Cam Davis set for Australian Open and PGA Championship

Coming off a career-best PGA Tour in the US, Aussie golf star Cam Davis is on the hunt for his second Stonehaven Cup at the Australian Open in November.

CAMERON DAVIS.
CAMERON DAVIS. Picture: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

More than five years since an astonishing Australian Open victory, Cam Davis is setting his sights on winning a second Stonehaven Cup.

The rising star of Aussie golf confirmed on Thursday he would take on the Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane this November, before heading home to Sydney for a shot at another Australian Open title.

"It's always enjoyable to come back home and to be part of the Summer Golf in Australia," Davis said.

"I have great memories of The Australian and going back there, as well as The Lakes, for the Open is something I'm very much looking forward to."

Ranked outside the top 1000 in the world, then 22-year-old Davis produced a sensational against-the-odds performance to take out the 2017 Australian Open.

Davis, now 28, enjoyed seven top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour in 2023 and tied for fourth at the PGA Championship to execute his best finish to date in his young major championship career.

He recently finished joint-third at the Fortinet Championship in California to reach a career-high Official World Golf Ranking of 44.

Perhaps returning to his underdog status, Davis will face a formidable opponent in Australia's No.1 drawcard Cam Smith at the Australian Open, who will also have another crack at the two local majors.

Despite three Australian PGA titles to his name, the Stonehaven Cup has eluded Smith - his best finish was a playoff defeat to American Jordan Spieth in 2016.

The two tournaments are part of a new summer schedule for the 2023/24 PGA Tour of Australasia, which includes trips to five states and New Zealand.

Having begun with the PNG Open in May, the Tour's schedule includes two new events - the Webex Players Series in South Australia in October and January's Heritage Class in Melbourne.

More than $9 million in prizemoney will be up for grabs in the Tour's 18 events in a bid to grow the sport in Australia.

"The fact is that all these kids can't make enough money in this country to really hone their game," veteran Australian golfer Paul Gow said on Thursday.

"Five or six years ago, we had a handful of events and it was awful. The players had nothing.

"Now, they've got something. They'll make enough money and off they can go and they can support their career."