basis to balance prestige and variety. The selection of these venues is expected to enhance the tournament's appeal, drawing larger international fields through the courses' historical prestige and the event's co-sanctioning by the DP World Tour, which guarantees ranking points and elevated . Venues beyond 2026 remain unconfirmed, with Golf Australia engaged in ongoing negotiations for 2027 and subsequent years amid the separate gender formats.

Winners

List of Champions

The men's Australian Open, first contested in 1904, has been held annually except during periods of global conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic, with a total of 107 editions through 2024 (unplayed: 1914–1919, 1940–1945, 2020–2021). The tournament has been sanctioned by various tours over time, including the (now Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia) since 1923, and co-sanctioned with the European Tour (now DP World Tour) from 1973 to 1981 and again from 2006 onward. From 2022 to 2024, the event was combined with the but maintained separate men's and women's divisions and leaderboards. The table below details the winners, venues, scores, and margins for each edition, based on official records. Early editions (pre-1960s) often lack par data due to course variations; "(a)" denotes amateurs, "p/o" indicates playoff victories, and "*" marks 54-hole events shortened by weather.
YearVenueWinnerNationalityScoreTo ParMargin of Victory
1904The Australian (NSW)Michael Scott (a)ENG315N/A8 shots
1905Royal Melbourne (VIC)Dan SoutarSCO337N/A1 shot
1906Royal Sydney (NSW)Carnegie ClarkAUS322N/A1 shot
1907Royal Melbourne (VIC)Michael Scott (a)ENG318N/A3 shots
1908The Australian (NSW)Clyde Pearce (a)AUS311N/A5 shots
1909Royal Melbourne (VIC)Claude Felstead (a)AUS316N/A2 shots
1910Royal Adelaide (SA)Carnegie ClarkAUS306N/A11 shots
1911Royal Sydney (NSW)Carnegie ClarkAUS321N/A3 shots
1912Royal Melbourne (VIC)Ivo Whitton (a)AUS321N/A5 shots
1913Royal Melbourne (VIC)Ivo Whitton (a)AUS302N/A14 shots
1914–1918Not played (World War I)—————
1919Not played (World War I aftermath)—————
1920The Australian (NSW)Joe Kirkwood Sr.AUS290N/A2 shots
1921Royal Melbourne (VIC)Arthur Le FevreAUS295N/A1 shot
1922Royal Sydney (NSW)Charles CampbellAUS307N/A3 shots
1923Royal Adelaide (SA)Tom HowardAUS301N/A2 shots
1924Royal Melbourne (VIC)Alex Russell (a)AUS303N/A1 shot
1925The Australian (NSW)Fred PopplewellAUS299N/A3 shots
1926Royal Adelaide (SA)Ivo Whitton (a)AUS297N/A2 shots
1927Royal Melbourne (VIC)Rufus StewartAUS297N/A2 shots
1928Royal Sydney (NSW)Fred PopplewellAUS295N/A5 shots
1929Royal Adelaide (SA)Ivo Whitton (a)AUS309N/A1 shot
1930Metropolitan (VIC)Francis EyreAUS306N/A2 shots
1931The Australian (NSW)Ivo Whitton (a)AUS301N/A4 shots
1932Royal Adelaide (SA)Mick Ryan (a)AUS296N/A1 shot
1933Royal Melbourne (VIC)Lou KellyAUS302N/APlayoff
1934Royal Sydney (NSW)Bill BolgerAUS283N/A5 shots
1935Royal Adelaide (SA)Fergus McMahonAUS293N/A2 shots
1936Metropolitan (VIC)Gene SarazenUSA282N/A1 shot
1937The Australian (NSW)George NaismithAUS299N/A1 shot
1938Royal Adelaide (SA)Jim Ferrier (a)AUS283N/A1 shot
1939Royal Melbourne (VIC)Jim Ferrier (a)AUS285N/A2 shots
1940–1945Not played (World War II)—————
1946Royal Sydney (NSW)Ossie PickworthAUS289N/A2 shots
1947Royal Queensland (QLD)Ossie PickworthAUS285N/A1 shot
1948Kingston Heath (VIC)Ossie PickworthAUS289N/APlayoff
1949The Australian (NSW)Eric CreminAUS287N/A1 shot
1950Kooyonga (SA)Norman Von NidaAUS286N/A2 shots
1951Metropolitan (VIC)Peter ThomsonAUS283N/A2 shots
1952Lake Karrinyup (WA)Norman Von NidaAUS278N/A1 shot
1953Royal Melbourne (VIC)Norman Von NidaAUS278N/A2 shots
1954Kooyonga (SA)Ossie PickworthAUS280N/A3 shots
1955Gailes (QLD)Bobby LockeRSA290N/A1 shot
