Latest news with #StonehavenCup
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.
USA Today
14-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Rory McIlroy commits to headline Australian Open for the next two years
Rory McIlroy commits to headline Australian Open for the next two years Rory McIlroy is going Down Under in December. On Tuesday, McIlroy confirmed reports that he has agreed to headline the men's Australian Open for the next two years on the Melbourne Sandbelt. The tournament, which counts Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and more recently Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott among its champions, is scheduled for Dec. 4-7 at Royal Melbourne and the following year at Kingston Heath. Both are ranked among the top courses in the world by Golfweek raters. The last time the 35-year-old Northern Irishman played in the Australian Open was in 2014 when McIlroy defended the Stonehaven Cup the year after he went head-to-head with Scott in 2013 to eventually be crowned champion. More: Golfweek's Best 2025: The top 100 international courses "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 statement. "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." More: Amazing Australia: Melbourne and Victoria tick all the boxes for perfect golf, from Royal Melbourne down to the Mornington Peninsula Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said the appearance of the Northern Irishman would help elevate the status of the tournament. "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 Sutherland. "We are committed to elevating the status of our national championship, and this announcement is a significant step in that direction."
Business Recorder
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Business Recorder
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.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rory McIlroy to play Australian Open for next two years
MELBOURNE, Australia — Masters champion Rory McIlroy is heading Down Under for the first time in more than a decade to play the Australian Open on Melbourne's famed sandbelt courses for the next two years. Golf Australia said Wednesday that McIlroy, who completed his career Grand Slam with his win at Augusta National in April would play on the Royal Melbourne composite course from Dec. 4-7 and at nearby Kingston Heath in 2026. Advertisement Kingston Heath will host the Presidents Cup in 2028, the fourth time it has been played in Australia, with the previous three times at Royal Melbourne. McIlroy will attempt to win his second Stonehaven Cup. He won the Australian Open in 2013 at Royal Sydney and returned the following year when it was played at another Sydney course, The Australian, but hasn't played in Australia since. "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.' Royal Melbourne has hosted the Australian Open 17 times but not since 1991. First played in 1904, Gary Player has won the tournament seven times, Jack Nicklaus six and Greg Norman five times. Advertisement Golf Australia decided earlier this year to move away from its previous combined event. The dates and venue of the Women's Australian Open will be confirmed at a later date. The men's Australian Open will follow the Australian PGA Championship (Nov. 27-30 at Royal Queensland in Brisbane), with both events again co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour.
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
