Rory McIlroy didn’t arrive at the 2025 Australian Open looking to stir anything, yet the atmosphere he stepped into made it impossible not to draw comparisons. As the crowds roared around Royal Melbourne early on Friday, McIlroy felt something unusual, something that, as he soon hinted, other tournaments simply weren’t matching.

When he reached the first tee, the energy struck him immediately. “It’s incredible,” McIlroy said. “I said to Adam [Scott] walking up the first [hole] it didn’t feel like a Friday afternoon round, it felt like we were going out in the final group on Sunday.” That observation wasn’t an exaggeration. Nearly 25,000 fans had poured onto the grounds, creating a scene more reminiscent of a major championship than a standard early-week round.

Rory McIlroy Couldn’t Help but Compare

As McIlroy continued, the awe in his voice never dipped. “That scene on the first tee was amazing. Then, walking up the last, and everyone is still here.” The sustained intensity, the full grandstands, and the constant hum of anticipation offered something the global golf schedule rarely delivers outside the sport’s biggest stages.

Yet this was where McIlroy’s reflections took a sharper turn. While praising Australia’s potential to host truly elite events, he added, “The other two events happening in other places of the world have nothing like the atmosphere this tournament has.”

Although he didn’t name them, there was no mystery. This week’s schedule only featured two major international events: Tiger Woods’s Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas and the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.

Here, McIlroy’s message became unmistakable. The Hero World Challenge, despite Tiger’s influence and its polished, exclusive setting, often unfolds in front of quiet resort galleries. Nedbank, though historic and well-funded, rarely generates noise beyond its leaderboard.

By contrast, Australia delivered volume, passion, and presence, and McIlroy used that contrast deliberately. It wasn’t a cheap shot. It was a reminder. Atmosphere, not field size or luxury hospitality, is what elevates a tournament.

And on that front, Royal Melbourne was outshining events with far more global visibility. Even after a rollercoaster opening 72, buffeted by strong winds, McIlroy couldn’t shake the impression the crowds left on him. “It has so much potential, and it’s great to see so many people come out and support the tournament," he told reporters.

If Friday felt like Sunday, McIlroy’s message was clear: the heart of elite golf might be beating louder in Australia than anyone expected, even louder than at Tiger’s own event. As McIlroy’s words echo across the golf world, one question remains: if Australia delivers this kind of electricity, should more of the sport’s biggest moments shift here?

Written by

Dolly Bhamrick

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi