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<\/p>\nIn summary<\/p>\n
Rory McIlroy explains why he rates Kingston Heath above Royal Melbourne ahead of his December return to defend his love for the Stonehaven Cup.
\nScottie Scheffler and Justin Rose have both flagged Australia as a legitimate destination, with Rose calling the Australian Open “special”.
\nMcIlroy will stay on after the Australian Open to play the Cathedral Invitational at Cathedral Lodge, which benefits Adam Scott’s foundation.<\/p>\n
It doesn\u2019t matter that it\u2019s not long in the modern way so may tournament courses need to be nowadays. \u00a0<\/p>\n
It doesn\u2019t matter that it\u2019s comparatively flat, well really flat, either.<\/p>\n
Rory McIlroy loves Kingston Heath because of what has been produced on a land package so devoid of size and undulation that the design is, in the words of the two-time Masters winner, \u201camazing\u201d.<\/p>\n
McIlroy ruffled significant local Melbourne feathers on arrival for the 2025 Australian Open when he declared Kingston Heath, where he will return to try and get his name on the Stonehaven Cup for a second time this December, was better than last year\u2019s host, Royal Melbourne.<\/p>\n
The Golf Australia Magazine Top 100 puts Kingston Heath third, just two places behind Royal Melbourne’s West Course at No.1 on the 2026 list.<\/p>\n
McIlroy didn\u2019t quite explain just why he liked the number three course ahead of the number one when he made the comments which made headlines.<\/p>\n
But ahead of this year\u2019s Open he gave a clear insight into why he likes Kingston Heath more.<\/p>\n
His views are indicative of his overall love for the sand belt, which isn\u2019t in question, and could go some way to placating those who thought he was mad. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it’s such an amazing design,\u201d he said, around eight weeks before his arrival back in Melbourne. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI would argue that Royal Melbourne’s probably built on a better piece of land for a golf course, more rolling hills and more elevation changes.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
McIlroy loves the design of Kingston Heath. Photo by Morgan Hancock\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think with where Kingston Heath is, pretty flat piece of property, what they’ve been able to do with that golf course and just some of the par threes and just the strategy of the golf course, some of the green complexes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, it’s maybe a touch short for modern standards, but you have to be so strategic in how you play it and it’s a wonderful golf course.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really have an appreciation for golf courses that maybe don’t have the best piece of land, and they have to come up with unique designs to really make it interesting and I think Kingston Heath, that course and the architect has really been able to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
McIlroy\u2019s appearance put the Australian Open back on the international agenda, so much so the world\u2019s best players have put it back on their radar, helped by impending changes to the US PGA Tour season which opens up the October-January window for them to take their game on the road. \u00a0<\/p>\n
First, world No.1 Scottie Scheffler said playing in Australia and New Zealand were now legitimate options for him, then more recently major champion Justin Rose made his intentions clear. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me personally, places that I would personally like to play more golf again that I have played in my career would be Japan and Australia,\u201d Rose said at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they’re great venues that have a great golf history, great golf heritage, great golf fan base that I personally feel I haven’t really had the opportunity to go and play in the last decade at least.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rose said all national Opens were \u201cspecial\u201d and deserved the attention of the world\u2019s best.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like, yes, Australian Open, South African Open, these events should be — they’re the ones that I’ve played in in the past, and they feel like they’re special,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven the Canadian Open on the PGA TOUR, I think it feels special. It feels like it’s a little bit different. I enjoy those weeks for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
A growing cohort of international players have signed up for the Australian Open, the latest being 2023 champion, Joaquin Niemann and his LIV teammates Carlos Ortiz and Sebasti\u00e1n Mu\u00f1oz for the December 3-6 event.<\/p>\n
McIlroy doesn\u2019t think they\u2019ll be the last to sign on and head to Kingston Heath, to continue to add to the resurgence of an event he knows has a history some events can\u2019t match, and one which played a significant part in his career. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope that more people make it down under and play and I think as well with what the PGA Tour are doing with their schedule from February through to August, there’s an opportunity there to get some of the biggest names in the world down to play the Australian Open,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Things didn’t go all Rory’s way at Royal Melbourne in 2025. (Photo by Josh Chadwick\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, that would be amazing for the tournament and it’s not like that hasn’t happened in the past. I mean, you look at the winners of the Australian Open over the years and it really is a who’s who of the best players over the past 50 or 60 years. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, the Stonehaven Cup was one of the most meaningful trophies that I have. I was at a bit of a crossroads in my career.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a really tough 2013 and I’ve always said I wouldn’t have had the 2014 I had with winning two majors and getting to number one the world if I didn’t have the week in Australia that I had at the end of 2013. So, it’s always been a meaningful week for me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI qualified for it as a 16-year-old amateur back in 2005 down in the Mornington Peninsula. So, I’ve had a big affinity for that golf tournament for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Rory McIlroy won the 2013 Australian Open in Sydney. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
McIlroy also confirmed his trip wouldn\u2019t be limited to the Australian Open, with an appearance at the Cathedral Invitational at Cathedral Lodge in regional Victoria added to his schedule.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am staying for a couple of days after and I’m going to play the Cathedral Invitational, which benefits Adam Scott’s foundation. So, I’m going to stay down for that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m excited for that as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n \u00a9 Golf Australia. All rights reserved.
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