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Players from all tours have travelled Down Under to compete over the years and former winners of the Stonehaven Cup include Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Gary Player, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott, Greg Norman and Gene Sarazen.
In the modern day, the Australian Open also provides pathways through to The Masters and The Open Championship as one of the key national Open Championships around the world.
Such is the high regard the event is held in – which is amplified by a number of other factors including quality of course and passion of the fans – there have been calls by supporters and players alike for the Australian Open to elevate its status from prestigious regular event to fifth Major in the men’s game.
The Australian Open trophy – a.k.a the Stonehaven Cup
(Image credit: Getty Images)
One such party was McIlroy, who has spoken of his admiration for the Australian Open on multiple occasions over recent years.
Ahead of The Players Championship in March, the five-time Major winner said: “I think we need bigger events in Australia.
“I think the Australian Open needs to be put up and sort of held to a higher… the Australian Open was always a very big tournament back in the day, and I think that could be one that could be elevated along with some others.”
The year before, while speaking to Golf Digest Middle East, McIlroy went one step further.
He said: “The Australian Open, for example, should almost be the fifth Major. The market down there is huge with potential. They love golf. They love sport. They have been starved of top-level golf. And the courses are so good.
Rory McIlroy won the Australian Open in 2013
(Image credit: Getty Images)
“Revenues at the PGA Tour right now are about $2.3 billion. So how do we get that number up to four or six? It is by looking outward. They need to think internationally and spread their wings a bit.
“My dream scenario is a world tour, with the proviso that corporate America has to remain a big part of it all. But there is…
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