Record number of international players compete at 2025 PNG Open

This year’s PNG Open has attracted a record 120 professional golfers from across the globe, including players from the United States, Spain, Fiji, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, New Zealand and Australia, Prime Minister James Marape announced yesterday.

“For the first time, we’ve gone past 100 professional golfers in our country,” Mr Marape said. “We have 10 players from the USA, including from different states, and even our first-ever entrant from Spain. It’s a truly multinational field.”

The tournament sponsored by Kumul Mineral Holdings Limited with K500,000 funding, will run over four days at the Royal Port Moresby Golf Club, featuring seven female professionals from the Australian tour, joining eight of PNG’s top female golfers for a separate competition during the weekend rounds.

PNG Golf Association President Ian Hodges said the inclusion of female professionals was aimed at promoting gender equality, inclusion, and Papua New Guinea as a safe sporting destination. “To have the ladies here is a big step for us,” Mr Hodges said.

Marape thanked the PNG Golf Association, the Professional Golfers Association of Australia, and major sponsor Kumul Minerals Holdings Limited for making the event possible. “Raising sponsorship in today’s economy is a tough task, but we’ve achieved it,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the tournament was not only about sport but also about showcasing PNG to the world. “Sport sells our country’s image,” he said. “Professional golfers coming from right across the world to play in Port Moresby is something our country can embrace.”

The event forms part of the country’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations, with the National Government pledging continued support to make future PNG Opens even bigger.