McIlroy signs on for 2025, 2026 Australian Open

World No. 2 golfer Rory McIlroy will headline Australia's most prestigious tournament in 2025 and 2026, organizers announced on Wednesday.

The government of Australia's state of Victoria said in a statement that Melbourne will be the home of the Australian Open for the next two years, with Northern Ireland's McIlroy committing to play in both tournaments.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates with the trophy after winning the 2025 Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, the United States, on April 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

The Victorian government and Golf Australia announced that the 2025 tournament would be held at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club from December 4 to 7 and that Kingston Heath Golf Club would host the 2026 event.

Both courses are on the Melbourne Sandbelt, a renowned golfing region some 20 kilometers southeast of the city center.

"I'm proud to be committing to the Australian Open for the next two years, especially with it being played on the world-class Melbourne Sandbelt, somewhere I've always wanted to play professionally," McIlroy said in a statement.

The announcement comes after McIlroy in April won The Masters Tournament for the first time, completing a career grand slam of golf's major championships.

The 36-year-old McIlroy won the Australian Open in 2013 when it was played in Sydney. He has not played a professional tournament in Australia since 2014.

Australia's 9News network reported that McIlroy will be joined in the 2025 field by top-ranked Australians Cam Smith, Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott.

Steve Dimopoulos, Victoria's Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, described McIlroy's commitment to play at the Australian Open as a "major coup" that will be "fantastic" for the state's visitor economy.