David Puig Channels Seve, Delivers Statement Win at Australian PGA Championship
It was supposed to be a Sunday shootout. Instead, it became a one-man showcase. David Puig, the 23-year-old Spaniard, turned Royal Queensland into his personal canvas, painting a final-round masterpiece to claim the BMW Australian PGA Championship in dominant fashion.
Starting the day tied for the lead at 13-under, Puig wasted no time separating himself from the pack. He opened with a trio of birdies beginning at the par-4 second, delivering an early flurry that left the field scrambling to keep pace. From there, he never looked back.
While the leaderboard saw plenty of movement behind him, Puig remained unshakable. He played his final 40 holes without a single bogey, carding 13-under during that stretch to finish at 18-under for the tournament. It was clinical, confident, and composed - the kind of performance that doesn’t just win trophies, it announces a new contender on the global stage.
This victory marks Puig’s first win on both the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and the DP World Tour. It also places him in rare company: he becomes just the second international winner of the Joe Kirkwood Cup this century, and the first Spaniard to lift the trophy since the legendary Seve Ballesteros did it 44 years ago at Royal Melbourne.
“It means the world for sure,” Puig said after the win. “I’ve been really looking forward to that first professional win on the DP World Tour.
I was close a few times, especially at the Spanish Open last year, but couldn’t quite finish it off. So to finally get it done - it’s special.”
And to do it in a place where Ballesteros once triumphed? That made it even sweeter.
“Having my name alongside Seve’s as the only two Spaniards to win this event - it’s really special,” Puig added. “He’s such a big figure in Spanish golf.
I’ve watched all the replays, seen the movie about his life three or four times. I’ve heard the stories from Sergio [Garcia], from Jon Rahm - it’s amazing how much his presence still means.”
Though Puig was the story of the day, there were no shortage of challengers trying to make things interesting.
Veteran Marc Leishman, still searching for a breakthrough win on home soil, put together a strong 4-under 67. He birdied two of his first three holes and added another at the par-5 ninth to turn in 3-under. A birdie at 12 gave him a glimmer of hope, but a pulled tee shot into the trees on 14 led to a costly bogey and stalled his momentum.
“It’s definitely the hardest tee shot on the course - I’ve struggled with it over the years,” Leishman admitted. “I missed a few makeable putts, which is frustrating, but I’m playing some of the best golf I’ve ever played.
Driving it well, irons are sharp, putter feels great. Hopefully I can roll in a few more next week.”
New Zealand’s Nick Voke flashed the form that once had him on a sharp upward trajectory before the COVID pause, shooting a 66 to surge up the leaderboard. Defending champion Min Woo Lee made a late push with birdies at 11 and 12, briefly pulling within two shots before settling for a tie for fifth.
China’s Wenyi Ding, just 21 years old, made a serious run with four birdies in five holes on the front nine, while Daniel Gale - who made headlines with a hole-in-one on Thursday - climbed into contention before bogeying 16 and 18 to fall back.
But no matter where the charge came from, Puig had an answer. He played like a man in full control of his game, exuding the kind of poise that belied his age. The win caps off a breakthrough week and sets the stage for what could be a big month - and a big future - for the young Spaniard, who turns 24 next Sunday at the Crown Australian Open.
If this is just the beginning, golf fans might want to remember the name David Puig. Because on Sunday, he didn’t just win - he arrived.