The Australian PGA Championship comes to Sydney this summer for the first time in almost three decades. The Lakes Golf Club will host the 2026 tournament from 26 to 29 November, after Brisbane’s Royal Queensland Golf Club gave up the event while its course is upgraded ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games.

The move

The NSW Government says it is the first time the championship has been played in the state since 1998. The Lakes has hosted the PGA three times before, in 1950, 1972 and 1987, as well as eight Australian Opens.

The tournament is supported by the NSW Government through Destination NSW and is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, which uses it to launch its 2027 Race to Dubai season. The Australian Open follows a week later at Kingston Heath in Melbourne.

“We are delighted to be returning to New South Wales and The Lakes Golf Club this November,” said DP World Tour chief tournament and operations officer Ben Cowen. “Our members thoroughly enjoy opening our season down under, with the BMW Australian PGA Championship in particular a key launchpad for the Race to Dubai.”

The field

The headline Australian entry is Cameron Smith, who has won the Joe Kirkwood Cup three times, in 2018, 2019 and 2022. Destination NSW noted that a fourth title would put Smith alongside Robert Allenby, Bill Dunk, Kel Nagel and Norman von Nida as the only players to win the championship at least four times.

“It’ll be interesting seeing the tournament in Sydney and especially at The Lakes which is such a good test of golf,” Smith said. “If the winds get up, it can be a very testing place to play.”

Adam Scott has also confirmed he will play. Spain’s David Puig is the defending champion, having won at Royal Queensland in 2025, and Elvis Smylie won the 2024 edition.

The event economy

The PGA’s move is a reminder of how fiercely state governments compete for major events. The NSW Government estimates the tournament will attract around 15,000 visitors to Sydney and inject more than $10 million into the state’s visitor economy. Minister for Sport, Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said it would “provide a significant boost to the NSW visitor economy, attracting thousands of visiting fans, players and officials.” Victoria, which has secured the next two Australian Opens, and South Australia, home to LIV Golf Adelaide, are making the same bet.

For tournament organisers, government support is often what makes a strong field financially possible. Appearance fees for international stars, broadcast production and spectator facilities are expensive, and ticket sales alone rarely cover them. Governments justify the outlay through visitor spending, hotel nights and the value of having their city shown to international audiences.

“The city is synonymous with world-class sporting events and we are thrilled that we are able to return to The Lakes Golf Club,” said PGA of Australia chief executive Gavin Kirkman.

What to watch

For Sydney golf fans, the PGA is a rare chance to see an elite field in the city. For the industry, the question is whether the move delivers crowds and economic returns comparable to Brisbane’s. The answer will shape where the tournament goes next, and how much governments are willing to pay to host it.

The Lakes, close to the airport and the CBD, offers excellent access. Smith’s warning about the wind suggests it will also offer a stern test.