Golf Australia to separate men's and women's Australian Opens again

Golf Australia has announced that it will again separate the men’s and women’s Australian Opens following pressure from leading players, including Cameron Smith, and other stakeholders.

Previously, the past three Australian Opens saw both men and women competing concurrently at the same venues during late November to early December. The events were held at Kingston Heath and Victoria golf clubs in 2022 and 2024, while The Australian and The Lakes in Sydney hosted both championships in 2023.

Despite the financial and logistical advantages of staging these two events, along with the Australian All-Abilities Championship, simultaneously, the drawbacks have proven to outweigh the benefits.

Cameron Smith, a prominent LIV Golf player, voiced strong criticism last year regarding the "soft and slow" conditions on the iconic Melbourne sandbelt courses, claiming it transformed the Opens into "American-style target golf". He noted, "It seems there's been a lot of water and it's not exactly what I was expecting. The courses are in great condition, but playing so much different to how they're designed and how they're meant to be played, which is pretty disappointing."

Additionally, World No.6 Hannah Green revealed that pin placements at Kingston Heath and Victoria had been adjusted to make them easier for the men in consideration of the women's play. Australia's LPGA Tour stars, including Green and Minjee Lee, have expressed preferences for the women's Open to be scheduled much earlier in the year.

The decision to revert to separating the two events was reached after Golf Australia’s annual review. GA Chief Executive, James Sutherland, commented, "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 much to be pleased about."

He added, "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 with 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."

Golf Australia has not yet confirmed the venues and timeslots for the 2025 Australian Opens. If the women’s event is rescheduled to earlier in the year, it may take place around February or March 2026 to align with the LPGA schedule.