Significant Rory McIlroy announcement made on eve of PGA Championship
Five-time major champion Rory McIlroy has confirmed he will head Down Under this December to play the 2025 Australian Open.
Newly-crowned Masters champion Rory McIlroy has confirmed he will add the 2025 Australian Open to his schedule.
Rumours began circulating last week that the Northern Irishman was considering playing the event at Royal Melbourne over 4-7 December.
It has now been confirmed McIlroy will head Down Under after the Ryder Cup and he will also headline the national open in 2026 at Kingston Heath.
The news was made official on the eve of the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
McIlroy has been given a blockbuster draw in the second men's major of the year alongside Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele.
The last time the 36-year-old appeared at the Australian Open was in 2014 when he defended the Stonehaven Cup.
McIlroy was the defending champion that week after he won the 2013 Australian Open by one stroke over home favourite Adam Scott.
He had trailed the former Masters champion by four strokes but fired a bogey-free 66 to pip Scott.
"I'm proud to be committing to the Australian Open for the next two years," McIlroy said.
"Especially with it being played on the world-class Melbourne Sandbelt, somewhere I've always wanted to play professionally."
"The success of the Australian Open is important for the global game, and I'm incredibly confident it will thrive again this year, especially with it being staged in one of the world's great sporting cities and on two of the finest golf courses in the world over the next two years: The Royal Melbourne Golf Club and Kingston Heath Golf Club."
"Australian Open should be golf's fifth major"
News of McIlroy's decision to play the Australian Open is not in the least surprising given his previous comments.
McIlroy talked about the legacy of national opens at the turn of the year as he urged the PGA Tour to embrace a truly global schedule.
"Some of the national opens, [we need to] try to revitalise some of those that have some great history in our game and a lot of tradition, like the Australian Open," McIlroy previously told Australian Golf Digest.
"To me, I've won quite a few national opens and they're probably some of my most prized possessions in my trophy case."
McIlroy to play PGA Championship in marquee group
McIlroy will play alongside the defending champion and reigning World No.1 at Quail Hollow.
PGA Championship tee times were confirmed on 13 May.
The marquee group will tee off at 13.22 BST (08.22 local time).
McIlroy is looking to become the first player to win the first two majors of the year since Jordan Spieth in 2015.
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