[Photo: Getty Images]
Grace Kim will bring her rapidly rising star power back to Australian shores in March, with the major winner confirmed as an early marquee player for the 2026 Women’s Australian Open at Kooyonga Golf Club.
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The tournament, scheduled for March 12–15, will welcome the Sydneysider as part of a Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned field in Adelaide. Kim will arrive riding the momentum of her breakthrough 2025 season, highlighted by her first career major victory at the Amundi Evian Championship and playing a pivotal role in Australia’s triumph at the 2025 International Crown.
The 2026 edition marks the Women’s Australian Open’s return as a standalone event after being held concurrently with the men’s championship from 2022 to 2024.
Kim will be chasing her first Patricia Bridges Bowl, the Women’s Australian Open trophy.
Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland said Kim’s commitment was a significant boost for an event shaping as one of the strongest fields in recent memory.
“Grace Kim is one of Australia’s most successful and admired young athletes, and we’re thrilled to welcome her back home to compete in the women’s Australian Open at Kooyonga,” Sutherland said. “Grace has had an amazing year. Her breakthrough major win at the Evian Championship in July and consistent performances over the LPGA season now sees her as one of the leading players in the world. We’re all looking forward to seeing her in action at Kooyonga in March.”
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Sutherland also pointed to the broader momentum behind the sport nationally.
“[The recent] Crown men’s Australian Open was the most-attended golf event in Australian history [with more than 112,000 fans attending],” he said. “It is yet another sign of golf’s growth and increasing popularity, and we are confident about building on that momentum as we look forward to our women’s national championship in Adelaide in March.”
WPGA Tour of Australasia chief executive Karen Lunn said Kim’s presence was a major drawcard.
“Grace has delivered a series of impressive performances recently including this year’s Amundi Evian Championship. Her inclusion in the field for the 2026 women’s Australian Open significantly strengthens the field for the event,” Lunn said.
“She has demonstrated her ability to compete with the best in the world, and I am confident she will arrive in Adelaide determined to go one better and pursue a major victory on home soil.
“Her commitment to competing next March represents a strong endorsement of the direction women’s golf is taking in Australia. Spectators will be delighted to see her at Kooyonga, and there is no doubt she will continue to inspire the next generation of emerging players.”
The 2026 Women’s Australian Open will once again be co-sanctioned by the WPGA Tour of Australasia and the Ladies European Tour, reinforcing its status on the international calendar. South Australia is locked in as the host state for the next three editions of the championship.
Tickets for the 2026 Women’s Australian Open are on sale now via Ticketek.
