The challengers for the Stonehaven Cup lining up
FOR those without a ticket, don’t wait too much longer or you will miss out, with the 2025 Australian Open shaping as the most eagerly anticipated since the days Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player ruled the world’s fairways and greens, or to a time when a ‘Shark’ was golf’s biggest fish.
Home grown talent and winners of significant championships both on Australian shores and around the world in Adam Scott, Cam Smith, Min Woo Lee, Marc Leishman, Cam Davis and Lucas Herbert will be there.
So too, previous winners of the Australian Open Joaquin Niemann and Abraham Ancer, LIV Tour members Carlos Ortiz and Sebastian Munoz, young guns Elvis Smylie and Karl Vilips, along with Kiwi Ryan Fox.
Add to those names a long list of hungry locals looking to make their mark and to use the Australian Open as a springboard to big events and opportunities abroad.
And of course, the star attraction is reigning Masters champ Rory McIlroy, announced by CEO of Golf Australia James Sutherland back in May, signed and sealed not long after the Irishman had won his fifth major championship, while also becoming just the sixth man to capture golf’s Grand Slam.
“Rory McIlroy, one of the best to ever play our game, playing on the world-renowned Melbourne Sandbelt, is a mouth-watering proposition for golf fans,” Sutherland said.
“We are committed to elevating the status of our national championship, and this announcement is a significant step in that direction.”
And elevate the status they certainly have, the challengers for the Stonehaven Cup are lining up, the field arguably the deepest since Greg Norman and his considerable personality and immense ability attracted world class performers armed with a goal to take him down in his own backyard.
While McIlroy may have been the first to commit, player announcements have continued at a rapid rate, the most recent addition to the field PGA TOUR rookie Vilips, fresh off a winning season where he took out the Puerto Rico Open with a tournament record 26-under-par total in just his third start on the world’s toughest tour.
“Being back at home, with an awesome field, on one of the best golf courses in the world, and big crowds is going to be awesome,” Vilips said. “I loved last years’ experience at Kingston Heath and Victoria, and I imagine this year’s Open is going to take it up a couple of levels.”
All that without mentioning perhaps the biggest star of all, a Royal Melbourne composite course which will host the Australian Open for a 16th time, but its first since 1991.
The Australian Open tees off from December 4-7.
‘Major’ opportunities on offer to 2025 Aussie Open champ
WHILE the first-place prizemoney of more than $400,000 and adding their name to the Stonehaven Cup alongside many greats of Australian and international golf is a considerable attraction, there are also some ‘major’ opportunities awaiting the winner of the 2025 Australian Open.
Augusta National, working in partnership with the R&A, have announced that the winners of selected national championships, the Australian Open being one of them, will earn exemptions into the US Masters and the Open Championship.
“Today’s announcement strengthens our organisations collective vision of rewarding top talent around the world who rise to the top of historic national open championships,” Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and The Masters, Fred Ridley, stated.
“We hope this formal recognition shines a bright light on these players and the events they will represent at the Masters and The Open, beginning next year.”
American Chris Gotterup, the 2025 Scottish Open champion, has booked his place at Augusta in April, so too Englishman Marco Penge who prevailed in a playoff at the recent Spanish Open.
Also set to take advantage of the new exemption category will be the 2025 Japan and Hong Kong Open champions, along with the 2026 South African Open victor when that event is contested next February-March.
Rory McIlroy won’t need the exemption should he win a second Australian Open title, with the Masters champ locked in at both Augusta and Birkdale in 2026, however for many of those not otherwise qualified, it will be a nice bonus should they come out on top at Royal Melbourne.
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