Finally, the rest of the world has a look in and that absolutely includes Australia.

When Golf Australia announced earlier in June that, for the first time, the PGA Tour had formally partnered with the governing body to enhance the Australian Open, there was speculative excitement about what that could mean.

A significant boost in prize money, a “distinct window in the global golf calendar” and help in optimising “the opportunity to attract the world’s best players” were part of the language used by both organisations.

Detail, as often is the case around these announcements, was light on.

However, as he unveiled the well-forecast but no less dramatic changes to the PGA Tour, in an announcement which also included the first post-rehab sighting of Tiger Woods at the Travellers Championship, tour CEO Brian Rolapp made it clear the partnership with GA indeed had purpose.

Rory McIlroy at the 2025 Australian Open. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/Getty Images)

The key notes of the changes to the Tour included confirmation of two distinct playing levels in the U.S.

The best players will vie for upwards of $US480m across 23-24 events on the PGA Tour Championship Series, while for the next level down there will be $US80m on offer for the secondary Challenger Series, across 20 events.

Rolapp revealed how promotion and relegation might work, via a points list, as well as changes to the post-season at the top level with match-play, excitingly, set to be part of a “re-imagined” PGA Tour finals.

The input of players including Woods and Australia’s own Adam Scott was key to the changes; a communal showing of interest in taking golf at the absolute elite level to new heights for both themselves and a growing audience.

But the key detail within the changes was the timeline.

Rolapp confirmed all the events, on both levels, would be played from February to August, a seven-month window, leaving five months for the rest of the world to shine.

That includes the Australian Open, which could yet become part of an elevated series of international events pitched as being available for the players from the Championship Series, that’s the best players in the world, to play in.

It’s a potentially momentum-altering shift in thinking from the PGA Tour and Rolapp said it was feedback from players as part of lengthy, all-encompassing negotiations, which made it clear that the rest of the world could no longer be ignored.

“We have talked a lot to our members about this. They clearly want to play outside of the dates that I’ve outlined here,” Rolapp said.

“Different members have different motivations for where they play, when they play, why they play ... it’s our responsibility to create compelling opportunities for them to do just that.

“We also have a lot of dual members. We have a lot of international members who want to play internationally. We have a lot of golf fans who don't live in this country. I think it's important for us to serve the rest of the world and grow the game.”

US PGA Tour CEO, Brian Rolapp. (Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

The Australian Open has stuck firm with it’s late November/early December date despite the limitations the timeslot traditionally placed on luring the world’s best players, in particular Americans, south.

Ask those at GA, who know every detail about the world schedule, and they’ll tell you those who have called for a shift to February to enhance the line-up don’t know what they are talking about.

It is now clear why GA was so intent on staying with its preferred timeslot, and also why the move was made to reinstate the men’s and women’s Opens as standalone events.

As Rory McIlroy was surrounded by massive galleries at Royal Melbourne last year, in an Australian Open decided on the 72nd hole, the world took significant notice.

It certainly wasn’t missed by six-time PGA Tour winner Max Homa on social media.

“Instagram has me feeling like I gotta play in Australia next year. Looks heavenly,” he posted.

It might not be this year, or even next year that Homa treks to Australia, with the changed PGA Tour calendar not coming into effect until 2028.

However, the fact the changes have been made, that the rest of the world finally has a look in, bodes well for the Australian Open, and for Australian golf fans in the immediate future and long-term.