A record number of Australian golfers will seek to create their own piece of history at this week’s famed Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
A staple on the DP World Tour since 2001 that pairs professionals with amateur playing partners, the Dunhill Links is played across three iconic courses: the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie Golf Links and Kingsbarns.
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There has always been a heavy Aussie presence since the tournament’s inception but none more so than this week when 20 Aussies – and two Kiwis – will chase championship glory across three iconic Scottish links.
Between 2006 and 2011 there were at least 16 Australians in the field, topping out at 18 in both 2008 and 2011, but no Australian has ever won. (Kiwi Ryan Fox was victorious in 2022 and paid tribute to his former regular amateur partner, the late Shane Warne.)
Among the 22 Australasian players in the field this week, 19 are tournament winners on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia with all four members of the Ripper GC team in Cameron Smith, Lucas Herbert, Marc Leishman and Elvis Smylie teeing it up on the DP World Tour.
Ten of the 22 are in the field directly through their finish on the 2025-2026 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, the strategic alliance with the DP World Tour key in providing international playing opportunities.
Following is a short bio on all 22 Australasian players out to conquer the Scottish links.
Austin Bautista (Randwick GC): A true global golfer who now plays primarily on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa, Bautista is a three-time winner on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, including last year’s WA PGA.
Jack Buchanan (Glenelg GC): Winner of both the WA PGA Championship and Players Series South Australia in 2024 saw Buchanan finish sixth on the 2024-2025 Order of Merit. Had to wait before confirmation that he had status on the DP World Tour in 2026 where he has made 14 starts to date.
Will Florimo (Pacific GC): The Brisbane left-hander enjoyed a breakthrough win at the Heritage Classic in March and also has status on the Asian Tour.
Lucas Herbert (Commonwealth GC): Arguably Australia’s form men’s golfer given his run at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale and record-setting performing at LIV Golf UK a week later. Won the 2024 Ford NSW Open at Murray Downs.
Daniel Hillier (Te Arai Links): The reigning NZ Open champion is already a winner on the DP World Tour having taken out the 2023 Betfred British Masters.
Cameron John (Commonwealth GC): Recently became a first-time dad to son Finley after a 2025-2026 season in which he won three times and finished second on the Order of Merit.
Marc Leishman (Warrnambool GC): Displayed his class in cyclonic conditions to win the Vic PGA Championship in December having finished tied third at both the BMW Australian PGA and WA Open.
Jay Mackenzie (Ballina GC): The 2022 WA PGA champion is in arguably career-best form and had eight top-10 finishes last season.
James Marchesani (Rosebud CC): Although still without a win on home soil, Marchesani’s hallmark consistency saw him finish third on the Order of Merit and secure a card on the HotelPlanner Tour in 2027.
Connor McKinney (Joondalup CC): The last Australian in the field, the 2026 Players Series Perth champion earned a DP World Tour card at Final Qualifying School last November. Born in Scotland, McKinney’s first pro win came on the Tartan Tour in 2025.
David Micheluzzi (Cranbourne GC): A three-win season saw Micheluzzi clinch the 2022-2023 Order of Merit and secure status on the DP World Tour. Currently in his third season in Europe with a best finish a tie for second at the 2024 BMW International Open.
Declan O’Donovan (Avondale GC): Burst onto the professional scene with a strong showing at the Ford NSW Open last November and then earning a first career title at Players Series Sydney at Castle Hill.
Wade Ormsby (Royal Adelaide GC): The South Australian veteran continues to compete on the Asian Tour, winning in Jakarta last year and finishing second just last week in Taiwan.
Ryan Peake (Lakelands CC): Recorded an emotional New Zealand Open triumph in 2025 and has spent the majority of this year playing his rookie season on the DP World Tour.
Anthony Quayle (Sanctuary Cove G&CC): A two-time winner on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, Quayle relinquished his status on the Japan Golf Tour to direct his energies back home. The result was eight top-five finishes across the 2024-2025 season and a ticket to the DP World Tour.
Matias Sanchez (Royal Melbourne GC): A win at the Players Series South Australia at Willunga last October was a first on tour for Sanchez, a former club champion at Royal Melbourne.
Jason Scrivener (Mandurah CC): A stalwart of the DP World Tour, the South African-born, West Australian-based Scrivener is playing the Dunhill Links for the first time since 2023 with a best finish a tie for 24th in 2018.
Cameron Smith (Wantima CC): The former world No.2 and 2022 Open champion came within a whisker of pulling off one of the great Australian sporting victories at last year’s Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.
Elvis Smylie (Southport GC): Conquered crazy weather to win the 2024 WA Open and then followed it up with a steely Sunday performance to win the 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship. Joined Ripper GC in 2026 and won in his first LIV Golf start.
Jack Thompson (Grange GC): Spending most of his time on the Asian Tour these days, Thompson won the Gippsland Super 6 in 2021 and lost in a playoff to Travis Smyth at the inaugural ISPS Handa Japan-Australasia Championship in February.
Nick Voke (Royal Auckland): A regular on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia since 2023 and winner of the 2025 Players Series Sydney, Voke won three times on the PGA Tour Series China in 2018. Uses his downtime to create golf content for his YouTube channel.
Kevin Yuan (The Australian GC): The Sydney product is still without a win on a major tour yet has finished top-10 19 times across both the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour.
Round 1 tee-times (AEST)
DP World Tour
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, Scotland
Old Course
6pm Nick Voke (NZ)
6:33pm Elvis Smylie
7:28pm Wade Ormsby
7:50pm Austin Bautista
7:50pm* Cameron John
8:23pm* Will Florimo
Carnoustie
7:06pm* Lucas Herbert
7:17pm Anthony Quayle
7:39pm Declan O’Donovan
7:39pm* Daniel Hillier (NZ)
8:23pm* Cam Smith
Kingsbarns
6:22pm David Micheluzzi
6:33pm* Connor McKinney, Kevin Yuan
6:44pm Jay Mackenzie, Matias Sanchez
6:44pm* Marc Leishman
7:17pm Jack Thompson
7:39pm Jack Buchanan
7:50pm Jason Scrivener
8:01pm Ryan Peake
8:01pm* James Marchesani
