The Australian PGA Championship was cut to 54 holes due to torrential rain that forced the entire second round to be abandoned. Rainfall in the Brisbane area totaled around 250mm in the last week, leading to saturated turf and standing water all around the course at Royal Queensland Golf Club. The second round was delayed on Friday and eventually abandoned without a ball being struck, prompting the decision to reduce the event to 54 holes. The second round is set to be played on Saturday, with the final round scheduled for Sunday.
DP World Tour tournament director Jose Maria Zamora stated that the course was deemed unplayable due to continued downpours, leading to the decision to cut the event short. With the ISPA HANDA Australian Open taking place the following week over two courses, extending the Australian PGA into a Monday finish was not feasible from a logistical standpoint. The goal is to conclude the tournament as planned on Sunday while considering the upcoming event’s logistics.
Local golfer Elvis Smylie maintains a one-shot lead at the Australian PGA Championship after a stellar performance in the first round, carding eight birdies against two bogeys for a six-under round of 65. He leads by one shot over four players who shot 66, including Sweden’s Joel Girrbach, Australian Matias Sanchez, Chile’s Cristobal Del Solar, and Victor Perez – a three-time DP World Tour winner. There are five Australians in a group of eight players just one shot further back on four under, including Jason Day, Cameron Smith, and Marc Leishman.
The tournament will now see a quicker conclusion with only 36 holes left to crown the 2024 Australian PGA champion. The condensed format will add excitement to the competition as players vie for the title over the weekend. With top golfers in contention and a tight leaderboard, the final rounds promise to be filled with thrills and drama. Fans can expect intense competition as players battle it out on the course to determine the ultimate winner of the Australian PGA Championship. Stay tuned for updates on the tournament and follow the action as it unfolds over the weekend.
