[PHOTO: Getty Images]
The Australian Open has landed a new major naming rights sponsor in Crown Resorts ahead of the 121-year-old event being held at Royal Melbourne Golf Club from December 4–7.
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The “2025 Crown Australian Open” was unveiled at Crown Oaks Day at Flemington on Thursday, with just less than a month until the historic golf tournament tees off and awards the winner a spot into the 2026 Masters at Augusta National and the Open Championship. The Crown Australian Open will welcome career grand slam winner Rory McIlroy as the field’s headliner alongside Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee and Cameron Smith.
The national championship will be held at the Composite course, Royal Melbourne’s first time hosting the event since 1991.
The partnership was an extension of an existing relationship since 2023.
“This is a momentous year for the men’s Crown Australian Open and we take great pride in announcing that Crown is stepping up their partnership by taking on the title partnership of our men’s open championship,” Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said via a media release. “We are assembling one of the strongest fields in the past 20 years, headlined by Rory Mcllroy, to play at Royal Melbourne, one of the world’s best golf courses. Rory’s commitment to play in this year’s Crown Australian Open [and in the 2026 edition at Kingston Heath] demonstrates the significant global renown of our national open and the Melbourne Sandbelt.”
The Australian Open was in August named as one of six national opens around the world chosen by Augusta National to invite the champion to the 2026 Masters. The Australian Open was also already a stop on the R&A’s Open Qualifying Series, and will again award the top three finishers not already exempt spots into the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale next year.
Tournament officials said that for the upcoming Crown Australian Open, almost 30 percent of ticketed fans are travelling from interstate or overseas. Only a limited number of general admission tickets remain for Saturday’s third round and Sunday’s final round, while tickets are selling fast for the opening two rounds of the event on Thursday and Friday.
Allocation has been exhausted for the hospitality suites, while “only a limited number of premium ticket options available such as Birdies Nest tickets remaining for Thursday, along with Ticket+, that provides exclusive access to the new Ticket + Pavilion,” tournament officials wrote in the release.
McIlroy won the Masters in April to complete the career grand slam having already claimed the US Open, Open Championship and two PGA Championship titles in his career. Photo: Getty
Crown has been the major hotel partner and the official accommodation for golf events including the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne, while it is a popular option for golfers travelling to play the Melbourne Sandbelt.
“Crown is proud to celebrate excellence in Australian sport; we’re all about creating memorable and world-class experiences for fans, visitors and guests and the Crown Australian Open will continue this tradition,” Crown CEO Ed Domingo said. “We’re thrilled to partner with Golf Australia to deliver an event that embodies excellence, fun and passion. We look forward to welcoming golf enthusiasts to Melbourne and showcasing the very best of Crown’s hospitality alongside world-class competition.”
