McKinney cruises to Webex Players Series Perth crown

West Australian Connor McKinney has used a stunning four-hole stretch across his third and final rounds to complete a dominant wire-to-wire victory at Webex Players Series Perth hosted by Minjee and Min Woo Lee.

If having three-time major champion and tournament co-host Minjee Lee announcing his name to the first tee at Royal Fremantle Golf Club added to any final-round nerves, McKinney showed none of it.

He turned a three-shot deficit into a two-stroke lead with a hole-in-one and birdie to finish on Saturday, picking up where he left off with a birdie at the first on Sunday and an eagle at the par-5 second.

It meant that he had played his past four holes in 6-under par to stretch his lead to five at 18-under, a lead that would only grow as the round went on.

A winner on the Tartan Pro Tour in his Scottish homeland last year, McKinney hopes to use the biggest win of his career as a platform for his debut season on the DP World Tour.

“It just gives me of confidence heading to Bahrain in a few weeks and looking forward to get going over there,” said McKinney. “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.”

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.