In a week in which he's done everything to justify whatever the Victorian taxpayers have shelled out to bring him to Australia - including, praise Jebus, making the cut - Rory McIlroy has told the world that he's playing the Australian Open for myriad reasons.

There's the history of the event, his belief in the importance of national championships, his appreciation of Australia as a sports nation, his enjoyment of Test cricket, the pavlova (he didn't say anything about the pavlova but it's misere that he loves it), and his desire to test himself against the great and famous jewel of Australian golf, Royal Melbourne. He even gave a healhty shout-out to next year's venue, Kingston Heath.

And it begs the question: if this one, uber-wealthy, famous PGA Tour golf man can find a week in his schedule after the Fed Ex whatsit to brush Tiger Woods' 20-man Hero World Challenge, to test himself against the Southern Hemisphere's great course in a tournament that has affectations to fifth major status, might we see a trickle and then a flood of the man's friends and colleagues for these very reasons?

To paraphrase and Australianise the response of PGA Tour veteran, Charley Hoffman, that would be "yeah, nah".

“Let’s get this straight — Rory is getting paid to be here," Hoffman told Golf Australia magazine following his first round 73. "He’s not here just because it’s Royal Melbourne. He’s being paid, simple as that. The course is one of my favourites in the world, but if Rory wasn’t getting paid, he wouldn’t be here."

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When attempting to understand the motivations of sought-after professional golfers when choosing where and when to play golf, the tip is in their job title. It is their profession. It is a pretty cool and highly lucrative one, on occasion, without question. But it is a job. And if the course is great, it's only a bonus, according to Hoffman.

“We all want to grow the game, no matter the tour — Asian Tour, LIV, PGA. But it’s still our job. If you can make good money and play great courses, you’re lucky,” Hoffman said.

Asked what would bring the world’s best players to Australia, Hoffman said that scheduling is, as ever, an issue. 

“It’s tough," Hoffman said. "They tried things before — the World Cup in Australia, for example — but it never quite got all the top guys. Players always say they want time off, but then you see Rory play a heavy schedule even after the season ends. So, what do we want?”

More money, would be my tip.


For what, outside money, could be the motivation for an already super-rich professional golfer to contest Tiger Woods' 20-man near-exhibition in the Bahamas, the Hero World Challenge? And does that not denude other "world" events and said goal to "grow the game"?

Hoffman doesn’t see it that way. Indeed rather than less is more, he offered, effectively, that more is more.

“It’s wild — three huge events at once on three different continents. Back in the day, the Heineken [Classic] was one of the biggest events in the world. Now you’ve got the Australian Open, which is the national championship, the Nedbank in South Africa, and Tiger’s event with the elite guys. But honestly? It’s great for the game. The best players are spread all over the world. That is growing the game,” Hoffman said.

It seems that Golf Australia (the governing body not our crackerjack journal to which you could subscribe or give the gift of Christmas) cannot offer PGA Tour players, solely, great courses, potential starts in the world’s two great majors, travel assistance, a family holiday on Hamilton Island, say, to spend a week playing the Southern Hemisphere's best course in early December.

"This event is right after Thanksgiving," according to Hoffman. "A lot of guys take family vacations then — I just did. Then you’re rolling into Christmas. Guys value their weeks off now. Where an event sits between the majors and the FedEx Cup is crucial. Great courses help, but timing is everything."

Could players not bring their families out here for Thanksgiving? Then play the Australian Open for a week in marvellous Melbourne? Then lie on a beach on an island off the Great Barrier Reef?

“If your kids are young, absolutely. But my kids are in school — high school and middle school. They get a week off for Thanksgiving and then three weeks later they’re on Christmas break, so it’s tough," Hoffman said.

“I’d love to have them here, but timing makes it hard. For younger families? Yeah, 100 percent it could work.”


So, for all that, what is Hoffman doing here?

“I had shoulder surgery five months ago and hadn’t played. I was looking at the schedule — thought I’d be healthier earlier and maybe play in Spain or the Dunhill, maybe even here. But I didn’t get a start or wasn’t healthy enough," Hoffman said.

“I finally felt good about two weeks ago. I played the Heineken here in the early 2000s and always loved the golf course. It fit my schedule: one tournament before January when I go back on Tour. So, I’m here to knock the rust off and see what I’ve got.”

Of his creditable two-over 73 in Thursday's hot cross winds, Hoffman said "there was a lot of good, a lot of average, and a few mental mistakes. But it was blowing 20 miles an hour at Royal Melbourne — the teeth were out. I’d like a few shots back, sure, but two-over-par? I’m not kicking myself tonight.”