Cameron Smith, the British Open champion will be making an emotional return home to Brisbane to contest the Australian PGA Championship in November.
Smith will be bringing the Claret Jug along with him to Australia when he returns in 2019. He will also be competing in the Australian Open in Melbourne, December 1-4.
Smith was victorious at the 150th Open at St Andrews last week and now Smith wants to complete his remarkable 2022 with more silverware made on Australian soil.
The 28-year-old won back to back Australian PGA Championships in 2017 & 2018, and will be aiming to win a third when he tees it up in his hometown city, November 24-27.
The world No.2 said, Ive had an amazing year and to be returning home to play tournaments it is the icing on top.
It is so exciting to see old friends and family again. Some of them I haven’t seen for many years, and once I get to my first round on the course, I’ll be looking for more trophies.
Smiths record-setting win at the Old Course, Scotland was his third of this year after he also won the Players Championship in Hawaii and the Tournament of Champions.
The Queenslander is still linked to an impending move into LIV Golf.
Smith will still have the opportunity to participate in Australias two largest events of the summer, even if he joins Greg Norman’s Saudi-backed Breakaway League after the PGA Tour’s final FedEx Cup playoff tournament.
Officials of the Australasian Tour are not following the European Tour and PGA leaders in banning any LIV Golf players.
Smith is the latest big name to commit to the Australian Open, PGA Championships.
He joins fellow PGA Tour star Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert.
Hannah Green, a former Womens US PGA Champion, will also be teeing up at mixed-gender Australian Open at Kingston Heath Golf Club.
South Africas Womens British Open champion Ashleigh Buffai, who was also announced Thursday that she would play in the Australian Open. The Australian Open is offering $3.4 million in prize money which will be divided equally between men and women.
James Sutherland, Chief Executive of Golf Australia, stated that Smith and Buhai were a huge boost for Australian golf fans.
Sutherland said, Over these last few years Australians have loved following the ascent of Cameron Smith.
He delights fans all ages. Even young children have been inspired by his example, turning up to the course sporting mullets and dreaming about playing like him.
For Australian golf fans, this is a great chance to come and see Cameron – and to recognize his brilliant achievements including his recent Open Championship win.
The announcement of the two British Open champions, mens and ladies, in one day is a sign that the Australian Open field is growing.
Ashleigh is one of these stars and her dedication to the event highlights how internationally well-received this new format has proven to be. Sutherland stated that she is a major champion and wants to be a part.
This years Open champion, and AIG Women’s Open Champion is a huge coup for the event.