Rory explains the Kingston Heath love that baffled Melbourne

It doesn’t matter that it’s not long in the modern way so may tournament courses need to be nowadays.  

It doesn’t matter that it’s comparatively flat, well really flat, either.

Rory McIlroy loves Kingston Heath because of what has been produced on a land package so devoid of size and undulation that the design is, in the words of the two-time Masters winner, “amazing”.

McIlroy ruffled significant local Melbourne feathers on arrival for the 2025 Australian Open when he declared Kingston Heath, where he will return to try and get his name on the Stonehaven Cup for a second time this December, was better than last year’s host, Royal Melbourne.

The Golf Australia Magazine Top 100 puts Kingston Heath third, just two places behind Royal Melbourne's West Course at No.1 on the 2026 list.

McIlroy didn’t quite explain just why he liked the number three course ahead of the number one when he made the comments which made headlines.

But ahead of this year’s Open he gave a clear insight into why he likes Kingston Heath more.

His views are indicative of his overall love for the sand belt, which isn’t in question, and could go some way to placating those who thought he was mad.    

“I think it's such an amazing design,” he said, around eight weeks before his arrival back in Melbourne.  

“I would argue that Royal Melbourne's probably built on a better piece of land for a golf course, more rolling hills and more elevation changes.

McIlroy loves the design of Kingston Heath. Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

“But I think with where Kingston Heath is, pretty flat piece of property, what they've been able to do with that golf course and just some of the par threes and just the strategy of the golf course, some of the green complexes.

“I mean, it's maybe a touch short for modern standards, but you have to be so strategic in how you play it and it's a wonderful golf course.

“I really have an appreciation for golf courses that maybe don't have the best piece of land, and they have to come up with unique designs to really make it interesting and I think Kingston Heath, that course and the architect has really been able to do that.”

McIlroy’s appearance put the Australian Open back on the international agenda, so much so the world’s best players have put it back on their radar, helped by impending changes to the US PGA Tour season which opens up the October-January window for them to take their game on the road.  

First, world No.1 Scottie Scheffler said playing in Australia and New Zealand were now legitimate options for him, then more recently major champion Justin Rose made his intentions clear.  

“For me personally, places that I would personally like to play more golf again that I have played in my career would be Japan and Australia,” Rose said at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

“I think they're great venues that have a great golf history, great golf heritage, great golf fan base that I personally feel I haven't really had the opportunity to go and play in the last decade at least.”

Rose said all national Opens were “special” and deserved the attention of the world’s best.

“I feel like, yes, Australian Open, South African Open, these events should be -- they're the ones that I've played in in the past, and they feel like they're special,” he said.

“Even the Canadian Open on the PGA TOUR, I think it feels special. It feels like it's a little bit different. I enjoy those weeks for sure.”

A growing cohort of international players have signed up for the Australian Open, the latest being 2023 champion, Joaquin Niemann and his LIV teammates Carlos Ortiz and Sebastián Muñoz for the December 3-6 event.

McIlroy doesn’t think they’ll be the last to sign on and head to Kingston Heath, to continue to add to the resurgence of an event he knows has a history some events can’t match, and one which played a significant part in his career.   

“I hope that more people make it down under and play and I think as well with what the PGA Tour are doing with their schedule from February through to August, there's an opportunity there to get some of the biggest names in the world down to play the Australian Open,” he said.

Things didn't go all Rory's way at Royal Melbourne in 2025. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/Getty Images)

“Obviously, that would be amazing for the tournament and it's not like that hasn't happened in the past. I mean, you look at the winners of the Australian Open over the years and it really is a who's who of the best players over the past 50 or 60 years.  

“Honestly, the Stonehaven Cup was one of the most meaningful trophies that I have. I was at a bit of a crossroads in my career.

“I had a really tough 2013 and I've always said I wouldn't have had the 2014 I had with winning two majors and getting to number one the world if I didn't have the week in Australia that I had at the end of 2013. So, it's always been a meaningful week for me.

“I qualified for it as a 16-year-old amateur back in 2005 down in the Mornington Peninsula. So, I've had a big affinity for that golf tournament for a long time.”

Rory McIlroy won the 2013 Australian Open in Sydney. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

McIlroy also confirmed his trip wouldn’t be limited to the Australian Open, with an appearance at the Cathedral Invitational at Cathedral Lodge in regional Victoria added to his schedule.

“I am staying for a couple of days after and I'm going to play the Cathedral Invitational, which benefits Adam Scott's foundation. So, I'm going to stay down for that,” he said.

“I'm excited for that as well.”