[PHOTO: Getty Images]
Seven Australians are teeing up at the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina. Get to know them before Thursday night’s AEST (Thursday morning US) opening tee shot:
Min Woo Lee
The Chef arrives at Quail Hollow for his fourth PGA Championship as one of the most exciting young stars in world golf. The 26-year-old Perth product has made back-to-back cuts at this major, with a career-best T-18 at Oak Hill in 2023 and a T-26 at Valhalla last year. Known for his heavy distance off the tee, electric shot-making and flair, Lee has steadily improved in majors, highlighted by a T-5 at the 2023 US Open and a T-14 at the 2022 Masters. He broke through on the PGA Tour earlier this year with a commanding win at the Houston Open, firing a 20-under-par total. Statistically, he excels off the tee and around the greens, and his creativity could thrive at a demanding venue like Quail Hollow.
Cameron Davis
Davis is looking to rediscover the major form that propelled him to a career-best T-4 finish at the PGA Championship at Oak Hill in 2023. The 30-year-old from Sydney has made three cuts in four PGA Championship starts, with last year’s missed cut at Valhalla a rare hiccup. His standout moment remains that final-round 65 in 2023. Davis, who bases himself in Seattle, has struggled for consistency in recent months, missing five of his last eight cuts—including the Masters—but showed flashes of brilliance with a T-5 at the Pebble Beach Pro Am and T-13 at RBC Heritage. Statistically, his tee-to-green game remains solid. If Davis can harness the rhythm that earned him $US777,000 across his PGA Championship career, he’s a genuine dark horse at Quail Hollow.
Jason Day
The Beaudesert, Queensland native is making his 16th PGA Championship appearance with history and form up his sleeves. The 2015 champion at Whistling Straits and 2016 runner-up at Baltusrol, Day has recorded six top-10 finishes in this major and earned over $US4.3 million in prize money. At Quail Hollow in 2017, he tied for ninth despite a costly triple-bogey on the third round. Now 37, Day has shown flashes of his former brilliance in 2025 with a T-3 at The American Express and a T-8 at both Bay Hill and the Masters, the first and major recent major. He remains one of the game’s best short-game performers, ranking top-10 in strokes gained around the green and putting at several events this season. If his iron play sharpens, Day’s blend of major experience, resilience, and familiarity with Quail Hollow makes him a legitimate contender to watch this week.
Adam Scott
Scott is making an impressive 25th PGA Championship appearance with the motivation to prove he still belongs among golf’s elite. The 44-year-old former Masters champion has made 17 cuts in 24 PGA starts, finishing top 10 six times and recording his best PGA results with T3s in 2006 and 2018. He’s twice led rounds at this major and shot a sizzling 64 at Bethpage in 2019. Scott’s 2025 season has been lacklustre, with just two top-25 finishes. His most recent good finish at a major was a T-10 at Royal Troon in The Open when he was only two shots off the lead early on the final day. Working against him is a recent missed cut at the Masters.
Cameron Smith
Smith enters the PGA Championship as one of the most enigmatic contenders in the field. The 2022 Open Champion has shown he can thrive under major pressure, and his career-best T-9 at the 2023 PGA at Oak Hill. Smith has made eight cuts in nine PGA Championship starts, though Quail Hollow was the site of his career-worst major round—an 82 in 2017. The 31-year-old Queenslander is a wizard with the putter and ranks among the best in strokes gained around the greens. He’s had a mixed 2025, with strong finishes on the LIV Golf circuit (T-5 in Mexico, T-7 in Korea), but also missed the cut at the Masters.
Elvis Smylie
The left-hander Smylie makes his PGA Championship debut. The 23-year-old Queenslander’s only previous major appearance resulted in a missed cut at the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon, Smylie has gained massive international experience on the DP World Tour. This season, he’s notched top-20 finishes in China and Hainan and a win at the co-sanctioned Australian PGA. While he may lack major pedigree, his smooth left-handed swing, quiet confidence, and fearless style could surprise at a venue like Quail Hollow, where shot-making and precision are key.
Karl Vilips
Making his PGA Championship debut, 23-year-old Vilips is one of Australia’s most exciting young talents. Born in Indonesia and raised in Perth before relocating to the US, Vilips turned professional in 2024 after a decorated junior and collegiate career. Vilips notched a breakthrough win at the recent Puerto Rico Open. He missed the cut at his only previous major (2023 US Open), but Vilips has shown flashes of elite form—particularly in his approach play and short game.
TEE TIMES
Former PGA Championship winner Jason Day will be paired with legendary golfer Phil Mickelson for the second major in a row after tee-times at Quail Hollow revealed several star groupings and a relatively kind time difference for Australian followers.
After playing the opening two rounds of the Masters with six-time major winner Mickelson, Day, who finished T-8 at Augusta after contending the whole way, will again tee up with Lefty as well as Ryder Cup star Tommy Fleetwood at the second major of the year.
Seven Australians are in the field for this week’s PGA Championship at Charlotte’s famed Quail Hollow course.
Day will lead off the the Australians, starting at 9.49pm on Thursday evening (7.49am local time in Charlotte). Moments later, young superstar Min Woo Lee will get his PGA campaign underway at 10.11pm.
Lee’s fellow West Australian, recent Puerto Rico Open winner Karl Vilips, is the last of the evening tee times for Australian viewers at 10.17pm.
TEE-TIMES FOR THE AUSTRALIANS AT THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP AT QUAIL HOLLOW:
9.49pm Jason Day, Phil Mickelson, Tommy Fleetwood
10.11pm Min Woo Lee, Corey Conners, Rasmus Hojgaard
10.17pm Karl Vilips, Thobjorn Olesen, Laurie Canter
2.36am Cameron Davis, Eric Steger, Eric Cole
3.03am Adam Scott, Tyrrell Hatton, Will Zalatoris
4.09am Cameron Smith, Justin Rose, Brian Harman
4.26am Elvis Smylie, Brian Campbell, Jhonattan Vegas
HOW TO WATCH
The PGA Championship will be broadcast on Fox Sports, Kayo Sports and Foxtel.
Main broadcast (AEST):
Friday, May 16: Round 1 – 3am – 9am
Saturday, May 17: Round 2 – 3am – 9am
Sunday, May 18: Round 3 – 3am – 9am
Monday, May 19: Final round – 3am – 9am
COMPLETE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE HERE
