Min Woo Lee – file photo courtesy of PGA of Australia
Former champion Min Woo Lee is just one behind a three-way tie for the lead at the Genesis Scottish Open, consecutive rounds of 66 having the 27-year-old at 8 under par and trailing only Rory McIlroy, Jordan Smith and Tom Kim as the event heads into the weekend at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick.
Lee’s round was heading in the wrong direction before a stunning second to the par-5 12th finished 12 feet from the hole, and when he converted for eagle, it began a finishing stretch of 5 under for his last seven holes and swept him within one of the halfway lead.
“It was probably one of the best shots I’ve hit in a while, 2-iron off the deck and hit it to maybe 14, 15 feet and holed the putt,” said Lee when relating the shot that sparked his late charge. “So, yeah, definitely helps.
“Yeah, played really well. I mean, I looked at the scores, and the scores didn’t look like they were running away. So I knew it was somewhat tough. So it was nice to see that.
“And, yeah, just went well on the back nine, put myself in good positions and holed some putts.”
Lee’s recent form has not been particularly good, missing two of his last three cuts, but he summed up his improved showing. “Just being kind to myself. I feel like I’ve been beating myself up on the course. And all these little things that — you know, that don’t go your way, felt like they got to me very easily. And in the grand scheme of things, it wasn’t a big deal. So just realizing that and just trying to play golf and be happy.”
It was at this venue where Lee won this event in 2021. “Yeah, I mean, it always helps to come to a play you’ve done well in. Scotland is one of my favorite places, and seeing my name and face on some billboards is quite nice. But it definitely helps. You know you’ve done it around here, and you can — you have a bit of a memory of what you did down the stretch and played some good golf.”
McIlroy, the winner of the event at this venue in 2023, made a fast start to his second round and made the turn in 31, and although he cooled off a little on the way home in more demanding conditions, he looks the obvious danger to those around him.
“I thought I played well again. You know, the wind definitely got up for us in the afternoon,” said McIlroy. We got off to a really nice start, then sort of by the turn, the wind had got to its strongest and it felt like it was hard to get the ball close to the pins and we were all making a lot of pars out there.
“It would have been nice to be a couple better. But you know, it’s obviously another good day and in good position.”
Joint leader Tom Kim has enjoyed a good record at the Renaissance Club also having finished 3rd and 6th in his first two appearances and top 20 finishes in the other two.
Kim’s game appears to be on the way back to the sort of form that has seen him win three times on the PGA Tour, a 3rd place finish at Shinnecock Hills a couple of weeks ago, clear evidence of that.
The next best of the Australasians after Lee is US-based West Australian Karl Vilips, whose bogey-free second round of 64 saw the 24-year-old move to a share of 13th place. Vilips only learned of his start in the event on Monday and made the rushed trip to Scotland, and after missing the cut in the event last year things have improved sharply.
“This year I’m doing my best to avoid the pot bunkers,” said Vilips. “That’s where I got undone last year in this tournament. So, laying up short, if that means having a couple extra clubs in, I’m totally fine with that. And then I think I found some form last week at John Deere but just didn’t put it together. So I felt pretty good heading into this week, and I was actually in Kentucky.
“So getting the call on Monday, felt great to come here. It was all kind of a rush. Didn’t have time to think about much. Did really well with the sleep recovery, everything, and coming over here. But yeah, no expectations is sometimes nice, and I felt like I was obviously trending coming into the week. So I just wanted to go out there and see what I could do.”
Cameron Davis and Ryan Fox are tied for 25th, Davis finally finding some form after what has been a horror year thus far in 2026, missing 8 of 11 cuts while Fox produced a second round of 65 to move within five of the lead.
Adam Scott was the only other Australasian to make the cut when he finished on the number at 2 over.
Leaderboard
Australasian challenge falters at Evian Championship
Lydia Ko in action during round two – image Ladies European Tour / Mark Runnacles
In what has been a disappointing week thus far for the nine-strong Australasian contingent at the Amundi Evian Masters, New Zealand’s Lydia Ko has done best, the former winner of the event in a share of 18th place but seven shots from the lead held by England’s 22-year-old, Lottie Woad.
