A pair of curly questions from you for WPGA Tour of Australasia chief executive Karen Lunn
Now that the Women’s Australian Open is locked in for Adelaide as a standalone event next year, what can we expect in terms of an international field?
– M. Davidson, Adelaide, SA
It was a great thrill to be a part of the announcement of the 2026 Australian Open in Adelaide, where the event has a home for the next three years thanks to the partnership with the South Australian Government.
Work has already commenced on the field, with player feedback on returning to Adelaide and the time of year very positive, and as always, the primary focus will be on having our top Australians return home to hopefully lift the trophy.
The Australian Open will be co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour (LET), which will bring great diversity in terms of international players to the tournament, as has been the case for events in New South Wales in recent years and for the 2025 Australian WPGA Championship before Cyclone Alfred intervened.
With a national Open part of an Australian swing of events, I am certain we will have plenty of interest from the best players on the LET – particularly in a Solheim Cup year. We know how much visiting players have enjoyed playing the tournament in the past and conversations with players and their managers over the coming months will continue to ensure the best possible field.
The tournament will also fall during a time of year when the LPGA Tour takes a short break after its Asian Swing, making it a less significant journey to Australia for other players.
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There is an argument that our women not only equal but perhaps even outperform the men on the world’s biggest tours, particularly in recent years. What’s the secret?
– S. Richards, Cronulla, NSW
Australia has a long history of players competing on the biggest stage that has helped inspire and develop the next generation of players. The most obvious example is Karrie Webb, who has not only been a role model, but has actively played a part in the current crop of players winning tournaments and contending at major championships through her scholarship program. In addition to the likes of Karrie sharing her experiences and wisdom, our players are clearly benefitting from the development programs in place across the country.
We know the Aussie women competing overseas are a tight-knit bunch, they offer great support to each other and, in my opinion, are feeding of each other’s success. It’s almost like, If they can do it, I can do it too! Hannah Green and Minjee Lee grew up not only as friends, but competitors, which I am sure drove them to get better. The same is true of Steph Kyriacou and Grace Kim, and numerous others.
I also think the confidence and experience our players gain playing on the WPGA Tour, firstly as amateurs and then when they turn pro, helps. Having the opportunity to compete against some of the best players in the world means that when they arrive on the LPGA and the LET, they are much more comfortable in that environment.
Often we will throw young players in the ‘deep end’, if you like, pairing them with some of the leading players at our major events. While it may be daunting for them at the time, I am sure they will admit that these experiences have not only taught them how the best players go about their business, but it has also helped them feel more comfortable when they play their way into the leading groups on the major tours.
As a tour, one of our focuses is to create opportunities for the next generation to learn to compete, so playing in our bigger events and playing alongside the men in the Webex Players Series events exposes them to so many chances to learn.
Got something you want to ask the boss of the WPGA Tour of Australasia? E-mail your question(s) to [email protected]
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