The event returns to Royal Queensland for the second time in 2022, after the “2021” edition was played in January when Jed Morgan ran away from the field at his home course.

This time, Morgan and that week’s main drawcard Min Woo Lee are joined by the likes of two-time winners Adam Scott and Cam Smith, Marc Leishman, Ryan Fox and DP World Tour players via the tournament’s co-sanctioned status with the once European Tour. The PGA the first event of the circuit’s season alongside the Joburg Open in South Africa.

The addition of the big names for the first time since the 2019 edition, the ongoing LIV storyline with multiple of Greg Norman’s men in the field and the rise in golf interest since COVID make this one of the most anticipated events on Australian shores in recent memory.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Royal Queensland member and Australian Amateur champion at the same layout Jed Morgan had more than just a hot week here at the start of the year to secure his first pro win, major starts and all but lock up a DP World Tour card for this season.

RIGHT: Jed Morgan claimed a memorable win here at the start of the year. PHOTO: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.

Morgan set the tournament aggregate scoring record, equalled the record in relation to par at 22-under and won from Andrew Dodt by a whopping 11 shots.

With the home crowd behind him, Morgan put on a phenomenal display of putting accompanied by primal screams when putts dropped that will be remembered at Royal Queensland for years.

COURSE: Ranked No.23 in Australia’s Top-100 for 2022, Royal Queensland Golf Club sits beneath the Gateway Bridge and offers a test somewhat unique at this level of the game.

Originally designed by Carnegie Clark, with later input from Dr Alister MacKenzie, the course underwent a dramatic transformation at the hands of Golf Australia magazine Architecture Editor Mike Clayton, John Sloan and Bruce Grant in 2007 to become something of “the Sandbelt in Brisbane” according to some players in the field this week.

Featuring wide fairways that have definite better sides to approach the greens from, the par-71 is at its most testing around the undulating putting surfaces, while the bunkers are built to be proper hazards.

Elevated with shortly mown areas surrounding, the greens require players to find the right section or risk three putting, while chipping and pitching difficulty is heightened by the grainy surrounds that will see more straight faced clubs that wedges this week.

Adam Scott has a third Kirkwood Cup on the mind as he makes his first start at home since winning the PGA on the Gold Coast in 2019. PHOTO: Australian Golf Media.

Measuring a total of 6,549 metres this week, ‘RQ’ will play slightly different than it did in January with the par-5 7th lengthened by more than 20 metres, while the par-3 8th has been shortened by a similar amount. The par-5 15th has also been stretched by 30 metres, the changes meaning a new course record is on offer the lowest score in Thursday’s first group off.

RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PRIZEMONEY: $2,000,000

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The story of the week so far has been the triumphant return to Queensland of the Open Champion Cam Smith who was awarded the keys to the city of Brisbane on Tuesday and is unquestionably the favourite at a course where he has been a member since his days as a junior.

Smith is one of the best players in men’s golf, although that is harder to discern given no world ranking points are offered for LIV Golf events where he has won and was a standout in the team final in his last start.

Catching up with family and friends for the first time at home since 2019 may have added some fatigue to Smith for this week, but he looks in good form and ready to challenge for a third Joe Kirkwood Cup.

Also chasing a third PGA win is Adam Scott who is far from ready to fade away from the spotlight and the game’s biggest events.

Reiterating his desire to win all four majors by the time he hangs up his clubs on Tuesday, Scott has been working hard at his game this week and netted a share of sixth in his last start at the Japan Open.

Marc Leishman hasn’t had the success of his good mate Smith since joining LIV, and his results earlier in the year on the PGA Tour and at the majors weren’t anything to write home about.

But the Victorian loves being at home and is determined to win either or both of the PGA and Open titles.

The Hojgaard twins add some European flavour to the field in Brisbane this week. PHOTO: David Cannon/Getty Images.

Of the “young brigade” Min Woo Lee will have learnt plenty from his January appearance here and record a top-20 last week at the DP World Tour Championship, while Lucas Herbert returns home a proven winner with a determination to add a home trophy to his mantlepiece.

Morgan can’t be discounted here either after his dominant win earlier this year and belief that he has learnt a great deal about himself and his game after a year travelling the world primarily playing LIV Golf events, mixed with majors.

The overseas contingent includes Kiwi Ryan Fox who has had a remarkable year, winning multiple times on the DP World Tour and regularly contending.

Fox will no doubt be a little tired after arriving in Brisbane via New Zealand following playing in Dubai last week, but the wide fairways will allow the powerful son of All Black Grant to open his shoulders and potentially open plenty of birdie opportunities.

Also in town are the Hojgaard twins, Nicolai and Rasmus.

Touted as future Ryder Cup players, Nicolai makes his second start in this event after teeing it up in 2019 at Royal Pines, while Rasmus arrives in good form after a top-10 last week with a desire to win around the world by the time he retires potentially getting a kick start this week.

Also worth watching either in person or on the leaderboard will be Japan’s Takumi Kanaya, PGA Tour and Australian Open winner Cam Davis and Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship winner Harrison Crowe.

72-HOLE RECORD: 262 (Jed Morgan, 2022)

RECENT WINNERS: Jed Morgan (2022), Adam Scott (2019), Cam Smith (2018 & 2017), Harold Varner III (2016), Nathan Holman (2015).

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports, Kayo, Channel 9 12pm – 5pm)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports, Kayo, Channel 9 12pm – 5pm)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports, Kayo, Channel 9 12pm – 5pm)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports, Kayo, Channel 9 12pm – 5pm)
*AEDT, check local guides