Adrian Meronk and Robert MacIntyre primed for Australian PGA assault

While a host of Aussies are chasing glory at Royal Queensland this week, it would be foolish to write off the chances of overseas pair Adrian Meronk and Robert MacIntyre.

Adrian Meronk wants to add the Australian PGA title to the Australian Open crown he won last year. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

One was a Ryder Cup hero, the other was a shock omission from Europe’s winning team but between them, Robert MacIntyre and Adrian Meronk perhaps represent the best chance of becoming the first foreigner to win the Australian PGA since 2016.

Not since American Harold Varner III’s win at Royal Pines seven years ago has an overseas player lifted the Joe Kirkwood Cup.

Cam Smith has dominated the event in recent years, winning it in 2017, 2018 and 2022, while Adam Scott and Jed Morgan have also triumphed.

But with co-sanctioned PGA Tour of Australasia and DP World Tour event perhaps having a stronger international presence than ever before, Scottish left-hander MacIntyre and Polish star Meronk loom as genuine contenders to break the domestic stranglehold on the event.

Meronk, who was somehow overlooked for selection in Europe’s successful 2023 Ryder Cup team, knows what it takes to win Down Under, having clinched last year’s Australian Open in Melbourne.

He now want to complete the “Aussie majors” double by winning at Royal Queensland this week in his 100th tournament as a professional.

“It’s very special to be honest,” he said in reflecting on a professional journey that started in 2016.

“Every year I’ve been progressing and improving my ranking, getting ‘Ws’ all over the world.

“It’s been an amazing ride and I know it’s only the beginning for me, but … I have a

lot of great memories and good experience to go forward, so I’m very excited to be in

that position.”

“I played quite well (at Royal Queensland) last year. Obviously it’s a course with small and tricky greens, so that’s going to be a key this week – just to hit your spots with irons and wedges.”

MacIntyre achieved one of his lifelong dreams this year by being part of a winning Ryder Cup team.

His other career is goal is to win the Masters. He can secure a spot at Augusta in April by finishing the year in the world’s top 50.

Robert MacIntyre is chasing Australian PGA glory. Picture: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Currently ranked at 56, MacIntyre said the obvious way to break into the top 50 by the end of next month would be either to win at Royal Queensland, or at next week’s Australian Open in Sydney.

“For me it’s plain and simple – win a golf tournament,” MacIntyre said.

“My golf game’s been good. I enjoy coming here (to Australia).

“I feel like this is as close to home as (in having) a homely feel to it as anywhere in the world.

“(Royal Queensland) is a good old school track. It’s not tricked up, it’s just slopy greens that are the protection of it.”

Other contenders for the title include defending champion Smith, Scott, Min Woo Lee, Cam Davis and Lucas Herbert.

“It’s a good time to come back here and at least feel comfortable on some golf courses,” Bendigo product Herbert said.
You’re back home on grasses that you’ve grown up playing a lot of golf on and just courses that you’ve seen a fair bit … (but) the field’s pretty strong this week, so I don’t expect to turn up here and just waltz into a top-five without doing the work.

“I’m going to have to play well to be up near the pointy end of the leaderboard come Sunday.”

World No.44 Davis predicted this year’s winner would likely need to shoot better than the 14-under that Smith posted last year to clinch the title.

“If we get a few days where the wind’s not really blowing, I think the scores could drastically go lower and get closer to 18, 20-under par pretty quickly,” Davis said.

“(But) if the wind stays up, it’s a tough golf course for getting a birdie run.”

AUSTRALIAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Defending champion – Cameron Smith

Prizemoney – $2 million

RECENT CHAMPIONS

2022 Cam Smith

2021* Jed Morgan

2019 Adam Scott

2018 Cam Smith

2017 Cam Smith

2016 Harold Varner III

* (played in January 2022)

COURSE RECORD

Jediah Morgan (63, 2021 Fortinet Australian PGA Championship)

KEY GROUPS

6AM – Adam Scott, Cam Davis, Adrian Meronk

6:10AM – Cam Smith, Min Woo Lee, Robert MacIntyre

11AM – Lucas Herbert, Daniel Hillier, David Micheluzzi

11:10AM – Marc Leishman, Jhonattan Vegas, Ryo Hisatsune

HOW TO WATCH

Live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo

Round 1: Thursday, 12pm – 5pm (AEDT)

Round 2: Friday, 12pm – 5pm (AEDT)

Round 3: Saturday, 12pm – 5pm (AEDT)

Round 4: Sunday, 12pm – 5pm (AEDT)