The list of high profile Aussie names returning home for the Australian PGA and Australian Open continues to grow, but before the Tour heads to Brisbane and Melbourne respectively the locally based players will contest three state PGAs and the WA Open starting this week in Kalgoorlie.

An event with a long history dating back to 1933, the WA PGA took on a new persona when it shifted to the mining hub of Kalgoorlie back in 2012 and has delivered high quality winners ever since, as well as an extremely enjoyable week for the players, fans and pro-am competitors.

This week’s field includes a number of those past winners, some veterans of the local Tour, players just returned from bigger Tours overseas and a collection of some of the brightest amateur stars in Australia.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Hailing from northern New South Wales, Jay Mackenzie claimed his first ever PGA Tour of Australasia top-10 in dramatic style earlier this year in Kalgoorlie by taking the trophy.

RIGHT: Jay Mackenzie holds his first PGA Tour of Australasia trophy at Kalgoorlie back in April. PHOTO: PGA of Australia.

In a final day battle with Sydney's Austin Bautista, it was Mackenzie who eventually emerged victorious after reaching 19-under-par, good enough for a two shot win and a likely upgrade to the campervan he travels to most events on the east coast of the country in.

COURSE: Kalgoorlie Golf Course opened for play in 2010, with a distinctly local flavour courtesy of the design of the Australian legend and Kalgoorlie born Graham Marsh.

Featuring beautifully manicured playing surfaces surrounded by the red dirt of the outback, the par-72 will measure 6,768 metres this week and is spotted with plenty of Marsh’s expansive bunkering, native salmon gums and saltbush and various desert flowers.

Once a rubbish dump, Kalgoorlie is now ranked 66th in the country with firm and fast wintergreen couch fairways and G2 bentgrass greens.

Scoring can be low at times during this event, but there is plenty of lurking danger, including at the par-3 8th sitting on the highest point of the property which can be maxed out at 202 metres. The 17th is also a one shotter measuring over 200 metres, while the 538 metre par-5 18th means no player will be comfortable even with a decent lead until their ball finds the bottom of the cup on Sunday.

RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PRIZEMONEY: $250,000

PLAYERS TO WATCH: This will be the most significant hit out for a significant period for plenty in this field, so assessing lead in form is tougher than most weeks on Tours around the world, but there are plenty teeing it up in good form via events around the world.

Local amateur Connor McKinney could feature in the running this week in Western Australia. PHOTO: PGA of Australia.

One of those is amateur star Jeffrey Guan who has been winning with regularity and impressing at every turn so far this year, with a decision as to when to make the jump to the pro ranks surely in the New South Welshman’s near future.

Guan recently played the Junior Presidents Cup after claiming the adidas Junior 6s Tour season long points race that earnt him a spot here, and he was a strong performer in Western Australia earlier this year.

Now making his home on the Gold Coast, Michael Sim is a name that jumps of the page every time he tees it up at home.

Born in Scotland then growing up in Western Australia, Sim was a dominant force on the then Nationwide Tour in America for a time before injuries saw him ply is trade exclusively on his home Tour mixed with some teaching.

Like Sim, Connor McKinney is a West Australian via Scotland and another amateur that could feature here.

McKinney will no doubt have an eye already toward Thailand and the Asia-Pacific Amateur in two weeks, but he has the game to contend against the pros this week.

Hayden Hopewell has a proven record of doing just that with a WA Open trophy already on the mantlepiece and good results here, while Jarryd Felton simply loves this event and course where has win and a runner-up finish and is sure to feature again this week.

72-HOLE RECORD: 264, (Kim Felton, 2003).

RECENT WINNERS: Jay Mackenzie (2022), Jarryd Felton (2020), Darren Beck (2019), Michael Long (2018), Dimi Papadatos (2017).

TV TIMES*
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 & KAYO LIVE 2:30pm – 5:30pm)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 & KAYO LIVE 2:30pm – 5:30pm)
*AEDT, check local guides