Aussie golf star predicts possible return to the ‘glory years' for the Australian Open as organisers hope to lure more stars to Melbourne
On the eve of The Open in his native Northern Ireland, where he was even given an ovation as he walked off the range on a practice day, McIlroy's presence has emboldened Adam Scott to predict the Australian Open could return to its 'glory years'.
Golf Australia has already reported ticket sales have surged past traditional markers at this time of the year after the McIlroy coup, with the event to be played at Royal Melbourne later this year.
McIlroy will return to Victoria for next year's tournament at Kingston Heath.
Scott skipped last year's event after a gruelling season and was a critic of the format, in which men and women played separate tournaments on the same course in the same week.
Asked if he was pleased for the Australian Open to return to its traditional position with men and women having stand-alone tournaments, easing the logistical chaos, Scott said: 'I am. I think they've made significant changes and I think it's in the right direction.
'I think the fact that Rory's been lured down shows that they're making good decisions and I hope this is the start of glory years of the Australian Open again.
'And that's not to take away anything from the last whatever years, but it is hard to think that the Aussie Open hasn't been played at Royal Melbourne since '91.
'So, I'm happy that I'm going to sneak one in my career.'
McIlroy is expected to be joined in the Australian Open by the best homegrown stars such as Scott, Cameron Smith and Min Woo Lee.
But Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland and PGA of Australia's Nick Dastey have been speaking to further overseas players at Royal Portrush about the Stonehaven Cup and Australian PGA Championship, to be held at Royal Queensland.
McIlroy's management confirmed to News Corp at Royal Portrush the grand slam winner would bring the green jacket to Australia, his most coveted prize after being just the sixth man to claim all four majors.
'We obviously would like to have as many international players of high ranking come in,' Sutherland said.
'We'll continue to explore our opportunities, but I think we all know and understand the realities of the timing at the end of the year, that it's sometimes difficult to get people to play more golf at that time of the year.
'But we're also optimistic that there are players for various reasons that will want to come out. They'll see that the event and our summer of golf is getting bigger and better all of the time.'
Smith has been the most vocal critic of the course set-up under the dual gender format, but a long-awaited return to Royal Melbourne on the sandbelt is expected to bring firm and fast conditions.
'That's the way we'll intend it to play, and we'll be doing everything we can to make sure that's the case,' Dastey said. 'Sometimes the weather gods don't allow it, but it's certainly the intention that it'll be a traditional Royal Melbourne.'
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