Queenslanders Cassie Porter and Karis Davidson, at 1 under, were the only others of Australasians to make the weekend, heavyweights Hannah Green and Minjee Lee missing by one and a surprising 12 shots respectively.
Defending champion Sydney’s Grace Kim also missed out on the chance to defend when she missed the weekend by three.
Ko, whose recent form has been mixed with missed cuts and the occasional good week, added a second consecutive round of 69, and while not completely out of calculations to contend over the final 36 holes, she will need something very special if she is to do so.
The event had been a happy hunting ground for Ko earlier in her career, but in recent years she has not performed well, 39th her best in her last three starts, so she has an opportunity to improve significantly on those efforts. Ko won this event in 2015 as an 18-year-old and recorded seven top tens in her first ten starts in the event, including her win.
Leaderboard
Min Woo Lee one behind leading trio at Scottish Open
Min Woo Lee – file photo courtesy of PGA of Australia
Former champion Min Woo Lee is just one behind a three-way tie for the lead at the Genesis Scottish Open, consecutive rounds of 66 having the 27-year-old at 8 under par and trailing only Rory McIlroy, Jordan Smith and Tom Kim as the event heads into the weekend at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick.
Lee’s round was heading in the wrong direction before a stunning second to the par-5 12th finished 12 feet from the hole, and when he converted for eagle, it began a finishing stretch of 5 under for his last seven holes and swept him within one of the halfway lead.
“It was probably one of the best shots I’ve hit in a while, 2-iron off the deck and hit it to maybe 14, 15 feet and holed the putt,” said Lee when relating the shot that sparked his late charge. “So, yeah, definitely helps.
“Yeah, played really well. I mean, I looked at the scores, and the scores didn’t look like they were running away. So I knew it was somewhat tough. So it was nice to see that.
“And, yeah, just went well on the back nine, put myself in good positions and holed some putts.”
Lee’s recent form has not been particularly good, missing two of his last three cuts, but he summed up his improved showing. “Just being kind to myself. I feel like I’ve been beating myself up on the course. And all these little things that — you know, that don’t go your way, felt like they got to me very easily. And in the grand scheme of things, it wasn’t a big deal. So just realizing that and just trying to play golf and be happy.”
It was at this venue where Lee won this event in 2021. “Yeah, I mean, it always helps to come to a play you’ve done well in. Scotland is one of my favorite places, and seeing my name and face on some billboards is quite nice. But it definitely helps. You know you’ve done it around here, and you can — you have a bit of a memory of what you did down the stretch and played some good golf.”
McIlroy, the winner of the event at this venue in 2023, made a fast start to his second round and made the turn in 31, and although he cooled off a little on the way home in more demanding conditions, he looks the obvious danger to those around him.
“I thought I played well again. You know, the wind definitely got up for us in the afternoon,” said McIlroy. We got off to a really nice start, then sort of by the turn, the wind had got to its strongest and it felt like it was hard to get the ball close to the pins and we were all making a lot of pars out there.
“It would have been nice to be a couple better. But you know, it’s obviously another good day and in good position.”
Joint leader Tom Kim has enjoyed a good record at the Renaissance Club also having finished 3rd and 6th in his first two appearances and top 20 finishes in the other two.
Kim’s game appears to be on the way back to the sort of form that has seen him win three times on the PGA Tour, a 3rd place finish at Shinnecock Hills a couple of weeks ago, clear evidence of that.
The next best of the Australasians after Lee is US-based West Australian Karl Vilips, whose bogey-free second round of 64 saw the 24-year-old move to a share of 13th place. Vilips only learned of his start in the event on Monday and made the rushed trip to Scotland, and after missing the cut in the event last year things have improved sharply.
“This year I’m doing my best to avoid the pot bunkers,” said Vilips. “That’s where I got undone last year in this tournament. So, laying up short, if that means having a couple extra clubs in, I’m totally fine with that. And then I think I found some form last week at John Deere but just didn’t put it together. So I felt pretty good heading into this week, and I was actually in Kentucky.
“So getting the call on Monday, felt great to come here. It was all kind of a rush. Didn’t have time to think about much. Did really well with the sleep recovery, everything, and coming over here. But yeah, no expectations is sometimes nice, and I felt like I was obviously trending coming into the week. So I just wanted to go out there and see what I could do.”
