The Australian Open may have only joined the DP World Tour as a co-sanctioned event in 2022, but it has been entertaining fans in Oz since 1904, making it the country’s oldest and most prestigious golf competition. Indeed, both Jack Nicklaus and Rory McIlroy – who have won it 7 times between them – have likened the tournament to being men’s golf’s “5th major” over the years, an epithet usually reserved for the similarly prestigious Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.
After missing 2 editions in 2020 and 2021 amid the pandemic, the event returned to the calendar in a big way with a unique new format that combined the men’s, women’s, and disabled competitions – which were previously held separately – into a single event. The competitions now run in parallel to one another, with the male and female players competing for an equal share of the USD $3.4 million prize purse as well as their respective traditional trophies, the Stonehaven Cup and the Patricia Bridges Bowl. Meanwhile, the disabled athletes compete in the All Abilities Championship.
With the increased field sizes brought on by the new format, the event is now held across a pair of neighbouring golf courses. In 2024, the event will take place at Melbourne’s Kingston Heath and Victoria Golf Clubs from 25 November to 1 December. Chile’s Joaquin Niemann will be hoping to defend his title in the men’s competition, while South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai is the 2-time defending champion on the women’s side.
Single-day adult general admission tickets start at just AUD $10 for the practice rounds or $30 for the tournament rounds, and spectators can also make a saving with multi-day tickets if they plan on attending throughout the competition. Premium/hospitality tickets have typically been available for purchase as well; please check back in case these go on sale closer to the event.
For more information on the Australian Open and its tickets, click here.