Unflappable Spaniard David Puig emerged victorious from a crowded field at Royal Queensland GC to join legendary compatriot Seve Ballesteros as Australian PGA Champion.
The 23-year-old LIV golf prodigy took a three-shot lead after consecutive birdies on the second, third and fourth holes on Sunday, shooting a score of 5 under par. The final score was 18 under par, one or two strokes ahead of Chinese player Ding Wen.
The final round began with 31 players battling it out with a lead of just six strokes.
But the steady Spaniard (68, 67, 65, 66) – who missed just two bogeys throughout the tournament for the second consecutive round – took the first step and then found all the answers to claim a record $450,000 bonus.
He is the ninth international champion in the event’s nearly 100 years and the second since 1998.
Puig follows in the footsteps of legendary compatriot Ballesteros, who came from five shots behind to beat Billy Dunk by three shots in 1981 at Royal Melbourne (host of this week’s Australian Open), with Greg Norman finishing tied for third.
Ballesteros, a five-time major champion, former world No. 1 and Ryder Cup star, was 24 years old and was a little better than his runner-up finish a year earlier and had already won the Masters and British Open.
“My name, along with Seve’s, are the only two (Spanish ones)… which makes it even more special,” he said of the European golf great, who died in 2011.
“I’ve never seen him play in person and it’s terrible to be honest.
“I watched replays of every major he won and everything he did.
“He is an important figure in Spanish golf. His presence and everything he has achieved; that is reflected in the Spanish players and in a way we try to be like him.
“With that freedom…attitude, behavior and how much he cares, hopefully we’re on the right track.”
The Arizona State University standout left college early to play on the Rebel LIV Tour in 2022, but has played sporadically on the European DP World Tour and majors over the past two years.
Ahead of the Brisbane event, he committed to being a full member of the European Tour in 2026, happy to balance his schedule and accept any sanctions.
On Sunday, Marc Leishman (tied for third at 15 under) and Min-woo Lee (tied for fifth at 14 under) were both within two shots after the turn, shooting 67 and 69 respectively.
But their miss on No. 14, along with a beautiful Puig birdie on No. 13 and a cold par that followed, gave him a comfortable cushion in the tournament, even after Ding (No. 66) birdied Nos. 16 and 17.
Adam Scott (69) finished seventh at 13 under, but he missed birdies early in the round to stay within a certain distance of the leader.
New Zealander Nick Voke (66) was tied for third with Leishman in the closing seconds, while fellow countryman Daniel Hillier (14-under) had four birdies on the back nine to tie for fifth with Lee.
Leishman, who has now recorded three consecutive third-place finishes and finished runner-up at the 2018 event, has been under threat all week but still lacks a major Australian trophy on his resume.
