Women’s Australian Open returns to South Australia in February 2026

After three years sharing courses with the men, the women’s Australian Open is going it alone again with a key move.

A move back to February and returning to the Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide could be the catalyst for a bumper Women’s Australian Open field in 2026, including three-time major champion Minjee Lee.

The date and location for the Open, returning to a stand-alone format after three years sharing courses with the men as part of a dual-gender experiment, were confirmed on Friday as Australian LPGA tour rookie Cassie Porter surged to the lead in the teams event in Michigan.

Kooyonga Golf Club will host the Open in the first of at least three years when the Open will be played in South Australia.

While the Open won’t be co-sanctioned with the LPGA, as it was before a Covid break was followed by the move to play the men’s and women’s events together, it will be part of the Ladies European Tour schedule, ensuring a quality turnout.

World No.1 Nelly Korda won the Australian Open in 2019. Picture: Brenton Edwards / AFP

The Australian women’s Open had attracted the world’s best players, including No.1 Nelly Korda, before the Covid break and the likes of Lee and fellow major champion Hannah Green had spoken about moving it back to February to get the world’s best players here.

Golf Australia boss James Sutherland revealed late last year the women’s Open had been running at a seven-figure loss as a stand-alone event, but the agreement with the South Australian government, which also did a long-term deal with LIV Golf, was the best way forward.

“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,” Sutherland said.

“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.”

Cassie Porter and Gemma Dryburgh celebrate as they lead the Dow Championship. Picture: David Berding/Getty Images

Lee and Green are Australia’s highest-ranked golfers, male or female, and first-year player Porter is rapidly rising up the ranks, teaming up with Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh in foursomes to lead the LPGA’s Dow Championship.

The pair dropped only one shot and finished with six straight pars for a four-under 66 to lead by a shot over six teams.

“We have a lot of team events as juniors in Australia, but I haven’t played one in ages,” Porter said.

“It’s nice to come out and have a great time out there. We were pretty relaxed on the first tee today.

“We had a great day, and I’m excited for more.”

Originally published as Women’s Australian Open returns to South Australia in February 2026