Australian Open: McIlroy to headline 2025, 2026 events at Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath

The Masters champion is set to compete in Melbourne after the Allan government locked in the major golf tournament for two years, beating NSW in a fierce bidding war.

Victoria has landed the Australian Open for two years with superstar Rory McIlroy heading to Melbourne for both mega events.

The Herald Sun can reveal that the major golf tournament will be hosted here in December this year, as well as in 2026, with the Allan government beating NSW in a bidding war.

As first flagged in the Saturday Herald Sun, Masters winner and five-time major champion McIlroy will compete with a host of other world-class golfers at both events.

McIlroy said he was proud to be signing on for the Australian Open and that he had always wanted to play professionally on the “world-class Melbourne Sandbelt”.

“Melbourne is known for being one of the world’s greatest 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,” he said.

Rory McIlroy will headline the two tournaments. Picture: Richard Heathcote

McIlroy said he had always wanted to play the “world-class Melbourne Sandbelt”. Picture: Harry How

The 2025 tournament will be held at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club on December 4-7, while next year’s open will be held at Kingston Heath.

McIlroy, the world no. 2, will battle it out for his second Australian Open crown after taking home the Stonehaven Cup trophy at Royal Sydney in 2013.

The Northern Irishman, who claimed victory at last month’s Masters at Augusta, is expected to be joined by Australian stars Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott, Cam Smith and Jason Day.

Premier Jacinta Allan described Victoria’s win over NSW as a “master stroke for the sporting capital of Australia”.

“It’s a win for jobs, a win for businesses and a win for fans who will get to see Rory McIlroy in one of the great golfing cities in the world,” she said.

It comes as the Allan government desperately tries to repair the state’s reputation on the global stage following the Commonwealth Games debacle.

The two-year deal, secured through the Victorian Government’s Major Events Fund, will be followed by the 2028 and 2040 Presidents Cups, the British and Irish Lions Tour, two NBA pre-season games and the first ever NFL regular season games in Australia.

Royal Melbourne Golf Club, East Course. Picture: Visit Victoria

Cameron Smith at the President's Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club. Picture: Michael Klein

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulous will join Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland on Wednesday to announce the two-year deal.

“This is a major coup – Rory is one of the greatest golfers in history and his desire to come to Melbourne highlights just how brilliant our Sandbelt courses are and why this is one of the great golfing cities of the world,” he said.

“These tournaments will be fantastic for our visitor economy, filling hotel rooms, restaurants and cafes and showcasing our state to millions more following on from overseas.”

This year’s event will mark the record-equalling 17th time Royal Melbourne has hosted the men’s Australian Open.

While the cost to sign McIlroy is unknown, taxpayers stumped up $3m to attract Tiger Woods in 2009 for the Australian Masters.

Since its inception in 1904, the Australian Open has been won by some of golf’s all-time greats, including Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Peter Thomson, Greg Norman, Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott.

Originally published as Australian Open: McIlroy to headline 2025, 2026 events at Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath