PGA moved to end of Aussie season

Cam Smith won his second consecutive Kirkwood Cup last year. Photo: PGA of Australia

The Australian PGA Championship of 2019 has moved dates

The time-honored tournament is now being played from December 19-22, at the RACV Royal Pines Resort in Queensland after being scheduled three weeks earlier.

Since moving to the Gold Coast, the Australian PGA Championship has established itself as a golf festival with a festive atmosphere, aided by programming as the last event of the year

After discussions with key stakeholders, including the co-sanctioning partner, the European Tour, the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia decided to maintain that end position at the end of the season.

"The Australian PGA Championship … will close a massive three-week golf course in Australia when it follows the Emirates Australian Open and the Presidential Cup," said Gavin Kirkman, CEO of the PGA of Australia.

"The Australian PGA championship has been embraced by players and sports fans because of the fun atmosphere and we think it is important that this is the last tournament of the year for us to deliver that experience expectation."

The week starts with the Greg Norman medal dinner on Tuesday evening, when the top performers in the Australian golf industry are announced for their performance.

The fun continues with the MyGolf Kids Day.

"We have seen some exciting conclusions from the Australian PGA Championship and the Order of Merit in recent years and believe that the atmosphere created on the Gold Coast is the perfect setting to celebrate," said Kirkman.

"This was one of the motivating factors in the change of date."