Whether PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has done what Norman claims is speculative. But what’s reality is how the partnership is set to boost the Australian Open. From next year until at least 2029, the partnership will see the tournament receive a significant increase in prize money, a clearer and more attractive spot on the global golf calendar, and stronger support to draw top international players.
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Meanwhile, the event will continue to be co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia. This landmark deal will make it much easier for players from the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the DP World Tour to compete and earn official ranking points. Besides, the involvement of the PGA Tour in the Australian Open is a first in the tournament’s 120+ year history.
The 2026 event is now slated to return to Melbourne’s renowned Kingston Heath Golf Club from December 3 to 6, 2026. In the meantime, however, there has been some friction since one of the announcements.
Rory McIlroy wasn’t a fan even before the two-tiered system was announced
Before the two-tiered system was introduced, Rory McIlroy expressed skepticism about the overhaul. The four-time major champion questioned whether the overhaul would come at the expense of the Tour’s historic events.
“I don’t really know. I guess, just recency, an event like last week, the Canadian Open, potentially going to one of these Track 2s. Track 2 is a glorified Korn Ferry event,” McIlroy said. “So I don’t think the Canadian Open should be one of those.”
He feared that the tournaments with decades of history could lose their prestige because sponsors cannot match the Tour’s increasing financial demands.
“I just think there’s going to be certain events that might lose their stature if a sponsor doesn’t pony up $30 million. So that’s the tough thing,” he added.
The PGA Tour’s two-tier system splits the tour into two leagues. First, the Championship Series, where only the elite players compete in events with smaller fields. And second, the Challenger Series, where developing and lower-ranked players compete. That being said, the PGA Tour’s partnerships appear to have shaken up the golf world.