After closing with back-to-back birdies, including a bomb on 18, to post a 7-under-par total and finish T14, the World No. 2 didn\u2019t mince his words about what needs to be done to truly get the event back on the world map.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI’ve been excited to come back down here for a while, it’s been over 10 years since I played in the Australian Open,\u201d McIlroy told a reporter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a golf tournament that has got so much potential and I think it showed a little bit of that this week. There’s still a ways to go.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would love to have a few more players come down and play. But it’s hard. There’s three tournaments going on in the schedule this week. There needs to be conversations had with people much more important than me that set the schedules and do all that sort of stuff. Hopefully the Australian Open can find a date that accommodates everyone and everyone can at least have the option to come down and play.\u201d<\/p>\n
That final line will now be ringing in the ears of DP World Tour<\/a> and Australian Open officials.\u00a0<\/p>\n WHAT A PUTT TO FINISH ON! \ud83d\ude0d<\/p>\n Rory McIlroy finishes his week with another birdie at the 18th and a final score of seven under \ud83d\udc4f#AusOpenGolf<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/6abEZClXfK<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) December 7, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n A world-class event\u2026 deserving of a world-class field<\/p>\n The Australian Open is one of the oldest national opens in golf, dating back to 1904.\u00a0<\/p>\n McIlroy has long said it belongs in the conversation with the best global events outside the majors.\u00a0<\/p>\n But its current position on the calendar puts it in direct conflict with multiple international tournaments, making it almost impossible to assemble the type of field its heritage warrants.<\/p>\n This week it was going up against the equally famous Nedbank Golf Challenge<\/a> in honour of Gary Player, which was also staged on the DP World Tour, and Tiger Woods<\/a>‘ 20-man Hero World Challenge that features a number of the best PGA Tour players over in The Bahamas.\u00a0<\/p>\n WHAT A PUTT! \ud83e\udd2f<\/p>\n The moment Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen claimed his first DP World Tour title at Royal Melbourne \ud83c\udfc6#AusOpenGolf<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/DH3L2mwvVC<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) December 7, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Denmark\u2019s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen went on to claim the Australian Open<\/a> to capture his first DP World Tour title. He finished on 15-under par and one shot ahead of home favourite Cameron Smith, who three-putted the 18th hole to miss out on a playoff.<\/p>\n Neergaard-Petersen’s first win comes just weeks after he earned his PGA Tour card for 2026 via the DP World Tour Rankings. The victory also punches the Dane’s ticket to The Masters in April for the first time.\u00a0<\/p>\n But while an impressive champion emerged, McIlroy knows the Australian Open could be so much more with stronger strategic support from global tours.<\/p>\n Rory McIlroy<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to a little break\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n McIlroy’s competitive 2025 campaign is over.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n This year has been the best of McIlroy’s career, highlighted of course by winning The Masters to complete the career grand slam in April.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2025, McIlroy also:\u00a0<\/p>\n captured his first victory at Pebble Beachwon a second Players Championship at TPC Sawgrasslifted his second Irish Open at The K Clubclaimed a fourth consecutive Race to Dubai title and seventh overall, closing in on Colin Montgomerie\u2019s all-time recordand delivered 3.5 crucial points for Europe in their historic Ryder Cup away win at Bethpage, the first since Medinah 2012<\/p>\n After months of travel and pressure-packed golf, McIlroy is now understandably ready to hit pause.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m looking forward to a little break,\u201d admitted McIlroy, who is already eying up the wine list.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI played a pretty heavy schedule post the summer, with the Irish Open, then the Ryder Cup and then I’ve been globetrotting all over the last couple of months.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n \u201cI’m excited to have little bit of downtime, finally reflect on everything, maybe watch a few of the tournaments back. I’ve not really let myself do that too much.<\/p>\n \u201cLooking forward to the Christmas break and put the feet up, a few glasses of wine and think back on about what an unbelievable year it’s been.\u201d<\/p>\n Rory McIlroy<\/p>\n What\u2019s next for Rory McIlroy?\u00a0<\/p>\n McIlroy isn\u2019t entirely disappearing just yet. He\u2019ll feature in the Optum Golf Channel Games<\/a> on 17 December before jetting over to Salford, England, for another potential piece of history: the BBC Sports Personality of the Year<\/a> award.<\/p>\n Only two golfers \u2014 Dai Rees and Sir Nick Faldo \u2014 have won SPOTY in its 70-year existence.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n McIlroy is marginally the bookmakers\u2019 favourite, with Chloe Kelly and Lando Norris his closest challengers in the betting market.\u00a0<\/p>\n A rare win for golf with the BBC really would stick an exclamation mark on his season…<\/p>\n Subscribe to our Newsletter![\"Rory](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-04-13t235537z_1063860369_up1el4d1ugozg_rtrmadp_3_golf-masters.JPG\")
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