By Mohammed Al Habob 
The future of the dual-gender Australian Open remains uncertain, despite the event’s success at Melbourne’s Kingston Heath. Introduced in 2022 to reboot the local tour post-COVID, the mixed format has faced criticism for potentially diminishing the standing of standalone men’s and women’s national Opens1. Men’s headliner Cameron Smith accused officials of watering down the course, while Australian major winner Hannah Green noted “generous” pin placements.
Australian golf officials are undecided about the scheduling and format for 2025. Golf Australia boss James Sutherland highlighted the dilemma: men’s players like the date but not the format, while women’s players prefer the format but not the date. The mixed format has been beneficial for the women’s game, exposing talent to new fans.
However, scheduling issues persist, with the tournament following the season-ending LPGA event in Florida. Many women’s entrants, including major winners Minjee Lee and Hannah Green, arrived jetlagged and struggled with the timing. Bad weather further complicated preparations, preventing many players from getting a practice round in.
The Australasian Women’s Tour (WPGA) is grateful for the top players’ participation but remains concerned about their continued loyalty. With the women’s Australian Open having lost its place on the LPGA calendar during COVID, there is no guarantee it will return to the global circuit.
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