Rory McIlroy excited to return to compete in top-tournament ‘starved’ Australia

McIlroy will headline the field at this week’s Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.

Rory McIlroy won the Australian Open back in 2013. Pic: William WEST / AFP via Getty Images

Rory McIlroy is excited to return to competing in Australia, claiming the country has been “starved” of top tournaments.

The Masters champion will headline the field at this week’s Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.

McIlroy cited the return to the tournament’s traditional format after three years as a dual gender event as a major reason for his decision to play again.

Speaking to reporters in Melbourne, he said: “It hasn’t been a secret that I’ve wanted to come back. The change in the format, going back to the traditional Australian Open, has probably helped.

“It just feels like this country is starved of top-level golf.

“Obviously, you’ve had Presidents Cups come down here and you’ve had a lot of good players still come through, but maybe just not on a consistent basis.

“And I think a market like this, with amazing fans and the history that it does have, probably deserves more of a consistency of big players and big tournaments.”

McIlroy won the Australian Open back in 2013 in a play-off with home favourite Adam Scott, a victory he now looks back on as pivotal.

“I think about that tournament a lot and about what it meant,” added the Northern Irishman.

“I felt at that point in my career, I was at a bit of a crossroads.

“In 2013 I’d really struggled and I really do think that that win at the end of the year was a catalyst for what happened in 2014, which I’d say, up there with 2025, are the best two years of my career.”