Cameron Smith, Lucas Herbert jubilant Australian Open will return to separate men’s and women’s tournaments

His strong criticism helped prompt officials to dump a format players didn’t like and Cam Smith declared just what the Australian Open should now look like.

A rotation of the men’s Australian Open between the best courses in Melbourne’s sandbelt and an influx of the world’s best players will re-shape the iconic tournament which is no longer “handcuffed” by the dual-gender format.

Cameron Smith and his trio of Australian LIV teammates verbally rejoiced in the wake of Golf Australia conceding defeat after three years of doubling-up and strong criticism of the 2024 event, which included calling out the course set-up which helped cater to the women’s field.

Arriving at a near perfect Grange Golf Club in Adelaide this week brought smiles to the faces of Smith, Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones who declared it the “benchmark” standard GA boss James Sutherland should be looking at to return the Open to the “fifth major” status Smith believes it deserves.

“Not only do we want to come down and play and obviously support our event, I think it lends itself to having a stronger field, having more guys come down here and play the Australian Open, and let it be the event that it once was,” Smith said.

Ripper GC members Cam Smith, Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones delighted in the Australian Open change. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)

“You look at the names on that trophy through the ‘80s and ’90s, it’s incredible, and it seems like somewhere that got lost. I definitely want it to be the best event it can be and be the fifth major. It would be unbelievable.

Adam Scott had joined in the criticism declaring there was a time and place for golf innovation but “our national Open is not one of them” after he skipped last year’s flat event, won by little-known American Ryggs Johnston.

Smith said he asked a lot of questions but hadn’t got “many answers” with the hope this shift back to tradition changes things.

“We’ve got to start somewhere, and hopefully this is the starting point.”

Herbert, a winner on both the European and PGA Tours before his move to LIV, went even further detailing the depth of concerns players had and how the move had increased hope of a revival.

“We would have loved to have seen an Australian Open venue play a little differently from what it was, and I think we’re a little handcuffed, as well, from having the women play with us,” he said.

“I don’t think you should set up the courses the same way because it’s not fair to either gender and their skill sets don’t get showcased the right way when you do that.

Ryggs Johnston and South Korea's Shin Ji-yai won the 2024 dual-gender Australian Opens. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP)

“I do think splitting them up is ultimately going to be a great decision longer term for the Australian Open, and I think the event is really going to grow off the back of that.”

The date and location for both the men’s and women’s 2025 Australian Opens is not yet locked in, with discussions between Melbourne’s “big four” on the sandbelt set to shape the future.

Originally published as Cameron Smith, Lucas Herbert jubilant Australian Open will return to separate men’s and women’s tournaments