1956Royal Sydney (NSW)Bruce CramptonAUS289N/A1 shot
1957Kingston Heath (VIC)Frank PhillipsAUS287N/A1 shot
1958Kooyonga (SA)Gary PlayerRSA271N/A1 shot
1959The Australian (NSW)Kel NagleAUS284N/A1 shot
1960Lake Karrinyup (WA)Bruce Devlin (a)AUS282N/A1 shot
1961Victoria (VIC)Frank PhillipsAUS275N/A3 shots
1962Royal Adelaide (SA)Gary PlayerRSA281N/A1 shot
1963Royal Melbourne (VIC)Gary PlayerRSA278-107 shots
1964The Lakes (NSW)Jack NicklausUSA287-1Playoff
1965Kooyonga (SA)Gary PlayerRSA264-286 shots
1966Royal Queensland (QLD)Arnold PalmerUSA276-203 shots
1967Commonwealth (VIC)Peter ThomsonAUS281-112 shots
1968Lake Karrinyup (WA)Jack NicklausUSA270-185 shots
1969Royal Sydney (NSW)Gary PlayerRSA278-42 shots
1970Kingston Heath (VIC)Gary PlayerRSA280-81 shot
1971Royal Hobart (TAS)Jack NicklausUSA269-195 shots
1972Kooyonga (SA)Peter ThomsonAUS281-7Playoff
1973Royal Queensland (QLD)J. C. SneadUSA280-81 shot
1974Lake Karrinyup (WA)Gary PlayerRSA277-113 shots
1975The Australian (NSW)Jack NicklausUSA279-93 shots
1976The Australian (NSW)Jack NicklausUSA286-21 shot
1977The Australian (NSW)David GrahamAUS284-41 shot
1978The Australian (NSW)Jack NicklausUSA284-4Playoff
1979Metropolitan (VIC)Jack NewtonAUS288E2 shots
1980The Lakes (NSW)Greg NormanAUS284-42 shots
1981Victoria (VIC)Bill RogersUSA282-61 shot
1982The Australian (NSW)Bob ShearerAUS287-13 shots
1983Kingston Heath (VIC)Peter FowlerAUS285-31 shot
1984Royal Melbourne (VIC)Tom WatsonUSA281-71 shot
1985Royal Melbourne (VIC)*Greg NormanAUS212-41 shot
1986Metropolitan (VIC)Rodger DavisAUS278-102 shots
1987Royal Melbourne (VIC)Greg NormanAUS273-155 shots
1988Royal Sydney (NSW)Mark CalcavecchiaUSA269-193 shots
1989Kingston Heath (VIC)Peter SeniorAUS271-172 shots
1990The Australian (NSW)John MorseUSA283-5Playoff
1991Royal Melbourne (VIC)Wayne GradyAUS285-33 shots
1992The Lakes (NSW)Steve ElkingtonAUS280-82 shots
1993Metropolitan (VIC)Brad FaxonUSA275-131 shot
1994Royal Sydney (NSW)Robert AllenbyAUS280-83 shots
1995Kingston Heath (VIC)Greg NormanAUS278-102 shots
1996The Australian (NSW)Greg NormanAUS280-84 shots
1997Metropolitan (VIC)Lee WestwoodENG274-14Playoff
1998Royal Adelaide (SA)Greg ChalmersAUS288E1 shot
1999Royal Sydney (NSW)Aaron Baddeley (a)AUS274-141 shot
2000Kingston Heath (VIC)Aaron BaddeleyAUS278-101 shot
2001The Grand (QLD)Stuart ApplebyAUS271-131 shot
2002Victoria (VIC)*Steve AllanAUS198-123 shots
2003Moonah Links (VIC)Peter LonardAUS279-92 shots
2004The Australian (NSW)Peter LonardAUS281-31 shot
2005Moonah Links (VIC)Robert AllenbyAUS284-11 shot
2006Royal Sydney (NSW)John SendenAUS280-8Playoff
2007The Australian (NSW)Craig ParryAUS277-111 shot
2008Royal Sydney (NSW)Tim ClarkRSA279-91 shot
2009New South Wales (NSW)Adam ScottAUS273-151 shot
2010The Lakes (NSW)Geoff OgilvyAUS269-191 shot
2011The Lakes (NSW)Greg ChalmersAUS275-133 shots
2012The Lakes (NSW)Peter SeniorAUS284-42 shots
2013Royal Sydney (NSW)Rory McIlroyNIR270-181 shot
2014The Australian (NSW)Jordan SpiethUSA271-131 shot
2015The Australian (NSW)Matt JonesAUS276-8Playoff
2016Royal Sydney (NSW)Jordan SpiethUSA276-12Playoff
2017The Australian (NSW)Cameron Davis (a)AUS273-113 shots
2018The Lakes (NSW)Abraham AncerMEX272-161 shot
2019The Australian (NSW)Matt JonesAUS269-151 shot
2020–2021Not played (COVID-19)—————
2022Victoria & Kingston Heath (VIC)Adrian MeronkPOL268-142 shots
2023The Australian & The Lakes (NSW)Joaquín NiemannCHI271-14Playoff
2024Kingston Heath & Victoria (VIC)Ryggs JohnstonUSA269-183 shots
: Sanctioned by the Australasian PGA from 1923; renamed Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia in 2023.
: Co-sanctioned with European Tour/DP World Tour in specified periods.
: Combined with women's event 2022–2024; separate divisions.

