Golf superstar Rory McIlroy is set to make a return to the Australian Open for the first time in over a decade as he seeks time away from some of his usual PGA Tour events. The Northern Irishman, who last triumphed at the Australian Open at Royal Sydney in 2013, has been absent from the event since 2014.
But fresh off his Masters victory and donning his first green jacket at Augusta National last month, McIlroy has shown a keen interest in the Australian Open and hopes to see it reclaim its former glory. In its heyday, the Australian Open was a magnet for the globe’s elite golfers, often dubbed “the fifth major,” attracting icons like Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Greg Norman, all of whom have claimed the prestigious Stonehaven Cup.
While the tournament’s allure has waned in recent years, LIV Golf has seized the opportunity, drawing crowds with a popular event in Adelaide. Despite the Australian Open’s modest $1.1million prize pot – a pittance compared to the PGA Tour’s minimum $4m purses – McIlroy has indicated that his focus isn’t on the financial rewards.
The four-time major winner has already passed up two lucrative $20m PGA Tour events this season. Insider and former Australian professional golfer Mark Allen has suggested that McIlroy, now 36, is expected to grace the fairways down under later in the year.
“As we speak here right now, it’s going to happen,” Allen disclosed on the ‘Talk Birdie To Me’ Podcast. “But we all know in the sporting world that things can change.”
In a 2023 conversation with Golf Digest, Rory McIlroy shared his vision for taking the PGA Tour global, singling out the Australian Open as a pivotal tournament.
He said: “The Australian Open, for example, should almost be the fifth major. The market down there is huge with potential. They love golf. They love sport.
“They have been starved of top-level golf. And the courses are so good. Revenues at the PGA Tour right now are about $2.3billion. So how do we get that number up to $4billion or $6billion? It is by looking outward. They need to think internationally and spread their wings a bit.
“My dream scenario is a world tour, with the proviso that corporate America has to remain a big part of it all. But there is an untapped commercial opportunity out there.”
Specifics about the date and location for the prestigious event, typically held from late November to early December, are yet to be confirmed. The Royal Melbourne Golf Club is currently the frontrunner to host, renowned as one of the world’s top courses.
While the last three Australian Opens saw men’s and women’s tournaments run concurrently on the same course, this year will see a return to the traditional single competition format.
A spokesman from Golf Australia revealed the status of the golf championships, stating: “Golf Australia continues to work through the future of the men’s and women’s Australian Opens, with nothing formal to confirm at this point in time.
“We look forward to working with our partners to confirm and announce the future of both events in the coming weeks.”
This story first appeared on the Express US