Cameron Davis and Ryan Fox are tied for 25th, Davis finally finding some form after what has been a horror year thus far in 2026, missing 8 of 11 cuts while Fox produced a second round of 65 to move within five of the lead.
Adam Scott was the only other Australasian to make the cut when he finished on the number at 2 over.
Leaderboard
Australasians chasing further success at Amundi Evian Championship
Last year’s surprise and dramatic winner, Grace Kim of Sydney- image Ladies European Tour
The fourth of women’s golf’s five majors in 2026, the Amundi Evian Championship, begins this Thursday in Evian les Bains on Lake Geneva on the border between Switzerland and France, but in France, where prizemoney exceeding US$9 million is on offer.
The event is the first of a three-tournament swing in Europe and Great Britain, this week’s event followed by the ISPS Handa Scottish Open in two weeks and the AIG Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes the following week.
The last of the majors to be included amongst the elite events on the women’s golf calendar, The Amundi Evian Championship established itself based on its standing as one of the most lucrative events on the LPGA Tour prior to becoming a major in 2013.
The quirky nature of the layout has seen some surprising results over the years, perhaps none more so than the dramatic finish by 2025 champion Grace Kim of Sydney and this week a total of nine Australians and New Zealanders get their chance to add to the list of golfers from our region to have won this event.
Hannah Green, Minjee Lee, Lydia Ko, Grace Kim, Karis Davidson, Gabi Ruffels, Kelsey Bennett, Cassie Porter, and Roby Choi are those players.
Six Australasians, Minjee Lee, Lydia Ko, Karrie Webb, Grace Kim, Wendy Doolan and Rachel Teske have won the event, but only three (Lee, Ko and Kim) since it gained major status in 2013.
The joint sanctioning with the Ladies European Tour allows for the in-form NSW golfer, Kelsey Bennett, to gain a start given her standing on the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit this season but it is perhaps a sad reflection on how heavily weighted the event is in favour of the LPGA Tour that Perth’s Kirsten Rudgeley, currently 14th on the LET Order of Merit, does not get a start.
Grace Kim, produced a dramatic finish to win the event last year, playing the 18th hole on three occasions, producing an eagle on the 72nd hole, a hole out for birdie at the first extra hole after finding the hazard alongside the green and then an eagle at the second extra hole to win US$1.2 million, her second LPGA Tour win and her first major.
Both Ko and Lee also won their first majors in this event.
Karis Davidson has been the standout amongst the Australasians in the majors to date in 2026, although in two starts in this event she has missed the cut and been 61st in the other, so she will need a continuation of her significant progress in 2026 if she is to be a factor this week.
Of the leading Australasians, none have been standouts in recent weeks, Hannah Green unable to recapture her early season form, Minjee Lee sadly out of form and although Lydia Ko has shown glimpses of her best, she has mixed that with some rather ordinary play.
As the dominant player in 2026, Nelly Korda will start the event as favourite, although she has not enjoyed much success in this event, and I personally like the chances of previous winner and runner-up Brook Henderson, who seems to be finding form again and Jeeno Thitikul, who finished runner-up to Kim last year and is, after all, the world number two.
Leaderboard
Kelsey Bennett finshes runner-up in Belgium
Kelsey Bennett during today’s play – image LET Mark Runnacles
New South Wales golfer, Kelsey Bennett, was unable to hold on to her 54-hole lead at the Hulencourt Women’s Open in Belgium, but she would finish alone in second place, recording her second runner-up finish of the season to go with her win earlier in the year in Australia.
Bennet established a two-shot lead through 54 holes over the eventual winner Carolina Chacarra, but Chacarra, whose brother Eugino has won two events on the DP World Tour this season, put together an almost faultless final round of 68 to Bennett’s 73, the Spaniard eventually winning by three over Bennett.
Bennett appeared to be losing grip on a winning chance when she fell three behind the Spaniard through 13 holes, but a chip-in for birdie at the 16th by Bennett reduced the margin to just one before Chacarra birdied the 17th and then parred the last to win by three.
Bennett remains in third position on the Ladies European Tour’s Order of Merit.
Kirsten Rudgeley of Perth finished in a share of 7th place, her fourth top ten of the season, moving her to 14th on the LET Order of Merit.
