SA steals back the Australian Women’s Golf Comp from Victoria

Premier Peter Malinauskas says the state has wrestled another huge event that will attract the world’s best players to Adelaide next year.

Jiyai Shin of South Korea celebrates after making an eagle during the final round of the 2024 Australian Open in Melbourne, in 2024. Picture: William West/AFP

Premier Peter Malinauskas has jubilantly announced Adelaide has won the rights to host another world-renowned golf tournament next year, after wrestling the event away from Victoria.

The Women’s Australian Open is expected to attract some of the world’s best professional women golfers to the exclusive Kooyonga golf club in Lockleys from March 12-15 next year.

Mr Malinauskas said now that controversial new laws giving the state government control of sections of the parklands from the Adelaide City Council were passed this week – the event could be moved in future to the North Adelaide Golf Course.

Peter Malinauskas greets spectators after securing the LIV Golf tournament until 2031 during the final day of play. Picture: Brenton Edwards

SA has secured the event for at least three years, having previously hosted the women’s tournament from 2016 to 2020 and losing the rights to Victoria in 2022.

South Korean golfer Jiyai Shin won the top $270,000 prize money at the event held at Victoria’s Kingston Heath Golf Club last year, and the tournament also has been won by champions Ash Buhai, Inbee Park, Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko.

Organisers were hopeful Australian golfer Minjee Lee, who has just won her third major at the Women’s PGA Championship in the US, would attend the 2026 event.

Australian golfer Minjee Lee, who won the Women’s PGA Championship in the US this month, is likely to be among the stars coming to SA. Picture: AP/LM Otero

“Securing this championship for at least the next three years will drive global attention, deliver world-class fan and player experiences and encourage more people, especially girls and women, to enjoy a health pursuit,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“We would love to see one of the world’s best female golfers in Minjee Lee being able to participate here in South Australia.”

In February, Golf Australia announced it would end the Australian Open’s men’s and women’s events being played concurrently on the same courses, as has been the case since 2022.

The news comes as the Liberal Opposition savaged the government’s “abuse of parliamentary process and disregard of planning laws” to fast-track legislation giving it powers to redevelop the North Adelaide Golf Course on the Adelaide parklands.

Former golfer Greg Norman, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas and LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil in February, 2025. Picture: Brenton Edwards/AFP

Shadow Planning Minister Michelle Lensink claimed the government “rammed through legislation” bypassing key planning, heritage, environment and consultation protections.

“This bill overrides key planning, heritage, environment and consultation protections, including the Nuisance Control Act and local development laws, with no sunset clause or timeline,” Ms Lensink said.

“These laws apply to everyone else in the community, so why does Peter Malinauskas and his Government think they are above them?

“Public access, transparency, and the parklands legacy are all at risk. We will not endorse this bill in its current form and urge the government to work within the existing planning laws, like everyone else does.”

At today’s announcement, Mr Malinauskas revealed he was in negotiations with Grange Golf Club to extend its contract to host the LIV Golf event in 2027 until the North Adelaide course was ready.

“We’ve got back-up plans if that doesn’t eventuate, but we remain committed to exploring that with the club,” he said.

“We hope to resolve the 2027 question (of the event’s location) in the not too distant future.”

Golf Australia chief executive officer James Sutherland today praised the South Australian government’s commitment to the women’s golf event saying it would help elevate what had always been considered the premier women’s golf event in the region.

“We are extremely excited by this partnership with the South Australian Government, who are showing a clear commitment to women’s golf in Australia,” Sutherland said.

“Securing the state of South Australia as the host of this historic and highly regarded event for the next three years is a significant win for players and fans, who will no doubt be treated to a terrific event.

“Kooyonga will provide the perfect stage to showcase the incredible talent set to feature in the field, including our top players who compete overseas on the game’s biggest stage, the rising local talent from the WPGA Tour of Australasia and the international contingent from the Ladies European Tour.”

Karrie Webb was the last Australian winner of the women’s golf event in 2014.

In March, the prestigious Kooyonga Golf Club ranked Australia’s 24th best, said it wanted to extend its Hole 16 by 16m to cement the course’s status as a “championship venue in Australian golf”.

Originally published as SA steals back the Australian Women’s Golf Comp from Victoria