The levels of money on offer at the top level of the men’s game have gone beyond eye watering, with golfers good enough to reach the pinnacle no longer just making themselves rich, but their families for generations into the future.

Although some of them may eventually get there, the players teeing it up on the PGA Tour of Australasia at last week’s PNG Open are certainly not fitting into the above description at this stage in their career.

Whereas LIV Golf came to Australia, and Talor Gooch walked away with a US$4 million winner’s cheque (a fair portion of which the tax man took, much to Gooch’s chagrin), Lachlan Barker claimed A$32,400 for his triumph at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club.

Money is of course not the only difference between the two events, both of which this scribe covered in person … and yes, I was the only golf journalist to achieve the double in 2023.

Those differences, while vast, don’t detract from the fact that the PNG Open is extremely important, and interesting, in its own way in the world that is men’s professional golf.

2023 PNG Open winner Lachlan Barker plays his second shot to the 14th green surrounded by marquees on Sunday. PHOTO: Robert Weber.

Players use local caddies, who think all their Christmases have come at once with the rate of pay from the tourists, many of whom took the shoes off their feet or the golf bag the caddie had carried all week and donated it to their looper. 

The local members get a chance to play alongside the pros if they have a low enough handicap, including the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea in a likely world first (more HERE), and those with aspirations to improve could not get a better opportunity to learn.

Then there are the members who watch on and support players, particularly Barker who might now be the most popular golfer ever to tee it up in PNG judging by the vocal Sunday support.

Those same members put on a ‘Calcutta’ on the Friday night, and part with their hard earned Kina to get a piece of the action, that some use to celebrate with their players come Sunday.

"It is understandable that we focus on the biggest events ... Yet let’s never forget the importance of events like the PNG Open, or how much they mean to the people, place and players." - Jimmy Emanuel.

That itself is a great example of the spirit of the week. Sure, the players are there to compete and win, but they understand this is a unique opportunity to play in a place they likely would have never visited. And to engage with people who otherwise would not get first hand experience of professional golf.

The Tour players to a man bought into the week, and the game of golf and its growth in PNG is the beneficiary.

Hard to argue that’s a bad thing.

Crowds at LIV might have been unlike anything seen in Australia for a long time, but the crowds in PNG were healthy and loved every minute of the action. Those there couldn’t care less about the “battle” at the top of the game either. They just wanted to see who would be wearing the champion’s green jacket on Sunday.

It is understandable that we focus on the biggest events like majors, and the soap opera like drama of the men’s golf in 2023 is an enticing subject. Yet let’s never forget the importance of events like the PNG Open, or how much they mean to the people, place and players.

The players certainly didn't and to a man will have some stories from the week to share over dinners and drinks that will entertain and amaze for years to come.