McIlroy calls for Australian Open rescheduling to lure stronger field

“There need to be conversations had with people much more important than me that set the schedules, and hopefully the Australian Open can find a date where everyone can at least have the option to come down'

CROWD PLEASER: Rory McIlroy was followed by huge galleries at the Australian Open in Melbourne and feels the tournament should be given a better schedule slot. Pic: AP

Rory McIlroy, the world's second-ranked golfer, has called on organisers of the Australian Open to reschedule the event in an effort to attract a stronger international field to the tournament in the future.

The Northern Irishman, who completed a career grand slam this year when he won the U.S. Masters, was one of the main draws at Royal Melbourne this week and finished in a tie for 14th, eight shots behind winner Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.

"I've been excited to come back down here for a while, it's been over 10 years since I played in the Australian Open," McIlroy said after his final round.

"This is a golf tournament that has got so much potential and I think it showed a little bit of that this week. There's still a ways to go.

"I would love to have a few more players come down and play. But it's hard. There's three tournaments going on in the schedule this week," said McIlroy referring to the schedule clash with Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas and the DP World Tour’s Nedbank Challenge in South Africa.

“There need to be conversations had with people much more important than me that set the schedules, and hopefully the Australian Open can find a date that accommodates everyone and everyone can at least have the option to come down.” 

“People seeing the scenes here on TV…it’ll definitely pique their interest,” he said.

“I’ve played a pretty heavy schedule post-summer with the Irish Open, Wentworth, Ryder Cup, and then I’ve sort of been globe-trotting a little bit here the last couple of months,” McIlroy added.

“I’m excited to have a little bit of downtime and finally reflect on everything—maybe watch a few of the tournaments back. I’ve not really let myself do that too much.

“So yeah, looking forward to the Christmas break, putting the feet up, a few glasses of wine, and thinking back about what an unbelievable year.”

Neergaard-Petersen won the Australian Open for his first major professional title when his scrambled par on the final hole crushed the hopes of hometown favourite Cam Smith who was chasing his first win in more than two years.

Smith and Neergaard-Peterson came to the 72nd hole tied at 15-under after a thrilling contest over the last nine holes. Neergaard Petersen shanked his drive into difficult rough on the right with a bunker between his ball and the green.

Smith found the green with his second but with a long, sloping putt to the hole. Matter of fact as he has been throughout the week, Neergaard got up and down for par while Smith missed his difficult putt for birdie, then a 1.5 meter return putt to force a playoff.

The 26-year-old Danish player won by a single shot at 15-under 269 after rounds of 67, 66, 66 and 70. Smith started the last round two shots behind the leader, drew level by the turn and led outright after sinking a three meter put for birdie on the 10th hole.

After a birdie at the 11th, Smith bogeyed the 12th and was level with Neergaard-Petersen at 13 under. The pair stayed locked together until the final hole when Smith’s missed par putt handled his opponent a career-changing victory.

“It’s hard. I’m really at a loss for words. It’s been a battle all day,” Neergaard said. “Even from the outside, you can look calm but it was a storm inside (for me) all day.

“But I managed to keep battling and to get it up and down to make that putt on the last. I don’t know what to say, to be honest.”.

Smith, the 2022 British Open champion who ended his streak of missing seven consecutive cuts this year on Friday, shot 66 Saturday and was tied for second, two strokes off the lead.

After all his missed cuts, Smith, said that it was “nice being in contention” entering the final round.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had this feeling to be honest,” he said. “I love that it’s the Australian Open. I couldn’t think of a better place to get back into form. It would shut a few people up.” 

The winner of the Australian Open, which is the second event on the European tour’s new schedule of tournaments for late this year and 2026, receives a Masters exemption next year. And the top three finishers not already exempt — Michael Hollick, Adam Scott and Si Woo Kim — have qualified for the British Open in 2026 at Royal Birkdale.

Associated Press