Masters champion Rory McIlroy to headline Australian Open
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Masters champion Rory McIlroy has committed to playing in the Australian Open for the next two years.
PHOTO: REUTERS
SYDNEY – Masters champion Rory McIlroy will play in the Australian Open for the next two years, the world No. 2 said on May 14, ending a long absence from the tournament.
The Northern Irishman became just the sixth golfer to complete a career Grand Slam of all four Majors with his dramatic play-off win at Augusta in April.
On the eve of the second Major of the year, the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, he announced that he will tee up in the Australian Open from Dec 4 to 7 this season at the world-renowned Royal Melbourne course.
The 36-year-old will then return to Australia in 2026 when the prestigious event moves to the nearby Kingston Heath course.
“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 121-year-old tournament – one of golf’s oldest – is “important for the global game”, he added.
“I’m incredibly confident it will thrive again this year.
“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.”
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’s appearance will end an 11-year absence from the tournament he won in 2013.
He won a duel with Australian Adam Scott on the final hole at Royal Sydney to win the title that year and is likely to face his fellow former world No. 1 again this time.
Australian tournament officials are also hopeful of luring home PGA Tour winner Min Woo Lee, as well as Major champions Cameron Smith and Scott.
“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 in a statement.
“We are committed to elevating the status of our national championship, and this announcement is a significant step in that direction.”
At the Masters, McIlroy ended a win drought in the Majors stretching back to 2014.
Augusta National had been the only Major missing from his collection, having claimed the US Open in 2011, the British Open in 2014 and the PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014. AFP, REUTERS