Records and Multiple Winners

The Australian Open has seen several golfers achieve multiple victories, with South African legend holding the record for the most titles at seven, won between 1958 and 1974. American follows with six wins, primarily in the 1960s and 1970s, while Australian and amateur Ivo Whitton each secured five titles. The full list of players with three or more victories is as follows:
PlayerNationalityWinsYears
RSA71958, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1974
USA61964, 1968, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1978
AUS51980, 1985, 1987, 1995, 1996
Ivo Whitton (amateur)AUS51912, 1913, 1926, 1929, 1931
Ossie PickworthAUS41946, 1947, 1948, 1954
Peter ThomsonAUS31951, 1967, 1972
Norman von NidaAUS31950, 1952, 1953
Carnegie ClarkAUS31906, 1910, 1911
Scoring records highlight the tournament's evolution, with setting the benchmark for the lowest 72-hole total at 264 in 1965 at Kooyonga Golf Club, equivalent to 28 under par on a par-73 layout. This mark underscores the scoring potential on Australian courses during that era, though modern setups with firmer conditions have produced comparable under-par totals, such as Jordan Spieth's 13 under in 2014. Margin of victory records include Carnegie Clark's 11-stroke win in 1910 at Royal Adelaide Golf Club, the largest in tournament history. have resolved close contests, with six documented in the event's history, including sudden-death formats introduced in the to determine winners when scores are tied after 72 holes. Australians dominate the winners' list with 62 titles through 2024, reflecting the event's national prestige, followed by 20 victories for and 12 for , signaling growing international appeal since the . achievements add to the tournament's legacy, with 13 amateur winners in total, the last being in 1999 at Victoria Golf Club. Ivo Whitton's five amateur triumphs between 1912 and 1931 remain unmatched, showcasing the historical strength of non-professionals in the open-format competition.

References

  1. https://golf.com.au/aus-open-past-winners
  2. https://thegolfnewsnet.com/ryan_ballengee/2024/11/27/australian-open-golf-history-results-past-winners-127651/
  3. https://golf.com.au/aus-open
  4. https://golf.com.au/golf-australia
  5. https://golf.com.au/event-information-aus-open
  6. https://assets.ctfassets.net/3urhge2ecl20/32zyruMsqX3yJ4U0FE8RXJ/2dae2c85b44253f1564df5d939735644/00034862-source.pdf
  7. https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/news/articles/detail/three-places-in-the-153rd-open-available-at-the-isps-handa-australian-open/
  8. https://www.owgr.com/our-history
  9. https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/news/articles/detail/isps-handa-australian-open-returns-to-the-melbourne-sandbelt/
  10. https://www.reuters.com/sports/golf/australian-open-organisers-cut-womens-field-mixed-gender-event-2023-05-31/
  11. https://www.australiangolfdigest.com.au/womens-australian-open-returns-in-style-with-new-dates-home-in-adelaide/
  12. https://www.foxsports.com.au/golf/australian-open-golf-2023-round-1-tee-times-start-time-how-to-live-stream-field-who-is-the-favourite-prizemoney/news-story/46f0a493690874c42347d1fca320f800
  13. https://archive.golf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/00012636-source.pdf
  14. http://www.australiangolfheritage.org.au/historynuggets.html
  15. https://archive.golf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/00007457-source.pdf
  16. https://golfsocietyaust.com/wp-content/uploads/Carnegie-Clark-by-Neil-Crafter-may-2018.pdf
  17. https://golfsocietyaust.com/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/2019/10/Golf-Society-of-Australia-The-Long-Game-Newsletter-Edition-52_web.pdf
  18. https://www.australiangolfdigest.com.au/day-australian-golf-came-age/
  19. https://archive.golf.org.au/2021/02/players-magnificent-seven/
  20. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/83223/1/83223_acceptedVer.pdf
  21. https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2024/11/26/24306398/australian-open-not-the-players-golfs-fifth-major
  22. https://www.ausgolf.com.au/a-brief-history-of-golf-in-australia
  23. https://www.thedevlin.org/about-bruce-devlin
  24. https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/news/articles/detail/australian-open-to-feature-on-dp-world-tour-for-first-time/
  25. https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/news/articles/detail/isps-handa-becomes-naming-rights-sponsor-of-australian-open/
  26. https://www.skysports.com/golf/news/12176/12037656/australian-open-postponed-until-2021-due-to-coronavirus
  27. https://www.lpga.com/news/2020/australian-opens-canceled-for-2021
  28. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-14/golf-australian-open-mens-and-womens-cancelled-due-to-covid/100538396
  29. https://assets.ctfassets.net/3urhge2ecl20/6Gykj6ZQzIvOcQikeZu3fW/4c0d0a350ec9ddf016d1dbb5c6c4ffa0/2024_Aus_Open_Event_Program.pdf
  30. https://www.foxsports.com.au/golf/australian-open/australian-open-golf-2024-latest-news-format-explained-tee-times-where-to-watch-how-to-watch/news-story/578b53346693ed65fcdedf933a3efe7f
  31. https://www.astma.com.au/news-item/16448/kingston-heath-victoria-to-host-2024-open
  32. https://www.golfaustralia.com.au/news/herbert-frustrated-by-aussie-open-pace-of-play-588666
  33. https://www.reuters.com/sports/golf/australian-open-scrap-mixed-format-after-player-uproar-2025-02-08/
  34. https://www.nine.com.au/sport/golf/news-2024-australian-open-cameron-smith-annoyed-slow-play-warning-elvis-smylie-20241130-p5kurf.html
  35. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-08/australian-open-golf-to-separate-after-criticism-from-players/104913778
  36. https://www.foxsports.com.au/golf/womens-aus-open-golf-to-follow-in-livs-footsteps-as-big-change-announced/news-story/dad034e4a8a5dc655e135458115f6167
  37. https://ladieseuropeantour.com/blog/womens-australian-open-returning-to-adelaide-from-2026
  38. https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/45132153/rory-mcilroy-headed-2025-2026-australian-open
  39. https://www.golfwa.org.au/sustainability-roadmap-for-australian-golf-launched-today/
  40. https://assets.ctfassets.net/3urhge2ecl20/4XO724j7dVpma6j1cTxlAv/2cc6ac9568e36c7751baea13f0aaf88a/GC_2030_Australia_FINAL_1.pdf
  41. https://old.pga.org.au/news/australias-golf-courses-playing-a-role-in-our-sustainable-future/
  42. https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/mcilroy-and-australian-open-locked
  43. https://www.rsgc.com.au/cms/guests-sports/guests-golf/the-australian-open/
  44. https://www.swaindestinations.com/trip-types/golfing-details/11/royal-adelaide-golf-club
  45. https://www.golfpass.com/travel-advisor/articles/worlds-best-golf-trip-australian-sandbelt-melbourne-mornington-peninsula
  46. https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-course/royal-melbourne-west
  47. https://www.australiangolfdigest.com.au/australian-open-secures-new-title-sponsor-ahead-of-decembers-edition-at-royal-melbourne/
  48. https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/news/articles/detail/rory-mcilroy-to-headline-the-2025-and-2026-australian-open/
  49. https://www.nine.com.au/sport/golf/news-2025-australian-open-to-revert-to-separate-mens-womens-tournaments-20250209-p5laoe.html
  50. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/australias-greatest-venue-adam-scott-calls-for-open-to-stay-at-royal-melbourne/news-story/61ecb264b2069512a7779f1b08490c33
  51. https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/schedule/
  52. https://assets.ctfassets.net/3urhge2ecl20/6yp050kzaXQTP9Gnb46ky5/206545dd8ac442b147d2844b070da5fa/HONOUR_ROLL_-_Men-s_Australian_Open_Updated_Nov24.pdf
  53. https://static.au.auprod.dotgolf.com.au/clubs/1000/uploads/aus%20open/honour%20roll_mens%20australian%20open_2024.pdf
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.