What's on This Week - Week 9

WEEK 9 – WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

Week 9 – Lots to be excited about in Ozzie golf this week. The men play the NZ Open which may decide the Australasian OOM and the women play the first of the four LET co-sanctioned events at the Ford NSW Women’s Open in Wollongong.

LET & WPGA

Tournament: Ford Women’s NSW Open

Dates: 26 Feb – 1 March

Course: Wollongong GC

Purse: AUD $600,000

Ozzies in the field: Lots of Ozzies including Kelsey Bennett, Kirsten Rudgeley, Madison Hinson-Tolchard, Justice Bosio, Steph Bunque, Sarah Kemp and Kiwis Amelia Garvey and Momoka Kobori.

Well this is what Ozziegolf has been waiting for this season. The European players are in town and the four tournament Ozzie swing for the LET gets underway at the seaside Wollongong golf course. Predicted bad weather for most of the week may test everyone particularly if the wind gets up along the ocean holes.

It will be fascinating to see how Canadian young gun Anna Huang goes as well as the Ozzie youngsters Hannah Reeves and amateur Amelia Harris. Don’t be surprised to see one of these three at the top of the leader board. If not them, then experienced players like Cara Gainer, Sara Kouskova and Alice Hewson will be looking to kick start their 2026 season with a strong tournament. There are plenty of tournament winners in the field and it should be a great week of golf. Fingers crossed the weather does the right thing, particularly after the disruption and cancelled tournaments last year.

This is a big chance for our Ozzie LET regulars to get a first win and to do it at home. Kelsey Bennett who hails from Mollymook, not far down the coast from Wollongong, will have plenty of local support. There could not be a better place for her to get her maiden LET victory. Kirsten Rudgeley came close here last year and she is definitely capable of winning on the LET. Rudgeley has had a number of second places over the last two seasons and will definitely be looking to go one better here.

The other Ozzie who might feature is LET Rookie Justice Bosio. She had a great season on the secondary LETAS tour last year losing in two playoffs and narrowly missing automatic promotion through the OOM to the main tour. She went back to Q school and in the end easily qualified and will have a full season of starts.

At the end of the day we will be cheering all the Ozzie women and an Ozzie win would be fantastic.

LPGA

Tournament: HSBC Women’s World Championship

Dates: 26 Feb – 1 March

Course: Sentosa Golf Club

Purse: USD $3.0M

Ozzies in the field: Minjee Lee, Hannah Green, Grace Kim, Steph Kyriacou, Cassie Porter, Robyn Choi, Karis Davidson

The LPGA stays in Asia for another limited field event. A happy hunting ground for Australasians with the last two winners in Lydia Ko, and before her Hannah Green. English up and coming star Mimi Rhodes and Singapore’s LET OOM winner Shannon Tan get invite starts.

Hannah Green looks in good form as does Cassie Porter but both need to put it all together for four rounds. It is the first outing of the season for Minjee Lee so we cannot wait to see her form as she kicks off her year.

PGA Tour of Australasia & Asian Tour

Tournament: New Zealand Open

Dates: 26 Feb – 1 March

Course: Millbrook Resort

Purse: NZD $2.0M

Ozzies in the field: Lots

Played in a pro-am format the field alternates between the Remarkables and Coronet courses on the first two days and then following the cut the remaining field plays the final 36 holes over a composite course.

Dan Hiller probably one of the best ranked and in form players in the field. The Kiwi has played exceptionally well this year on the DP World Tour where he currently sits 5th on the OOM. Kazuma Kobori is another kiwi DP World Tour player coming home for thi8s event.

All the usual Ozzie stars and this tournament could decide the 2026 OOM. Of the Ozzies look out for Cameron John who has been super consistent and won twice already this year, young star Declan O’Donovan who won in style a couple of weeks ago and Christopher Wood who has been missing a bit lately but still sits 2nd on the OOM and will be keen to regain the top spot.

Set at the magnificent Millbrook Resort this should be a great week of viewing at one of the most picturesque courses in New Zealand.

PGA Tour

Tournament: Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches

Dates: 26 Feb – 1 March

Course: PGA National – Champion Course

Purse: USD $9.6M

Ozzies in the field: Adam Scott, Cam Davis, Karl Vilips

Only about USD $1.5M for the winner this week so none of the top 10 players in the world tee it up. That’s ok because it gives some other super talented golfers a chance to earn some money and important FedexCup points.

Adam Scott playing as many tournaments as he can early in the season no doubt because his exemption runs out this year and he has to win again or finish top 100 to play regularly next year. Cam Davis desperately needs to find some form and whilst it is early in the year he sits well outside the top 100 and needs points badly.

Korn Ferry Tour

Tournament: 119 Visa Argentina Open

Dates: 26 Feb – 1 March

Course: Jockey Club, Buenos Aires

Purse: USD $1.0M

Ozzies in the field: Rhein Gibson, Harry Hiller (NZ)

The winner of the Argentina Open gets entry to The Open so plenty to play for this week.

DP World Tour

Tournament: Investec South African Open Championship

Dates: 27 Feb – 1 March

Course: Stellenbosch GC Stellenbosch

Purse: USD $1.5M

Ozzies in the field: Jason Scrivener

Patrick Reed is back, no doubt trying to snare the ticket to The Open which goes to the winner as part of the Open Qualifying Series. The Big Easy, Ernie Els is also teeing it up for his national open.

A big list of national spots means not many Ozzies get a start here. With the kiwis headed home for the New Zealand Open only Jason Scrivener is teeing it up this week.