‘Australia’s greatest venue’: Adam Scott calls for Open to stay at Royal Melbourne

The men’s Australian Open is making its return to Royal Melbourne for the first time since 1991, with golf icon Adam Scott calling for Victoria to host the tournament long-term.

Aussie golf great Adam Scott will add some star power to this year’s Australian Open in Melbourne — and has called for the tournament to continue being staged in Victoria long-term.

Scott said playing the Open at Royal Melbourne, which he labelled “Australia’s greatest venue” would help draw the best players, interstate and international tourists and show off the city’s famed sandbelt to global audiences.

“I think it would be great for it to be on the sandbelt as often as possible,’’ he said.

“It is the Australian Open and there are other cities with great courses as well.

“I know it’s a business and all that has to get worked out and that’s one of the reasons why it hasn’t been down there.

“But there’s something to it being down there.

“I think it would be good if it could stay on the sandbelt for a few years and if the momentum builds … really let the world know what the Aussie Open is all about and how great a tournament it is.’’

Adam has called for Victoria to host the Open at Royal Melbourne long-term. Picture: David Berding

Scott said playing the Open at Royal Melbourne for the first time since 1991 could help usher in a new “golden age” of Aussie golf.

The Herald Sun last week revealed Scott would return to Australia to play Cathedral Invitational in country Victoria and he on Wednesday confirmed he would join superstar Rory McIlroy at the Open in December.

In an exclusive interview, Scott compared Melbourne’s sandbelt with the famed links golf courses of the UK and Ireland and said it made sense to play Australia’s most prestigious golf tournament there more regularly.

“This is a very unique pocket of golf with incredible golf courses, it’s own unique style, it’s own way of playing,’’ he said.

“It’s got some links elements to it, you know, we are very lucky to have it.

“And Royal Melbourne has forever been rated the best and, as a tournament venue it’s hard to say there is better at home.’’

The Open will be staged in Melbourne this year and next but its long-term future has not been decided and is likely to be the subject of a bidding war between Victoria, NSW and South Australia.

Greg Norman watches his great recovery shot from the back of the green on the fourth hole in the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne in 1985. Golf. Picture: Supplied

Despite being a proud Queenslander, Scott said: “Melbourne does incredibly well out of huge sports events.

“I know every state likes to compete and have huge sporting events — Queensland’s having the Olympics soon.

“So, it’s a big thing in Australia, it just so happens that Melbourne has some of the greatest golf courses of the world.

“And the top players of the world today are really aware of that and they’re also really keen to experience that.

“They obviously haven’t ever played an Aussie Open at Royal Melbourne and I do my best to try and talk that kind of stuff up but I don’t really need to’’.

“There’s a great reputation there.’’

Scott said playing Cathedral days after the Open would be “a fun way to end the year’’ and he would try and convince McIlroy to play it in 2026.

Scott hopes to return to Melbourne for the President’s Cup in 2028. Picture: Andrew Milligan

“It really feels like golf has this energy behind the game in Australia, the last few years,’’ he said.

“Having Rory come down, going to our greatest venue (for the Open) a lot of good things going for it.

“Let’s hope it kind of channels those glory years.’’

Scott also hoped to return to Melbourne for the President’s Cup in 2028.

“Yes, I hope to,’’ he said.

“It’s hard to see more than a couple years down the road, I must say.

“But it’s things like that event that would give me motivation to continue working at it and grinding at it.

“I still think I’m seeing enough signs that I can still do it.

“So at this point, I’d hope to be playing.’’

Originally published as ‘Australia’s greatest venue’: Adam Scott calls for Open to stay at Royal Melbourne