Scottish-born Aussie Connor McKinney is celebrating a first men’s pro victory of the New Year thanks to his four-shot success in the Webex Players Series Perth in Perth, Western Australia.
Introduced on the first tee by former Scottish Open champ and also reigning Texas Children’s Houston champ Min Woo Lee, McKinney was unchallenged over the four rounds, winning by four shots on the host Royal Freemantle course, a course where Lee and his three-time major championship winning sister Minji are members.
The 23-year-old Kirkcaldy-born McKinney, who produced an ace on day three, actually led by eight shots with five holes to play before posting a closing 69 to still win comfortably by four at 18-under.
CONNOR MCKINNEY, ONE TO WATCH IN ’26 …
The 23-year-old Scot-born Aussie led from start-to-finish to a second in 9 @OWGRltd starts
Next-up for Connor @DPWorldTour #bahrain #bapcoenergies #BahrainChampionship
Read: https://t.co/TKVPhAIQfR
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) January 11, 2026
McKinney kick-started his final round in real ‘take notice’ fashion with a birdie at the first and then holed a sensational 40-footer for an eagle ‘3’ at the second hole.
“When you roll in a 40-footer on the second hole of the day, you’re like, OK, I could do something good today,” said McKinney, who had coach David Milne greenside to congratulate him and brother Archie on the bag.
“I knew there was a gap walking down 11. I’d played a lot of good golf.
“My goal at the start of the day was just to extend the lead and I’d done that in the end.
As playing partner Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston struggled to keep pace, McKinney added birdies at five, six and eighth holes, stretching his lead to as many as eight midway through the back nine but then bogeying three of his closing five holes.
Curtis Luck (67), Kirsten Rudgeley (68) and Abbie Teasdale (70) shared second place at 14-under.
It is McKinney’s second pro career win after a first win last August on the Tartan Tour at the Musselburgh Masters.
In November, McKinney secured his 2026 DP Tour card and wasted little time teeing-up in three co-sanctioned events prior to the Christmas break, missing the cut at the BMW Australian PGA, T52nd in the Crown Australian Open but sitting out the weekend rounds in the Mauritius Open.
His first DP World Tour event of the New Year will be the 29th January commencing Bahrain Championship.
McKinney said: “It just gives me of confidence heading to Bahrain in a few weeks and looking forward to get going over there.
“It definitely hasn’t sunk in yet. It’s just happened. To see all the boys and my dad and my brothers and stuff, all run onto the green there and celebrate with me there, it’s pretty special.
“It’s something I’ve looked forward to for a long time, but to actually do it at home with everyone here is awesome.”
CONGRATULATIONS ….
Scottish born Aussie Connor McKinney a first men’s pro in ’26
Wins by 4 shots @PGAofAustralia#AUSPGA
✅ @TOURMISS @Record_Sport (Bernie ) https://t.co/iEd4TLlMGk
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) January 11, 2026
McKinney had moved with his family in 2015 to live in Perth when he was 13.
Winner of the Australian Amateur Championship and St Andrews Links Trophy in 2022, McKinney came through 252 holes of DP World Tour Qualifying School to wrap up a card for the 2026 season.
That rookie season has already begun, the way he accelerated away from the field in challenging conditions testimony to a young player with a bright future.
