Brisbane golf fans could share in a million dollars at BMW PGA Championship

The PGA has teamed up with a sports bookmaker for an Australian first – offering golf fans a chance to share in a million dollars if a player scores a hole-in-one.

Golf fans at next month’s BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland could have a million reasons to celebrate a hole-in-one.

The PGA has teamed up with sports bookmaker Dabble for an Australian first – offering fans at the 17th hole a chance to share in a million dollars if a player aces their tee shot.

The popular par 3 17th has become the tournament’s ‘party hole’, with seats close to the green and live music, bars and food trucks creating a festival-like atmosphere.

Former NRL star Josh Mansour and professional golfer Aaron Pike launched the million-dollar initiative, which will run on the third day of the tournament – Saturday, November 23.

Josh Mansour with Dan Pelichowski, Sarah Betteley, Simon Coughlan from Dabble at the 17th hole at Royal Queensland Golf Club in Brisbane. Picture: Josh Woning

Cameron Smith will be back at the BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The million dollars will only be up for grabs during the tournament broadcast window (between 11am and 4pm local time) and fans must have registered via QR codes at the venue.

“There’s always an awesome vibe at the party hole and this new million dollar hole-in-one promotion thanks to our new partner Dabble is going to raise the level even higher,” the PGA’s chief commercial officer Michael McDonald said.

“You can only imagine the scenes at 17 if someone like Cam Smith, Min Woo Lee or Jason Day makes an ace on Saturday afternoon. It would be off the charts.

“Every shot on the Dabble Party Hole on the Saturday afternoon is going to be huge. There’ll be thousands of expectant eyes on the ball every time someone tees off.

“We’ve seen holes-in-one on the party hole in previous championships, including by Curtis Luck last year. Hopefully we will see a repeat so everyone in the crowd can go home with extra dollars to their name.”

Curtis Luck nailed a hole-in-one at the Australian PGA’s party hole.

The Australian PGA runs from November 21-24at Brisbane’s Royal Queensland Golf Club.

Australian golf’s biggest stars, including Jason Day, Cameron Smith, Cam Davis, Min Woo Lee, Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert will be competing for the Kirkwood Cup.

Dabble CEO Tom Rundle said: We believe that sport is best enjoyed when it’s social, inclusive and packed with excitement.

“With a million dollars up for grabs for the crowd at the Dabble Party Hole, everyone’s part of the action and, if it goes off, you better believe it’ll be an experience no one will forget.”

Visit championship.pga.org.au