Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee, live scores, live updates

The golf world took notice; David Puig is a star on the rise.

And the Spaniard’s vision of lifting the Joe Kirkwood Cup as winner of the Australian PGA Championship could establish his lasting image as future hosting rights for the Royal Queensland Golf Club in Brisbane remain in shadow.

The 23-year-old became the first Spanish player to win the Australian championship since Seve Ballesteros in 1981, shooting 66 to top the leaderboard at 18-under-par, and his hot start to Sunday put him some distance away from fellow leaders Ricardo Gouveia and Anthony Quayle.

Three consecutive birdie runs from the second through fourth holes turned the logjam into a desperate chase as Puig claimed a three-shot lead that the trailing team was never able to recoup, despite a late rally from China’s Wenyi Ding (16-under).

Puig’s second long-range putt to start that run set the tone for a breakthrough victory that featured just two bogeys over four days.

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“It feels great,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of really close calls at a few events this year and last year and I just couldn’t make it.

“It’s an incredible feeling, especially to win here in Australia, there are some great golf courses. I was pretty nervous to be fair, especially when you think about the past a bit and think about what I could have done a little bit better.”

“But I kept my composure really well and that start helped me a lot.”

Fan favorite Min Woo Lee looked like the person most likely to put pressure on Puig in the morning; produced two spectacular birdies on the first and third holes; the latter would briefly share the leadership.

But the Australian was forced to rue a terrible fourth hole as he found the bunker on the tee before going over the target with his next bogey putt.

His failure to find the green continued on the next two holes and he could do nothing but save par before hitting a pinpoint shot and making a birdie putt on 11, followed by another putt on 12 to close the gap to two strokes.

But Puig kept his composure to score the biggest win of his career as Lee extended his lead to four strokes with a 14-point lead. Puig responded even as another Australian, Marc Leishman (67, 15-under), twice closed the gap to two.

“It was the story of the week – just missed, I wouldn’t say short innings but I would say makeable innings. But probably everybody on the field could say that, so it’s a bit frustrating,” Leishman said.

“But the signs are really good for next week [at the Australian Open]. I’m playing some of the best golf I’ve ever played; I’m driving well, the putter feels great, hopefully I can hit some putts next week.

“HE [Puig] “He’s a really good all-round player, he can be dangerous when his head is on his shoulders.”

While Gouveia was unable to recapture the brilliance he showed in the third round, Quayle remained in the shadow of the man who shot 63 this time last year.

As Royal Queensland prepares for renovations ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, attention is now turning to where the future of the championship lies.

The Crisafulli Government has confirmed that refurbishments at the Royal Queensland will include a new nine-hole course, pavilion and improvements to the existing course, with changes to be phased in through 2028.

Former world No.1 Adam Scott has won twice at the event on the Gold Coast, finishing 13 points clear, and argued for a return to the Pines Golf Course at Sanctuary Cove, but remained hopeful it would not move away from Queensland, where it has been held since 2000.

“I have no say in the matter, I’m not sure. I mean, I have a soft spot for Sanctuary Cove, because I had a home there for a few years and my family still lives there,” Scott said.

“I think the Pines course depends on it… but the logistics of the tournament are a whole other story.

“I hope we can come back here [in Queensland]I’ve enjoyed playing here my entire career. I’ve been lucky to be able to do this from the Coolum days to the Gold Coast and now Brisbane.

“It would be a shame to see a major event like this leave the state, but there are big things on the horizon for Queensland too.”