Puig Claims Australian PGA Championship, Joins Ballesteros in Spanish Golf History
Spain’s David Puig has claimed the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland, joining legendary countryman Seve Ballesteros as the only Spanish players to win this prestigious title.
Puig delivered a nerveless final round 5-under 66 on Sunday, breaking free from a packed leaderboard with a flurry of early birdies. The 23-year-old LIV Tour player finished at 18-under, two shots clear of China’s Wenyi Ding.
“It feels amazing. I’ve really had a lot of close calls in a few events throughout this year and last year and I kinda wasn’t able to pull it through,” Puig said. “It feels unbelievable especially to win here in Australia and I played some awesome golf so I’m really excited and happy.”
This victory marks Puig’s third professional title but his first on the DP World Tour. What makes this win particularly special is the historical connection to Ballesteros, the former world No. 1 and five-time major champion who won this tournament in 1981.
Puig is just the ninth international winner in the event’s history and only the second since 1998. His consistency was remarkable – he made just two bogeys all week and none during Sunday’s championship round.
Ding finished at 16-under after matching Puig’s final-round 66, making a late charge with birdies on the 16th and 17th holes. But Puig maintained his composure, making a crucial birdie on the 13th and saving par at the 14th to keep his challenger at bay.
“I was definitely nervous but I think I kinda kept my composure pretty well and obviously that start helped a lot,” Puig said.
Local favorites were in the hunt but couldn’t mount a serious challenge down the stretch. Marc Leishman tied for third at 15-under alongside New Zealander Nick Voke, who fired a 66 with three back-nine birdies. Min Woo Lee finished tied for fifth at 14-under.
Former world No. 1 and 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott ended up seventh at 13-under after shooting a final-round 69. The Queenslander will rue several missed birdie opportunities that could have put him right in contention.
The Australian PGA is co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australia and the European tour, which is starting its 2025-26 season just two weeks after Rory McIlroy claimed the Race to Dubai title.
McIlroy will headline next week’s Australian Open field, continuing the strong international presence in Australia’s summer of golf.
