[PHOTO: Getty Images]
Australian Open organisers have scrapped the mixed format of the historic championship after a summer of scorching criticism from top players.
Since 2022, the Australian Open men’s and women’s tournaments have been played concurrently on the same host courses. The late November tournament has been a logistical mess in the dual format and faced blowback from top players. Ratings also significantly dropped in 2024 compared to 2023. The 2025 men’s and women’s Australian Opens will return to their own separate championships.
The 2022 British Open winner, Cameron Smith, blasted the course set-up at the recent Open at Kingston Heath. He hit back at the suggestion heavy rain in late November as having caused Kingston Heath to present soft and slow as a “bulls–t” excuse.
Because of the mixed format, co-hosts Kingston Heath and Victoria golf clubs needed to have softer conditions and more forgiving pin placements on the greens. Major champion Hannah Green criticised the scheduling, with LPGA Tour pros such as Green, Minjee Lee and others having to dash from the season finale in Florida to Melbourne and forego practice rounds pre-tournament. The Women’s Australian Open had typically been held in February and was co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour. As for the course set up, Green, twice an Olympic representative, also said officials could have tucked the pins more if only the men were playing.
When contacted by Australian Golf Digest, Golf Australia provided a statement from chief executive James Sutherland.
“Following our annual event review, which included discussions with key stakeholders, Golf Australia has made the decision to separate the Australian Open men’s and women’s tournaments,” the statement read. “We are proud of what has been achieved over the past three years with mixed-gender Australian Opens, together with the All-Abilities Championship. With record crowds and broadcast audiences there is a lot to be pleased about.
“Our long-term event strategy is to build the profile of our tournaments and to showcase the game at the highest level. This move aligns to our strategy and will allow flexibility to better adapt to the ever-changing landscape in world golf.
“With all that in mind, we believe this is the right time and we are confident that both national open championships will stand on their own two feet and prosper in their own right. We look forward to continuing productive conversations with key partners and stakeholders around the location and other key aspects of upcoming national opens.”
