Rory McIlroy is excited to return to the Australian Open, insisting that Australia has been hungry for elite golf.
Leading the field at Royal Melbourne in the 108th edition of the event, McIlroy is part of a shift as Golf Australia moves back to the traditional, single-format tournament after a three-year dual-gender format experiment.
This year the DP World Tour co-sanctions the Australian Open, and McIlroy is aiming for his first win Down Under in 12 years and to claim a second Stonehaven Cup.
Rory McIlroy has previously spoken about his wish to bring top-tier golf back to Australia more regularly. He noted that the format change back to the traditional Australian Open, in his view, has likely helped that goal.
“It hasn’t been a secret that I’ve wanted to come back … and the switch back to the traditional format has probably aided that,” he said.
McIlroy added that Australia, with its passionate fans and rich golfing history, deserves more frequent appearances of big-name players and major tournaments.
Australian Open history and favorites
Australian major champions such as Cam Smith and Scott are among those hoping an Australian will lift the Stonehaven Cup for the first time since Matt Jones in 2019. Scott, who previously won the title in 2009, sees the 2025 edition at Royal Melbourne as particularly meaningful and believes the course choice adds significance to the victory for an Australian.
For fans, the event is part of a broader push to showcase high-caliber golf in Australia, with McIlroy and others hoping to maintain momentum for the sport’s presence Down Under.
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