Rory reveals why he's coming to Australia
Masters champion Rory McIlroy has spoken glowingly about the Australian Open ahead of his sandbelt comeback this year, revealing new explorations could be key to rediscovering his mojo amid a post-Augusta haze.
Since slumping to his knees on the 18th hole, tears streaming from his face as he finally completed the career grand slam by collecting his maiden green jacket in April, McIlroy has failed to fire as a major champion should.
The world No.2 has delivered just one top-10 finish in four events since the Masters, two of which were majors, ending up in a tie for 19th as the world's best players battled the course and the elements at Oakmont Country Club in last week's US Open.
Plenty have suggested that by reaching his own personal Mount Everest in taking the coveted trophy at Augusta, McIlroy was left with no more golfing mountains to climb.
The Ryder Cup in September looms large as Europe look to topple the USA on home soil but McIlroy, who took a break after the Masters and has been loathe to talk much about his future plans, slotted in a return to Australia for the Open at Royal Melbourne in December and pointed to it now being a key entry on his calendar.
McIlroy said taking the opportunity to explore the world of golf, rather than be drilled down on PGA Tour ambitions, could provide him the joy he's looking for in a career that already sits alongside some of the best ever.
'I've always wanted to go to India, and the European Tour and DP World created a new event there,' he said ahead of the Travellers Championship, the last of eight PGA Tour Signature events for 2025.
'I was asked at the start of the year would I be interested in going, and I said 'yeah, that sounds amazing'.
'The Hero Indian Open is like March-April time. I'd love to play DLF (Golf and Country Club in India) and figure out my way around that place, but this one in Delhi in October made more sense.'
McIlroy then turned his attention to his Australian visit and said memories of playing the Australian Open as an amateur two decades ago, then winning it in 2013, made him excited about his return where he'll be the headline act as the event returns to a stand-alone men's tournament.
'I've always loved the Australian Open,' he said.
'I've won there before. I played there as an amateur in the Australian Open, qualified for it, went through a qualifier in 2005, got through like a nine-man playoff to get in, so I've always had a huge affinity for that part of the world. McIlroy defeated Adam Scott to win the 2013 Australian Open. Phil Hillyard Credit: News Corp Australia
'So to go back, especially Royal Melbourne this year, Kingston Heath next year, two of the best golf courses in the world on the sandbelt, that's awesome too.
'It's that part of the year where we have the ability to travel and to do these things, and if it makes sense for the schedule – there's never been a green jacket in India before, so to bring the green jacket to India is something that's going to be really cool.
'To go back to the Australian Open, I won that in 2013. Adam (Scott) and I had a great battle down the stretch on the last day, he was the Masters champion at that point.
'I don't know, I like to travel. I like to play in different parts of the world. I haven't been to Australia in 10 years, so it's nice to go back to these places.'
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World No.1 Scottie Scheffler has laid down the marker with an eight-under 62 to share the lead with Austin Eckroat in the Travelers Championship. The week after a rough-and-tumble US Open was a welcome break for so many at the TPC River Highlands even with the rough just as long but not quite as thick as soaked Oakmont. Rory McIlroy played bogey-free for a 66 and didn't look to break too much of a sweat on Thursday. "This is a nice tonic compared to last week in terms of it's a slightly more benign golf course and the penalty for missing isn't quite as severe," McIlroy said. Scheffler faced the hot afternoon when a refreshing breeze turned into a strong wind, and he wasted no time getting in the mix with four birdies in six holes and a 30 on the front nine. And then came the par-5 13th, 236 yards away into the wind, over a pond to a pin on the right. It was perfect - that's coming from golf's best player - and settled 10 feet away for birdie. 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