Direct entry into next year's British Open is the massive carrot for female golfers for winning the Australian WPGA Championship, which will be contested on the Gold Coast next year for the first time.
The March 6-9 tournament will be played on The Palms course at the Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club, with the winner receiving the prestigious Karrie Webb Cup, in honour of the seven-time major winner.
Australia's Karis Davidson is a member of the Sanctuary Cove club, her home course, and has her sights set on playing in the British Open for the first time.
Davidson plays on the LGPA tour and does not have a Ladies European Tour (LET) ticket at present, but that is another incentive to win next year's inaugural Gold Coast event.
"As it stands at the moment, winning this event will get you into the British Open next year and a card on the European tour," WPGA Tour of Australasia CEO Karen Lunn told AAP.
"For someone like Karis, when you play around the world, I always think it is worthwhile to play an event in your own backyard.
"We saw what happened to Steph Kyriacou a few years ago when she won the Australian Ladies Classic at Bonville. That got her a card on the LET and she never looked back, so there are pathways for our Australian players if they play well in these events.
"It can definitely get them on the major tours."
Davidson, 26, broke through for her first tournament win in the 2022 WPGA Melbourne International, but has her sights set higher. A win on her home course next March would be a thrill.
"To win here would be great for anyone's world rankings," Davidson told AAP.
"I want to keep playing on the LGPA tour and I'd like to get into more of the major tournaments like the British Open.
"I have played here at Sanctuary Cove since I was 12 years old. I am absolutely loving it and I'm really excited to host the Australian WPGA Championship here.
"They have just replaced the bunkers, so I will have a bit of time before March to suss those out.
"It would just feel really good to (win) it for myself because I am a member here and I know a lot of the community."
The new tournament is a great step forward for women's golf.
"We have always wanted to have our own PGA event to sit alongside the Australian PGA Championship, and this is where we see this event in the big picture," Lunn said.
"This is our own event and part of the Ladies European Tour, which is obviously massive. It will bring players and internationality to the event."
