The presence of Marc Leishman helped drive record spectator and TV viewership figures for October’s Nexus Advisernet Bowra & O’Dea WA Open.
LIV Golf superstar Leishman was the championship headliner at Mount Lawley GC, with his appearance on WA soil for the first time in 20 years generating widespread media interest.
He also captured the imaginations of local golf fans, with an estimated 6,500 spectators going through the gates during championship week – an increase of 71% on 2024.
With Leishman at the top end of the leaderboard throughout the weekend, TV viewership levels were also significantly up on the previous year’s event. Total viewing figures on Kayo and Foxtel for the weekend broadcasts were up 80% to reach 564,972.
At a national level, the WA Open generated approximately 600 media mentions on TV, radio, print and online, reaching a potential audience in excess of 23m.
GolfWA’s own digital channels also enjoyed a surge in interest, with the total reach of WA Open posts on our Facebook and Instagram pages surpassing 1.16m (a 90% increase on 2024), and website pageviews of WA Open content up 75% to 82,155.
The event ended on a high, with South African Oliver Bekker making an outstanding par save at the final hole to secure a one-stroke victory.
GolfWA Chief Executive Gary Thomas says the record-breaking figures were the icing on the cake of a magnificent week of golf.
“We’re very grateful to Marc for supporting this year’s championship and there’s no doubt that his presence was a huge boost,” he said.
“What’s equally as pleasing, though, is how well Mount Lawley set up their golf course and how well it was received by the players and spectators, who were extremely complimentary.
“This helped showcase the calibre of golf courses in WA and will, I’m sure, see the profile of the event continue to rise in future years.”
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