[Photo: Two-time PNG Open champion Cory Crawford]
The largest, strongest and most international field of professional golfers ever seen in Papua New Guinea will contest the 2026 PNG Open at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club.
Marking the start of the 2026/2027 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season, a capacity field of 120 players will take part in the 72-hole championship from Thursday, while five Papua New Guinean women will join nine members of the WPGA Tour of Australasia for the second PNG Women’s Open, played over 36 holes across the weekend.
The men’s championship will feature no fewer than 22 winners of Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia events, along with players boasting international victories on their resume such as James Marchesani and Sam Brazel.
Eight American players who earned status through US Q School over the past two years add to an international flavour in PNG that will also feature 21 local hopes, as golf continues to grow in popularity across the region.
Their inclusion continues one of the PNG Open’s proudest traditions, providing invaluable experience for the country’s emerging golfers while showcasing the continued growth of the game in Papua New Guinea.
Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia General Manager of Tournaments and Global Tour Relationships, Nick Dastey, said the strength of this year’s field reflected the standing the PNG Open has earned among players.
“There’s always a real sense of anticipation when we arrive in Papua New Guinea because it signals the beginning of another Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season,” Dastey said.
“The PNG Open has become one of the most popular events on our schedule and the quality of this year’s field reflects just how highly regarded the tournament is among our members.
“To have so many Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia tournament winners in the field makes this one of the strongest PNG Opens we’ve ever staged.
“Just as importantly, it’s fantastic to once again have more than 20 Papua New Guinea players competing alongside our professionals. Providing local players with the opportunity to test themselves at this level is a key part of what makes this championship so special and plays an important role in the continued development of golf in Papua New Guinea.”
Queenslander Cory Crawford returns as a two-time champion at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club, with Dastey grateful for the support of the club’s administrators, its members and the broader Port Moresby community.
“Royal Port Moresby Golf Club consistently produces a memorable week of golf and the passion shown by the local golfing community is a huge part of that,” Dastey said.
“We’re excited to return, begin another Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season and continue the strong partnership we’ve built with the PNG Golf Association, our hosts and supporters over many years.”
The nations represented in this year’s field are Australia, PNG, New Zealand, the US, Spain, Fiji and Korea.
PNG Open
Royal Port Moresby Golf Club, Port Moresby
Prizemoney: $225,000
Live scores: GOLF.com.au
Recent champions
2025: Cory Crawford (4 strokes)
2024: William Bruyeres (2 strokes)
2023: Lachlan Barker (4 strokes)
2020-2022: Not contested
2019: Peter Cooke (2 strokes)
2018: Daniel Gale (9 strokes)
2017: Cory Crawford (playoff)
2016: Brad Moules (playoff)
Players to watch
- Declan O’Donovan — reigning Players Series Sydney champion and 2025/2026 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Rookie of the Year
- Cory Crawford — two-time PNG Open champion
- Jordan Doull — two-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner
- Daniel Gale — 2018 PNG Open champion and three-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner
- Jay Mackenzie — reigning and current adidas PGA Pro-Am Series Order of Merit leader
