Luring US Masters champion Rory McIlroy to play in the Australian Open in Melbourne later this year would have a “Pied Piper” effect that could attract other stars in world golf and re-ignite the tournament.
That was the view of former Australian pro-turned-commentator Paul Gow in response to speculation McIlroy could be the star attraction for the 2025 Australian Open, which is likely to be played at Royal Melbourne in November.
McIlroy’s camp is in talks with Golf Australia about striking a deal, and negotiations also involve the Victorian government, according to informed sources who are unable to comment due to the confidentiality of negotiations.
As the hottest commodity in world golf following his epic US Masters victory last month, which saw McIlroy become just the sixth male player to win the grand slam of majors, the Northern Irishman would command a multi-million dollar appearance fee.
If a deal can be struck, it would be McIlroy’s first Australian Open appearance in 11 years, after he won the Stonehaven Cup in 2013 in a thrilling duel with Adam Scott at Royal Sydney and returned to try and defend it in 2014.
McIlroy is a big fan of the Melbourne sand belt courses and is also an advocate for the Australian Open. In an interview in 2023, McIlroy said the Australian Open “should almost be the fifth major”, as it was considered when Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer and Greg Norman won the event during the last century.
Scottie Scheffler puts the green jacket on winner, Rory McIlroy.Credit: AP
“The market down there is huge with potential. They love golf. They love sport. They have been starved of top-level golf. And the courses are so good,” McIlroy said in an interview with Golf Digest.
Gow was at Augusta National for Fox Sports and had “chills” last month when he saw McIlroy win his first Green Jacket, and said the world No.2 would be a massive magnet for the Australian Open.
“It’s obvious he’s got a love affair with the place,” Gow said. “He’s huge in the game of golf, so it would be massive for us to have him back down here.
“It’d draw other players that want to play him, it’d be good for our younger players, if one of them gets a chance to play with him on Saturday and Sunday.
Rory McIroy playing in the Australian Open in 2014.Credit: Anthony Johnson
“I think there’s a lot to play out, but I would love to see him here at the right price. This would [Golf Australia CEO] be James Sutherland’s highlight, without a doubt, if he can get McIlroy.”
Golf Australia declined to confirm talks with McIlroy, but said in a statement: “Golf Australia continues to work through the future of the men’s and women’s Australian Opens, with nothing formal to confirm at this time. We look forward to working with our partners to confirm and announce the future of both events in coming weeks.”
Golf Australia announced in February it was reverting back to separate men’s and women’s Australian Opens this year, after three years of the tournaments being controversially played together.
Jack Nicklaus playing in the 1971 Australian Open.Credit: Ted Golding
Jordan Spieth was one of the last big international names to play in the Australian Open in 2017, after winning the Stonehaven Cup twice, in 2014 and 2016.
GA have since marketed the Australian Open with local stars as marquee attractions instead of world stars, with US PGA Tour players often taking a break or opting to play in rival tournaments in Asia. The Australian Open’s modest prizemoney is also pocket change in golf’s modern world: the $289,900 cheque for first place is about the same as you get for coming 25th in a PGA Tour event.
Gow said luring McIlroy down to Australia would require his Australian friends like Adam Scott and Jason Day to “sell the dream” of foregoing a massive payday to test himself in a challenging tournament at Royal Melbourne, and help foster the world game, too.
“The sand belt golf courses are the best in the world; they are ridiculous how good they are,” Gow said.
“That’s part of the selling piece, isn’t it? It’s the macro, hey mate, we’re going to have Royal Melbourne and it’s going to be in November and the pins are going to be hard and fast and you’re going to have to hit shots that you haven’t hit before. That would excite him because he’s a world player.
“We need a Pied Piper, and he is our Pied Piper. Imagine if we get Scotty Scheffler here too … others would follow. They’d go back and talk and say, hey, how good was that? Players, that’s how we talk. You want to be challenged. Some of the golf courses they play week in, week out over there, aren’t that challenging. If we can get him all over the line, he will be the pied piper to bring others down.”
