Masters champ Rory McIlroy to play Australian Open in Melbourne
Masters champ Rory McIlroy is coming to Australia not once but twice after being locked in to play the 2025 and 2026 Australian Opens in Melbourne.
McIlroy, who collected his maiden green jacket at Augusta in April,
will be at Royal Melbourne Golf Club
this year when the tournament returns to the Melbourne Sandbelt from December 4.
Then in 2026, the Australian Open will be staged at Kingston Heath Golf Club.
McIlroy, 35 and the world No.2, last played the Australian Open in 2014 when he defended the Stonehaven Cup the year after he went head-to-head with Adam Scott in 2013 to eventually be crowned champion.
'I'm proud to be committing to the Australian Open for the next two years, especially with it being played on the world-class Melbourne Sandbelt, somewhere I've always wanted to play professionally' McIlroy said.
'The success of the Australian Open is important for the global game, and I'm incredibly confident it will thrive again this year, especially with it being staged in one of the world's great sporting cities and on two of the finest golf courses in the world over the next two years: The Royal Melbourne Golf Club and Kingston Heath Golf Club.
'Melbourne is known for being one of the world's great sporting cities and I can't wait to be part of that atmosphere and soak in everything it has to offer, both on and off the course.'
It's a huge fillip for the tournament, which is moving back to a stand-alone event after three years playing as a dual-gender event, alongside the women's Australian Open, which received mixed reviews from players.
McIlroy will head to Melbourne after playing out the PGA Tour season and then Ryder Cup in September.
'Rory McIlroy, one of the best to ever play our game, playing on the world-renowned Melbourne Sandbelt, is a mouth-watering proposition for golf fans,' Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland said
'We are committed to elevating the status of our national championship, and this announcement is a significant step in that direction.'
The men's Australian Open will follow the BMW Australian PGA Championship, with both events again co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
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