Overview
- Rory McIlroy returns to the Australian Open for the first time in 11 years and opens Thursday in a marquee group with Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee (7:05 a.m. AEDT).
- He welcomed the event’s shift back to a standalone format and said Australia has been "starved" of consistent top-tier golf, committing to play again in 2026.
- McIlroy rated Kingston Heath as Melbourne’s best, saying Royal Melbourne is "probably not" No. 1 in the city, while still calling it a top‑10 course globally and noting tricky winds.
- Organisers report surging demand tied to McIlroy’s appearance, including sold‑out general public tickets and an expected weekly attendance of about 100,000 with major hospitality and media gains.
- Royal Melbourne hosts the Open for the first time since 1991 with a deep field featuring Australians Cameron Smith, Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee and Karl Vilips alongside Joaquin Niemann and other internationals.