The LET will this week join forces with the LPGA for the playing of women’s golf’s fourth major of their season, the Amundi Evian Championship in France, where Sydney’s Grace Kim will defend the title she won so dramatically last year.
The Evian Championship carries prizemoney of US$9.1 million, with many of the LET Tour getting the chance to play for their biggest ever purse.
Hulencourt Results
Harrington wins third US Senior Open – Jones and Wright lead Australians
Padraig Harrington – holds his third US Senior Open trophy – image USGA Jeff Haynes
54-year-old Padraig Harrington won three majors in regular tour golf (two Opens and a PGA Championship) and today he added a fourth major in senior golf when he played his way to a comfortable four-shot win over Stewart Cink at the US Senior Open in Columbus, Ohio.
It was Harrington’s third US Senior Open title, having also won in his rookie season in 2022 and again in 2025, joining Miller Barber as the only player to win three US Senior Opens. It also became Harrington’s 12th PGA Tour Champions victory.
“It’s different, I’ve got to say,” said Harrington, whose first two Senior Open victories came in nailbiters. “It feels great, but obviously there wasn’t the drama that I know we normally provide down the stretch. That doesn’t mean that I wasn’t feeling it. I was really trying to stay in it, stay focused. I knew I had a nice lead, which let me play to the middle of the greens, and let me hit the shots.
“But I did hit some big shots coming on the way home to take all the stress out of it. I had a great week putting, which, wow, golf is easier when you putt well.”
The day began with Stewart Cink, the winner of the opening two senior majors to date this season, one ahead of Harrington, but the potential shootout between the two dominant players on the PGA Tour Champions this season never really developed. By the 4th tee, Harrington had moved three clear after birdies at his opening two holes and two early bogeys by Cink.
By the turn, Harrington was four clear, and he would eventually go on to win by four over Cink, with PGA Tour Champions rookie George McNeil another two shots back in 3rd place.
In what was ultimately a disappointing week for the large Australasian contingent, Brend Jones and Michael Wright emerged as the best placed of the 12 who started the week when the pair tied for 20th place.
Jones is playing with limited status on the PGA Tour Champions and, in his second season, gets very few opportunities, but after a slow start to the week, he put together rounds of 69, 69, and 70 to record his best finish of the year and earns a cheque for US$37,000.
Wright’s third round of 67 had him close to the top ten, but a round of 72 today saw him share 20th place with Jones.
Results
Richard Green heads Australians through 36 at US Senior Open
Richard Green in action during round two – image USGA / Jeff Haynes
Richard Green heads the 12-strong Australasian contingent at the US Senior Open in Columbus, Ohio, the Victorian at 1 under par and five shots off the 36-hole lead held by two-time PGA Tour winner and now PGA Tour Champions rookie, George McNeil.
Green actually made a strong mid-round move with four birdies in eight holes on the demanding Scioto Country Club layout to join the lead at 4 under, but three bogeys in his last five holes would see him finish his opening 36 holes in a share of 10th place.
Six of the 12 Australasians in the field made it to the weekend, Cameron Percy and Greg Chalmers at 1 over, Brendan Jones and Michael Wright at 2 over, and Scott Hend at 4 over, all making it to the 4 over cutline or better.
Michael Campbell, Steve Allan and David Bransdon all appeared as if they might just scrape in at 5 over, but, very late in the day, their hopes were thwarted as the cut moved from 5 to 4 over. Allan bogeyed his final two holes after appearing to be safe.
Surprisingly, Steve Alker missed by two, while Mark Hensby and Stuart Appleby finished further back.
Leaderboard
Kelsey Bennett well placed in Belgium
Kelsey Bennett – during today’s second round – image Ladies European Tour
New South Wales golfer, Kelsey Bennett, already in third place on the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit in 2026, finds herself in outright second place and two shots from the leader after the second round of the Helencourt Women’s Open in Belgium.
Bennett, in her third season on the LET, won earlier in the season in one of the Ladies European Tour events in Australia when she was successful at the Australian Women’s Classic in New South Wales and also recorded a runner-up finish in Morocco this season, but a second round of 67 has her two behind Spain’s Carolina Chacarra.
If the name Chacarra sounds familiar, it is perhaps because her brother Eugenio has won twice on the men’s European Tour (DP World Tour this season).
