Rory McIlroy admitted that he thinks about the 2013 Australian Open quite often.
Though he was just 24 at the time, his victory at Royal Sydney Golf Club ended a year-plus barren stretch in terms of victories, and propelled him into 2014 where he’d go on to claim his third and fourth major titles, but it was the manner in which he won that endures.
Adam Scott was the reigning Masters champion, the world number one, and the clear fan favourite as he sought a second win in his home open having first won the title in 2010.
Though they were paired together in the final group on Sunday, McIlroy trailed Scott by four, but managed to overhaul the Aussie with a six-under-par final round – including a birdie at the last – to win by one.
“Australia has been a very big part of my golfing life and my golfing journey, going all the way back to playing the Australian Open as an amateur back in 2005 and 2006,” McIlroy added.
“I think about that tournament (the 2013 Australian Open) a lot. I think about what it meant. I felt at that point in my career, I was at a bit of a crossroads. I had gotten off to a great start, but 2013 I’d really struggled and I started to find some form again,” he said ahead of his quest to land a second Australian Open title 12 years later.
“I really do think that that win at the end of the year was a catalyst for what happened in 2014, which I’d say with 2025 are the best two years of my career.”
This year, McIlroy will play alongside Scott in the opening two rounds, with another Australian in Min Woo Lee for company, but this time, it’s the Holywood man who is making pre-tournament appearances in the Green Jacket and he’s not shy in sharing his excitement and appreciation for the reception he’s received.
“It’s been a very warm welcome and obviously delighted to be here”, he said. “First time playing in Australia in quite a while, so I’ve, I’ve been excited to come back. It hasn’t been a secret that I’ve wanted it to come back as well. I think obviously the wonderful golf courses that we’re playing the next couple of years, also the change in the format, going back to the traditional Australian Open has probably helped that too. But yeah, just really excited to be back.”
McIlroy’s win at Augusta National – and completion of the Career Grand Slam – was the crowning achievement in an incredible year, but he also picked off victories at TPC Sawgrass in the Players Championship and at The K Club in the Amgen Irish Open, along with a first victory at Pebble Beach.
And he’s keen to add a victory at Royal Melbourne – another of the storied venues in world golf – to his glowing resume.
“I’ve talked about trying to win at some of the most important venues in golf – this week is one of them. You think about the tournaments and the people that have won at Royal Melbourne and how highly regarded it is within the golf world,” he explained.
“I was lucky enough to win at Pebble Beach this year for the first time, obviously at Augusta. I’d love to win at St. Andrews one day. I’d love to win a US Open at Pebble Beach. There’s a few venues in our game that maybe just mean a bit more than some of the others and that’s something that I would love to do one day. But yeah, I mean I want to win more Majors. I want to be part of more Ryder Cup teams.”
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