Peter Lonard is the undisputed King of Coolum after putting aside a confidence-draining year in the US to claim his third Australian PGA Championship title in six years.

Lonard again showed his mastery of the Hyatt Regency Coolum course as he birdied four of the first five holes and stormed to a closing seven-under par 65 and a three stroke victory from New Zealand's David Smail (68).

It was Lonard's first tournament win since the US PGA Tour's Heritage Classic in April 2005 and added to the PGA titles he shared with Jarrod Moseley in 2002 and claimed outright in 2004.

And his 20-under-par 268 total was just two less than the tournament record he shared with Nick O'Hern when only beaten in a play-off last year.

Lonard's four sub-70 rounds of 66-69-68-65 made him 94-under-par for his 24 PGA rounds at Coolum, demonstrating why he's such a tough proposition on one of his favourite courses.

This was the same golfer who didn't touch a club for more than two months from late September, before spending time with his US coach David Leadbetter.

He'd endured a poor US tour season by his standards, with just one top three finish in his 27 starts - a third placing back in February - and 12 missed cuts.

Despite a putting average of 1.806 that ranked 153rd on tour, he somehow managed to earn $US1,259,881 for 75th on the money.

"My chipping was ordinary, my putting has always been ordinary and I couldn't hit the ball," said Lonard bluntly.

Whatever he did with Leadbetter, it worked and Lonard looked comfortable and commanding at Coolum.

"I don't know about relaxed, I was shaking all day," said Lonard.

"The feeling I had before I played was a feeling I hadn't had for a long time, I think that was the best part.

"Today was good not just the way I played but more so when I got on the range. I had the fire in my belly to want to play which I hadn't had for a long time.

"Every thing irritated me, everyone talking to me irritated me. I just wanted to be left alone and go and play.

"It doesn't make you any friends, but it makes you play a bit better."

Lonard pocketed $252,000 for his win.

Meanwhile, Adam Scott, Australia's top ranked player at No.6 in the world, will remain winless at home for another season despite a brave effort.

Scott, who'll miss this week's season-ending Australian Open in Sydney, shot a closing 68 to tie for sixth, six shots behind Lonard.

Greg Chalmers (72-70-66-65) who rushed back from the US qualifying school the day before the PGA, produced a magical streak of six straight back nine birdies to finish tied for third on 15 under with Victorian Scott Laycock (69-67-71-66) and impressive West Australian Michael Sim, the first round leader who closed with a two under 70.

Highly-ranked South African Rory Sabbatini, who closed with a 74, nipped at Lonard's spikes for 11 holes before being forced to push the pace and paying the price with five back nine bogeys after his rival broke clear.

"I wasn't out there playing for second place," said Sabbatini who tumbled to a tie for 10th.

"With four holes to go I knew Peter had gone to 19 under and I knew I had to try and push and make some birdies down the stretch.

"I knew I had to force the aggression coming down stretch and obviously to course bit back pretty hard.

"Every dog has his day and today wasn't mine but I'd definitely love to come back.

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