Along with the Australian golfing community, we very much look forward to the Emirates Australian Open annually.
But this year, we’re even more excited by a very special milestone.
When world golf’s focus falls on The Australian Golf Club in Sydney in the week from November 23, we join an extremely exclusive group of global events in playing our 100th championship.
After The Open (1860), US Open (1895), South African Open (1903) and Canadian Open (1904), our national title is the oldest continuously run – barring the impact of wars – golf championship in the world.
So with time out during World War I and World War II, we have reached the 100th edition – and we couldn’t be prouder.
Our branding will show the words “Engraved in history” to emphasise just that.
It’s an important achievement for a world-class event, especially when you think about what’s gone before, all the great Australian Open championships we’ve had over the years and the amazing list of champions we’ve had.
There have been some golden eras, perhaps most noticeably when across two decades the Stonehaven Cup was basically shared between Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Peter Thomson.
And most of the great champions of golf have won the Australian Open.
Apart from those three immortal names, there’s Greg Norman, Bobby Locke, Gene Sarazen, Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer – it’s effectively the who’s who of golf.
More recently there’s Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth in the past two years, along with our own Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy – all major championship winners – and the list goes on and on.
In fact, there have been 15 people who’ve held aloft the Stonehaven Cup who have won major championships during their careers.
In short, the global recognition of the Australian Open – past and present – is incredible, especially with new world No.1 Spieth back to defend and Scott already committed to the field.
The 100th edition is, naturally, a very important achievement. It’s going to be a special championship and there will be some key activities included to mark the milestone and we’ll unveil them closer to the tournament. But we’re really excited about those add-ons to the championship that will make what’s already set down to be a special event even stronger.
Roll on, summer. And roll on the 100th Australian Open.