Former champion Joaquin Niemann will return to Melbourne in December, with the Chilean superstar headlining the latest international additions to the field for the 2026 Capital.com Australian Open.
Niemann, who claimed the Stonehaven Cup in a sudden-death playoff at The Australian Golf Club in 2023, will be joined by fellow Torque GC teammates Carlos Ortiz and Sebastián Muñoz for the championship at Kingston Heath Golf Club from December 3-6.
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The 27-year-old will arrive back in Australia after another outstanding season that has further established him among the leading international players in the game. Niemann claimed victories at LIV Golf Korea and LIV Golf New York – taking his career tally to nine LIV Golf individual titles – was second at the Irish Open on the DP World Tour and has had another five top-10 finishes already in 2026.
“Australia has always been a special place for me and the Australian Open is a tournament I have a lot of great memories from,” Niemann said. “Winning in 2023 was a really special moment in my career and I’ve loved coming back and playing in front of the Australian fans.
“The Australian Open has such a great history and it’s a tournament I’m proud to have my name on. I’m looking forward to getting back to Melbourne, playing a great Sandbelt course in Kingston Heath and hopefully having another chance to compete for the championship.”
Mexican Ortiz was one of the more consistent performers among the Torque GC line-up in 2026, highlighted by a sixth-place finish at LIV Golf Hong Kong and an eighth-place finish at LIV Golf South Africa. The 35-year-old, who finished eighth in last year’s Australian Open, also produced an excellent performance on the DP World Tour in July, sharing fourth place at the BMW International Open in Munich.
The former PGA Tour winner is also confirmed to play in the BMW Australian PGA Championship at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney from November 26-29.
Colombian Muñoz has victories on both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, defeating Jon Rahm in a playoff in Indianapolis last year. He had his first top-10 finish in Australia at LIV Adelaide earlier this year.
Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the trio were significant additions to this year’s Capital.com Australian Open.
“Joaquin has already established a special connection with the Australian Open and Australian golf, and we’re delighted to welcome him back to Melbourne,” Sutherland said. “His victory in 2023 was one of the great finishes in recent Australian Open history, and he has continued to establish himself as one of the outstanding international players of his generation.
“To have Joaquin, Carlos and Sebastián confirmed for the Australian Open adds strong international depth to our field for Kingston Heath. We’re looking forward to welcoming them back to Australia and seeing them compete for the Stonehaven Cup.”
With Niemann, Ortiz and Muñoz now confirmed, the international contingent for the 2026 Capital.com Australian Open continues to take shape ahead of the championship at Kingston Heath Golf Club. They join a list headed by Grand Slam winner Rory McIlroy and including Canadian Presidents Cup team member Corey Conners, reigning New Zealand Open champion Daniel Hillier and young Spaniard Josele Ballester.
The Capital.com Australian Open is co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour through its strategic alliance with the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
