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Irish Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
It's all bonza: Rory McIlroy has tills ringing down under as he commits to Australian Open
His focus might purely be on Quail Hollow this week, but when it was announced on Tuesday that Rory McIlroy would be competing at the 2025 and 2026 Australian Opens, the golfing fraternity down under only had thoughts for December when he will make his first appearance in the tournament in over a decade. Having won the title at Royal Sydney in 2013, McIlroy's last Australian Open came the following year. But he hasn't been back since, so there's quite a bit of excitement about him committing to turning up at Royal Melbourne in December and nearby Kingston Heath the year after. How much excitement? Well, Australian Golf Digest said, in the first 24 hours after the announcement was made, 'Golf Australia observed the biggest single day of ticket sales in the event's 121-year history. In addition to overall ticket sales, hospitality suites at Royal Melbourne have almost sold out.' McIlroy will, of course, receive a hefty fee for his appearances, although Golf Digest reckons the reported €2 million a tournament is stretching it. Mind you, considering those ticket sales, and the assorted extra loot that will gush in, €2 million sounds cheap at the price. READ MORE Missed chance to trouser a bonus The first anniversary of Scottie Scheffler's arrest at Valhalla, on the morning of his second round in the PGA Championship , is upon us. And you can only salute The Athletic for their efforts to track down the whereabouts of 'Detective Gillis' ruined pants'. You might, or might not, recall that the policeman who arrested Scheffler, after an apparent misunderstanding between the pair, had his uniform pants 'damaged beyond repair' when he was dragged along the road by Scheffler's car. So, The Athletic contacted Detective Bryan Gillis to ask him where those pants were. There are, he said, in a box somewhere in his house, but he's not sure where. Besides, he wants to forget the whole incident, having received 'harassing phone calls' for months and sometimes being pointed at in a shop by someone hollering 'You're the officer who arrested Scottie Scheffler .' On being told that he really should have sold them at the time, the detective's heart most probably sank. How much, according to a company that auctions golf collectibles and memorabilia, would they have been worth? As much as $20,000 (€18,000). A year on? Just the $5,000. CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 15: Alex Smalley of the United States prepares for a putt on the ninth holeduring the first round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 15, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by) Ai has some neck Is Alex Smalley 2025's version of 1991's John Daly? Daly, you'll recall won the PGA Championship back then when he was the final alternate for the tournament, and Smalley, the 28-year-old New Yorker, was only called up on Wednesday afternoon after Sahith Theegala was forced to withdraw. Then he went and shot a four-under 67 to give himself a lofty position on the leader board after round one. Why did Theegala withdraw? It could be that artificial intelligence (AI) had magic mushrooms for breakfast on Thursday, because this is what was popping up on the interweb: 'In a shocking turn of events, Theegala has withdrawn just moments before the start, leaving fans and experts in disbelief. The unexpected announcement has sent shock waves through the golfing world, creating a whirlwind of speculation and intrigue as to what led to this last-minute decision.' The, er, shock waves soon subsided – the Californian dropped out because of the neck injury that led him to withdraw from the Truist Championship last weekend. Whirlwind of speculation? Over. Done up, and down, to the nines Granted, there were no shortage of uppy-downy rounds on Thursday, but Séamus Power 's first nine surely took the biscuit: birdie, double-bogey, bogey, par, eagle, birdie, double-bogey, par, par. In contrast, his second nine was close enough to run-of-the-mill: six pars, a birdie, a bogey and a par. After a tough old time of it of late, you'd imagine the Waterford man would be happy enough to finish on +1, and will hope that his second round proves somewhat less rollercoaster-ish. Slow play by the experts Don't let the rules officials see this guy ⏰ — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) Rudest, but most inevitable, X response to a clip showing a turtle-type creature on the Quail Hollow course on Thursday? 'Faster than Patrick Cantlay.' Quote of the Day 'Three doubles – that's the way Rich Beem likes to spend his evenings, but not these players. They've made an absolute pig's ear of it.' – Sky Sport's Nick Dougherty after the world's top three, Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele, were nearly driven to drink when they all had double bogeys on the 16th. Number of the Day: 67 Luke Donald 's first round bogey-free score at Quail Hollow, his lowest round in a Major in 21 years. He could award himself a Ryder Cup captain's pick yet.
