Rory McIlroy didn’t hold back this week in Melbourne, and his candor has stirred up more than just the leaderboard ahead of the Australian Open. The world No. 2 and reigning Masters champion sparked a bit of a Sandbelt skirmish by naming Kingston Heath - not Royal Melbourne - as his top pick among the city’s world-class courses.
“I don’t want the membership to take this badly, but it’s probably not the best course in Melbourne,” McIlroy said of Royal Melbourne during a media session on Wednesday. When asked directly for his favorite, he didn’t hesitate: “Kingston Heath.”
Now, that’s not a throwaway comment when you’re talking about Royal Melbourne - a course that’s long been considered the crown jewel of Australian golf and a fixture atop global rankings. But McIlroy wasn’t trying to tear anything down. He followed up with some perspective: “That’s my opinion, but it’s certainly in the top 10 in the world.”
Still, it’s the kind of statement that gets people talking - especially in a place as proud of its golf heritage as Melbourne. The Sandbelt region is sacred ground for purists, and Royal Melbourne is often the centerpiece of that reverence. But McIlroy’s preference for Kingston Heath gives us a glimpse into how even the best in the world see things differently when they lace up the spikes and walk the fairways.
McIlroy also opened up about his experience playing Royal Melbourne, admitting that it threw him a few curveballs.
“I didn’t anticipate how many blind tee shots there were going to be… it takes a little bit to figure out and is certainly not straightforward,” he said.
That’s a fair observation. Royal Melbourne, particularly the West Course, is known for its strategic complexity - wide fairways that demand precision, greens that repel anything less than perfect, and subtle undulations that can make even a well-struck shot feel like a gamble. This week, though, the tournament is being played on a composite layout - a blend of East and West holes - which doesn’t quite carry the same cachet as the standalone West Course, at least in the eyes of course raters.
For McIlroy, who’s coming off a whirlwind schedule that included a string of appearances and visits to three other Sandbelt clubs on Tuesday - where he played a single par-3 hole at each - the prep hasn’t exactly been textbook. That’s not the ideal lead-up for a layout that punishes anything short of full focus. Royal Melbourne may not be his personal favorite, but it’s still a course that demands respect - and ruthlessly exposes any player who doesn’t give it.
So now, with the tournament underway, all eyes are on how McIlroy’s game stacks up against a course that’s as nuanced as it is revered. He’s got the pedigree, the form, and the confidence. But in a place where the turf is firm, the greens are fast, and the wind can turn on a dime, opinions don’t win tournaments - execution does.
And whether it’s Kingston Heath or Royal Melbourne, the Sandbelt doesn’t play favorites.