STWF Sports | Dec. 3, 2025 – Rory McIlroy returns to Australia this week with a renewed sense of purpose—and with the confidence of a man playing some of the best golf of his life. Twelve years after his dramatic 2013 Australian Open win at Royal Sydney, the world No. 2 credits that moment as the spark that ignited one of the most dominant years of his career. Now, fresh off completing the career Grand Slam in 2025, McIlroy returns looking to create another chapter in his golfing journey.
Speaking ahead of this week’s Australian Open at Royal Melbourne, McIlroy reflected on just how pivotal his 2013 victory was to his development.
“I think about that tournament a lot and about what it meant,” he said. “I felt at that point in my career I was at a bit of a crossroads. In 2013 I’d really struggled, and I really do think that win at the end of the year was a catalyst for what happened in 2014—which I’d say, up there with 2025, are the best two years of my career.”
McIlroy famously edged Adam Scott by a single stroke in the final round in 2013, a win that restored his momentum after a difficult season. He would go on to win both the Open Championship and PGA Championship the following year, lifting his tally to four majors and leaving him one short of the elusive career Grand Slam.
This year, he finally crossed that line with victory at the Masters—cementing his place among golf’s all-time greats.
FAMILIAR PAIRING, NEW MOTIVATION
In an added twist, McIlroy will once again tee it up alongside Scott—now 12 years removed from their memorable duel. They are joined for the first two rounds by rising Australian talent Min Woo Lee, with the trio scheduled to start at 8:05 p.m. UK time on Wednesday.
Returning to Australia, McIlroy made it clear that this event is more than just another stop on his packed global schedule.
“Australia has been a very big part of my golfing journey going back to playing the Australian Open as an amateur in 2005,” he said. “I’ve talked about trying to win at some of the most important venues in golf and this week is one of them. You think about the people who have won at Royal Melbourne and how highly regarded it is.”
A win this week would mark McIlroy’s fifth victory of the year and his second Australian Open title, adding further weight to what has already been a career-defining season.
NEW GOALS FOR A NEW ERA
Now that the career Grand Slam has finally been achieved, McIlroy’s objectives have shifted. No longer chasing validation, he is now crafting the legacy he envisions for himself.
“I want to win more majors. I want to be part of more Ryder Cup teams,” he said. “My records on either tour—whether the DP World Tour or PGA Tour—are probably meaning a little less to me as time moves on. It’s really just focusing on the majors and being a part of that Ryder Cup team and trying to build on the legacy I’ve built over the last 15 years.”
McIlroy also hinted at a more venue-specific set of ambitions. With recent wins at Pebble Beach and Augusta National, he hopes to add triumphs at St Andrews and a U.S. Open victory at Pebble Beach to his resume.
“There are a few venues in our game that maybe mean more than some of the others,” he said. “I’d love to win at St Andrews one day. I’d love another U.S. Open at Pebble.”
READY FOR ONE FINAL PUSH IN 2025
This week’s tournament marks McIlroy’s first appearance since the DP World Tour Championship three weeks ago. With rest, perspective, and momentum behind him, he arrives in Melbourne not just as a favorite, but as a golfer who understands the importance of moments like this.
Royal Melbourne was once the site where his career found stability and direction. Now, it may yet again serve as the stage where Rory McIlroy continues to redefine greatness.
