Rory McIlroy is back in Australia, and he’s not just here for the sunshine and sandbelt golf. He’s here with purpose - chasing a second Stonehaven Cup and bringing world-class golf back to a country he believes has been missing it.
The 108th edition of the Australian Open tees off at Royal Melbourne, and McIlroy headlines a field that’s rich in talent and history. This marks a return to the tournament’s traditional format, after a three-year run as a dual-gender event. Golf Australia has opted to restore the classic setup, and with the DP World Tour now co-sanctioning the event, it’s clear they’re aiming to reestablish the Open as a marquee stop on the international golf calendar.
For McIlroy, it’s been 12 years since his last win Down Under - a dramatic playoff victory over Adam Scott at The Royal Sydney Golf Club back in 2013. That win still resonates, and he’s made no secret of his desire to return to Australia and play a role in elevating the game here.
“It hasn’t been a secret that I’ve wanted it to come back as well,” McIlroy said this week. “The wonderful golf courses we’re playing over the next couple of years, and going back to the traditional Australian Open format, have probably helped that too. I’m just really excited to be back.”
McIlroy’s presence is more than just a headline. It’s a statement - that Australia, with its rich golf history and passionate fanbase, deserves a more consistent dose of top-tier golf. He pointed to the sporadic nature of elite tournaments and players making their way to Australian shores, despite the country hosting events like the Presidents Cup and producing major champions.
“It just feels like this country is starved of top-level golf,” McIlroy said. “You’ve had Presidents Cups down here and a lot of good players come through, but maybe not on a consistent basis. A market like this, with amazing fans and the history it has, probably deserves more consistency of big players and big tournaments.”
He’s not wrong. Australia has long been a breeding ground for world-class talent, but when it comes to hosting the game’s biggest names and events, it’s been a bit of a drought. That’s what makes this week at Royal Melbourne feel a little different - like the start of something more sustainable.
And while McIlroy is the star attraction, the homegrown talent is ready to make its own mark. Cam Smith and Adam Scott - both major winners and fan favorites - are among the top Australians looking to bring the Stonehaven Cup back home for the first time since Matt Jones won it in 2019.
Scott knows what it takes to win this trophy, having done so back in 2009. But doing it again, this time at Royal Melbourne, would carry extra weight.
“I think winning the Aussie Open at Royal Melbourne has one of those asterisks next to it,” Scott said. “Where it’s just that little bit more meaningful.”
That’s the kind of sentiment that echoes throughout the field this week. The return to Royal Melbourne, the return to tradition, and the return of a player like Rory McIlroy - it all adds up to a tournament that feels big again. And if McIlroy has his way, this could be the beginning of a more permanent resurgence of elite golf in Australia.