The defending champion has made the event his own in recent years, winning each of the past three editions, including a dominant performance 12 months ago when he finished 29-under-par and 12 shots clear of the field.

That victory was capped by a final-round 60 as Geary threatened golf’s elusive sub-60 barrier on a course he has known for much of his life.

Now he returns looking to make it four in a row, but with his focus firmly on finding his game rather than what has come before.

Geary arrives in Tauranga following a difficult week at the Christies Floorings Mount Open, where an inconsistent driver made scoring difficult over the opening rounds.

“I’d had a bit of time off leading into it, so I knew it could always go one of two ways,” Geary said.

“The first couple of days I was just really bad off the tee. I was driving it really poorly. The rest of it was actually okay.

“Then in the last round I started to figure a few things out. The swing felt better, I was hitting it better and then obviously we got called off. It was definitely trending finally in that last round.”

That progress could be significant heading to a Tauranga layout which Geary believes plays directly to his strengths when he can put the ball in position from the tee.

A strong wedge player with a tidy short game, Geary has repeatedly taken advantage of the opportunities Tauranga Golf Club presents, but says its tighter sections can quickly punish anything less than accurate driving.

“When the greens get super firm and fast you have to be on the correct side of the fairway, the right side of the green and under the hole. Otherwise you get a lot of defensive putts downhill, especially with the wind." - Josh Geary.

“Historically I’ve been a pretty good short wedge player and had a tidy short game. I get a lot of wedges in my hand around here and a lot of short clubs,” he said.

“If I’m driving it well, this course definitely suits my game. My proximity is probably a little closer than average with those clubs and I tend to putt it pretty decent too at times.

“For me, the big key is driving. If I drive it well around here then I’ll score really well, but it’s super tight in places and it doesn’t take much to be a bit off.”

Last year’s performance was a perfect illustration.

Despite battling a left miss during the week, Geary managed his way around Tauranga expertly, consistently leaving himself in the right positions as the greens became increasingly firm and fast.

By Sunday, everything clicked.

“I was really focused on trying to put it in the right spots,” Geary said.

“When the greens get super firm and fast you have to be on the correct side of the fairway, the right side of the green and under the hole. Otherwise you get a lot of defensive putts downhill, especially with the wind.

“I just put myself in a lot of good positions. At the time it felt easy. Sometimes it does. That last round was one of those days where the ball was going where I was trying to put it and a few putts were rolling in.

“The big key was pretty much course management.”

While another title would add to an already imposing record, this week carries added significance.

The 2026 tournament marks the 20th Carrus Tauranga Open, continuing a partnership which has been part of the event since its formative years.

For Geary, its longevity is particularly meaningful.

He grew up playing at Tauranga Golf Club, remains connected with many of its members and has developed a relationship with the Carrus family stretching back to his early victories in the event.

“It’s amazing,” he said.

“Being one of those first events and having the relationship with Carrus over the 20 years, meeting their family back during the first one that I won and keeping in touch – they’ve been great supporters of golf and of this tournament.

“Then obviously it’s the course I’ve been a member at growing up. I’ve spent a lot of time here and know a lot of the members, so it’s pretty cool to have that hometown sort of vibe.”

The battle for the Summerset Charles Tour Order of Merit has also tightened following the Mount Open, with Kerry Mountcastle retaining top spot on 974.5 points. Mount Open champion Jayden Ford was the big mover, climbing nine places from 11th to second on 719.25 points, while Tyler Wood sits third on 612.1. Cameron Harlock and Jake Meenhorst round out the top five on 585 and 546.14 points respectively.

Ford will arrive as one of the form players in the field after claiming the Christies Floorings Mount Open title in testing circumstances last week. He held the 54-hole lead after birdieing the final hole of his third round before the final round was abandoned due to extreme winds on Sunday, sealing another Mount Open victory. Ford also produced a strong performance at Tauranga 12 months ago and will look to carry both that course form and the momentum of last week’s win into another important week in the Order of Merit race.

Another player well placed to contend is Mitchell Kale, who arrives at Tauranga on the back of a strong showing at the Christies Floorings Mount Open. That result saw him climb 13 places on the Summerset Charles Tour Order of Merit to eighth, continuing a run of solid performances since turning professional.

Kale also brings a unique advantage at Tauranga Golf Club, where he is part of the greenstaff, giving him intricate knowledge of the course, its contours and the way it can change from day to day. With form behind him and home-course familiarity on his side, Kale shapes as another player to watch.

Despite winning the past three editions, Geary does not see himself beginning the week with any advantage.

As he looks to turn the positive signs from his interrupted final round at the Mount into another strong week in Tauranga, his approach remains deliberately simple.

“In terms of defending, you haven’t got an advantage over anyone. You haven’t got a head start, so it’s essentially a brand-new tournament,” he said.

“Obviously, you’re going out to try and win, but it’s all the boring stuff – staying in your lane, doing what you can and not getting too far ahead of yourself.

“It’s the little small steps along the way which can make it happen.”

The 20th Carrus Tauranga Open tees off at Tauranga Golf Club on Thursday, with Geary once again headlining a field looking to end his remarkable run on home soil.