Rory McIlroy shocked Australian reporters after his blunt assessment of the Royal Melbourne course, arguing that it’s not even the best course in the Victorian capital.
On the eve of the Australian Open, the Northern Irish star instead gave top honours in Melbourne to Kingston Heath, a course only 20km down the road.
“I don’t want the membership to take this badly…it’s [Royal Melbourne] probably not the best course in Melbourne,” he said.
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Rory McIlroy admitted his favourite Melbourne course to play was not Royal Melbourne. Getty
“That’s my opinion, but it’s certainly in the top 10 in the world. There’s so much great golf in this country, especially in this area.
“I didn’t anticipate how many blind tee shots there was going to be. Yeah, it sort of takes a little bit to figure out. It’s certainly not straightforward.
“It probably plays better in a southerly wind rather than a northerly wind, I think I’ve played it today.
“Some of the shorter holes are downwind, and it plays a little funky. But if you get the southerly wind, and it gets back into the wind, then they play really good.”
Wind gusts of up to 60km/h are set to wreak havoc on the tournament over the next four days – a fact that McIlroy conceded would impact the quality of golf.
“It’s probably not a fair reflection on the golf course playing in this wind, it would be good to play it in a few other directions,” he said.
“But it’s obviously an amazing golf course, and can’t wait to get out there and compete on it.”
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Rory McIlroy (L) speaks with Adam Scott (R) during practice prior to the Crown Australian Open 2025. Getty
McIlroy is set to play in a blockbuster group with Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee for the opening two rounds of the Australian Open.
The world No.2, who has been a key spokesman arguing for schedule changes to help the sport grow, argued he should be joined by the sport’s elite to contest a tournament that was once considered the world’s fifth major, such was the regard in which the Australian Open was held.
“I think this tournament in particular, because of the history, because of the tradition, deserves to be a standalone tournament, a week on its own,” McIlroy added.
“Hopefully one day the powers that be can put together a schedule where the biggest and best tournaments in the world and the oldest and the ones with the most heritage can be elevated and stand on their own.”
The Northern Irish star admitted the one hole he would play for the rest of his life was the 10th at Kingston Heath, an icon of Australian golf.
“The one par three I’d want to play for the rest of my life is the spare hole at Kingston Heath, the one that’s right in the middle of the course, the 10th … that to me is honestly my favourite par three in the world.”
The admission will come as a highlight for members at Kingston Heath, which is set to host next year’s Australian Open as well as the 2028 Presidents Cup.
Kingston Heath took the top spot for course in Melbourne in McIlroy’s books. Getty
With a career that has few missing pieces, McIlroy said he was focused on winning tournaments at some of the world’s greatest courses where he is yet to have success as a bucket list pursuit.
“I’ve talked about trying to win at some of the most important venues in golf,” he said of his goals going forward.
“You know, this week is one of them. You think about the tournaments and the people that have won at Royal Melbourne and I highly regarded it within the golf world.
“I was lucky enough to win at Pebble Beach this year for the first time. Obviously, at Augusta.
“I’d love to win at St Andrews one day.
“There’s a few venues that mean a bit more than some of the others, and that’s something I’d love to do one day. I want to win more majors. I want to be part of more Ryder Cup teams.
Rory McIlroy reacts as he is awarded the Green Jacket by Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler. Getty
“I’d say my records on either tour – whether it be the DP World Tour or the PGA Tour – probably are meaning a little less to me as time moves on, and it’s really just focusing on the majors and being part of that Ryder Cup team and trying to build on a legacy that I think will last 50 years.”
He also handed Australian golf fans a beacon of hope, saying that they were “starved of top level golf” and deserved a more consistent opportunity to be at the centre of the sport. Currently, the LIV Tour plays in Adelaide in April and the PGA Tour runs several events in November-December.
“It just feels like this country is starved of top level golf,” admitted McIlroy.
“You’ve had Presidents Cup come down here and had a lot of good players still come through, but maybe just not on a consistent basis.
“And I think a market like this with amazing fans and the history that it does have probably deserves more of a consistency of big players and big tournaments.”
McIlroy’s group will tee off at 7.05am AEDT on Thursday to start their Australian Open campaign from the 10th tee before returning to the course on Friday for their second round at 12.05pm AEDT.