“It was really solid,” Bennett said after her round. “I rolled in some nice putts and am really looking forward to this weekend. There’s still lots of golf to play out there. It was really tough out there yesterday. I was level-par through nine, then managed to squeeze a few in at the end. I definitely have a lot more confidence now I’ve won on tour.”
Bennett led this event after the opening round twelve months ago, so this is a venue that clearly fits the 26-year old’s eye.
Leaderboard
12 Australasians get their chance at US Senior Open
Scott Hend – may well be a factor given his good play in 2026 and a solid debut in the event last year – image PGA of America
Undoubtedly the flagship event of the PGA Tour Champions, the US Senior Open, gets underway on Thursday at the Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, the event carrying a purse of US$4 million, the richest purse on the PGA Tour Champions schedule.
Ten Australians and two New Zealanders get their chance to become just the second Australasian to win the title following the victory by Graham Marsh in 1997.
A field of 156 from an original entry of around 3000 has made it through the event over a layout steeped in American golfing history, with Bobby Jones having won the US Open in 1926, and where the US Senior Open is being held for the third occasion.
In Alphabetical order, the 12 Australasians in this week’s field are Steve Alker, Steve Allan, Stuart Appleby, David Bransdon, Michael Campbell, Greg Chalmers, Richard Green, Scott Hend, Mark Hensby, Brendan Jones, Cameron Percy and Michael Wright.
Defending champion and two time winner, Padraig Harrington, will likely start favourite for the event, although Stewart Cink, who finished runner-up last year and who has been a standout on the PGA Tour Champions in 2026, will have his followers, as will Steve Stricker, who in four starts in the event has won, been runner-up twice and finished 4th on the other occasion.
Steve Alker gets the nod amongst the Australasians, although in four starts his best has been when 6th last year. Mark Hensby finished tied for 4th last year after leading at various stages, Scott Hend could make his presence felt now that he is firmly ensconced on the PGA Tour Seniors, and with a win to his name in 2026, and Richard Green finished 3rd two years ago.
Tee Times / Leaderboard
Kazuma Kobori earns Open Championship start
Kazuma Kobori – file image courtesy of Australian Golf Media
Final qualifying for the 2026 Open Championship was completed across England overnight, where nearly 80 golfers at each of the four venues were competing over 36 holes for five spots at Royal Birkdale on July 16th.
Many Australasians were in the respective fields, but only New Zealander, Kazuma Kobori, was successful when finishing runner-up at his venue at West Lancs Golf Club near Liverpool.
Kobori followed up an opening round of 70 with a stunning afternoon effort of 65 to finish one shot behind the leading qualifier Sam Bairstow at his venue.
Kobori will play the Open Championship for the second occasion, having missed the cut at Royal Troon in 2024.
At other venues, players such as Marc Leishman and Cameron Davis missed out, the closest of those not making it was Austin Bautista, who finished 2 shots from qualifying at Royal Cinque Ports.
There remains one last chance for qualifying on the Monday of Open Championship week, where up to 12 players will play off for one spot, but it appears no Australasian will be eligible for that field.
Kobori, however, will join Jason Day, Ryan Fox, Lucas Herbert, Daniel Hillier, Cameron John, Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott, Cam Smith, Elvis Smylie and Travis Smyth, who were already qualified for the final major of the year.
SCORES
Queensland’s Justice Bosio runner-up in Czech Republic
Justice Bosio – file image Australian Golf Media
Queensland’s Justice Bosio has stormed home in the Ladies European Tour’s Tipsport Czech Ladies Open in Beroun in the Czech Republic, her final round of 64 securing a place in the playoff against the eventual winner, Noora Koumalein and Lisa Petterson of Sweden.
All three golfers returned to the par five 18th, and after laying up, it would be Koumalein who pitched close and holed for birdie to claim her first Ladies European Tour title after 14 years trying.
For Bosio, from the Sunshine Coast, the finish represents the best of her rookie season, and her €26,000 cheque won’t hurt either. The finish follows an impressive 5th place in the Netherlands last week. Bosio will jump to 22nd in the Ladies European Tour standings, Kelsey Bennett currently the best of the Australians in 3rd position.
Leaderboard