Unfazed Spaniard David Puig emerged from a crowded field at the Royal Queensland GC to join legendary compatriot Seve Ballesteros as Australian PGA Champion.
The 23-year-old LIV golf talent made consecutive birdies on the second, third and fourth holes on Sunday to blow a three-shot lead and finish at 5 under, finishing at 18 under, two spots ahead of China’s Wenyi Ding.
The final round began with 31 players within six strokes of the lead.
But the solid Spaniard (68, 67, 65, 66), who leaked only two consecutive bogeys in the second round during the entire tournament, made the first move and then had all the answers to win the record prize money of $450,000.
He is the ninth international winner in the event’s nearly 100 years and the second since 1998.
Puig followed in the footsteps of his legendary compatriot Ballesteros, who came from five strokes down to win over Billy Dunk in 1981, tied for third with Greg Norman, at Royal Melbourne, site of this week’s Australian Open.
Ballesteros, a five-time major winner, former world No. 1 and Ryder Cup performer, was 24 years old at the time and had already won the Masters and British Open, one place better than the previous year’s runner-up.
“My name is even more special because I’m the only[Spanish]with Seve’s name,” he said of the European golfing powerhouse who passed away in 2011.
“I haven’t seen him play in person, but it honestly sucks.
“I watched replays of every major he won and everything he did.
“He’s a huge figure in Spanish golf. His presence and everything he’s achieved is very visible in the Spanish players, and in a way we’re all trying to be like him.
“Just play with that freedom…the attitude, the actions and how much he cared, and hopefully we’re on the right path in some ways.”
The Arizona State standout left college early to join the Rebel LIV Tour in 2022, but has played sporadically in the past two years on the DP World Tour and majors in Europe.
Ahead of the Brisbane tournament, he committed to being a full member on the 2026 European Tour, balancing his schedule and accepting any sanctions.
Mark Leishman (15 under, tied for third) and Min Woo Lee (14 under, tied for fifth) shot 67 and 69, respectively, on Sunday to come within two strokes after the turn.
But Puig’s blunder on the 14th hole of the test, followed by a classy birdie on the 13th hole and ice-cold par on the next hole, provided a comfortable cushion for the stretch after Ding (66) birdied the 16th and 17th.
Adam Scott (69) finished seventh at 13 under, but lamented the fact that he had a series of near misses for birdies early in the round, leaving him within arm’s length of the top players.
New Zealander Nick Bourque (66) made a late push to finish tied for third with Leishman, while compatriot Daniel Hillier (14 under) made four birdies on the back nine to tie for fifth with Leish.
Leishman currently boasts three consecutive third-place finishes and a runner-up finish in 2018 at the event and has looked threatening throughout this week, but he doesn’t have a major Australian trophy on his resume.