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Rory McIlroy playing with new freedom after Masters win, says there's a reason he didn't talk to Bryson deChambeau during Augusta battle
A day after committing to the next two Australian Opens, Rory McIlroy says he's playing with 'house money' after completing the career grand slam and that freedom could produce something special. McIlroy, the world No.2 will start the PGA Championship at a soggy Quail Hollow no longer 'burdened' by targets after his Masters success. Instead, he's now freed up to look to play 'my best golf' and tick off personal goals, including adding another Australian Open title to his resume after inking a deal to play in 2025 at Royal Melbourne and 2026 at Kingston Heath. 'Look, I have achieved everything that I've wanted – I've done everything I've wanted to do in the game,' he said. 'I dreamt as a child of becoming the best player in the world and winning all the majors. I've done that. Everything beyond this, for however long I decide to play the game competitively, is a bonus. 'I feel like I sort of burdened myself with the career grand slam stuff, and I want to enjoy this. 'I want to enjoy what I've achieved, and I want to enjoy the last decade or whatever of my career, and I don't want to burden myself by numbers or statistics. I just want to go and try to play the best golf I can.' Despite ticking all his career boxes, McIlroy said his competitive fire had not been diminished. He could just now approach his career in a different way in pursuit of more wins. 'I'm just the same person. I turn up and try to have the same attitude and the same approach to each and every tournament and try to get the best out of myself. Some weeks that results in wins, and some weeks it doesn't,' he said. 'As long as I approach every week that way, all I can do is go out there and try to play the golf that I know that I'm capable of. As I said, some weeks someone just plays better than you, and other weeks it's your time. 'I've played over 400 events in my career. I've played a lot of major championships. I know how these things go, and you've just got to go out there and play.' Under questioning in North Carolina, McIlroy was asked about brushing playing partner Bryson deChambeau in the final round at Augusta after the LIV star revealed the Masters champ didn't talk to him for the entire round. 'I don't know what he was expecting. We're trying to win the Masters. I'm not going to try to be his best mate out there,' McIlroy said. 'Look, everyone approaches the game different ways. I was focused on myself and what I needed to do. That's really all that it was. 'It wasn't anything against him … it's just I felt that's what I needed to do to try to get the best out of myself that day.'
Daily Tribune
14-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
McIlroy Commits to Australian Open in Two-Year Boost for Tournament
TDT | Manama Golf's Australian Open has secured a major boost with the signing of Rory McIlroy for the next two editions, a landmark move for the historic tournament that has struggled in recent years to attract top-tier talent. Fresh off his Masters success and career Grand Slam, the Northern Irishman confirmed he will compete at Royal Melbourne in December 2025 and at Kingston Heath in 2026—two of the most prestigious venues on Melbourne's famed Sandbelt. 'I'm proud to be committing to the Australian Open for the next two years,' McIlroy said. 'It's somewhere I've always wanted to play professionally, and I'm confident it will thrive again this year.' McIlroy, who last lifted the Stonehaven Cup in a memorable 2013 duel against Adam Scott, could be set for a rematch with the Australian great this year. The tournament, first held in 1904, boasts a roll of honour including legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player. The commitment signals renewed ambition from Golf Australia, following the scrapping of its recent mixed-format initiative. Chief Executive James Sutherland called McIlroy's return 'a significant step' in restoring the championship's global status.
The Australian
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Rory McIlroy to play Australian Open in huge coup for Aussie golf
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. Rory McIlroy land celebrates winning the 2025 Masters. Picture: Richard Heathcote / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP '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 McIlroy won the 2013 Australian Open Golf Championship at Royal Sydney Golf Course. pic. Phil Hillyard '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. Read related topics: Australian Open Tennis
CNA
14-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Major coup for Australian Open as McIlroy signs up for two years
SYDNEY :Masters champion Rory McIlroy will play the next two editions of the Australian Open in a major coup for one of golf's oldest tournaments, which has struggled in recent years to get marquee names to undertake the long journey south. The Northern Irishman, who completed the career Grand Slam at Augusta last month, will vie for the Stonehaven Cup at Royal Melbourne in early December this year and at nearby Kingston Heath Golf Club in 2026. "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 in a press release. "The success of the Australian Open is important for the global game, and I'm incredibly confident it will thrive again this year." The Australian Open was first played in 1904 and counts the likes of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player among its former winners. McIlroy won a duel with Adam Scott on the final hole at Royal Sydney to win the title in 2013 and is likely to face his fellow former world number one again this year. A groundbreaking mixed format, where the men's and women's Australian Opens were played simultaneously, was scrapped in February in the wake of complaints from top players. The initiative, introduced in 2022, was aimed at rebooting the tournament after it was shut down for two years by the COVID-19 pandemic. "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," said Golf Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland. "We are committed to elevating the status of our national championship, and this announcement is a significant step in that direction."
