Player Backlash Leads to Scrapping of Australian Open Innovation

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The Australian Open men’s and women’s golf championships will revert to being held separately.

Golf Australia has made the decision to end the Open’s men’s and women’s events being played concurrently on the same courses, as has been the case since 2022.

Leading Australian golfer Cameron Smith had been among those critical of the men’s and women’s tournaments being held together, a decision based on fears about the financial viability of the women’s event being a stand-alone proposition.

“I think the biggest issue is the format and how it’s structured,” Smith said last month.

And now Smith’s wish for the men’s and women’s events to not run together has been granted, with Golf Australia chief executive officer James Sutherland now “confident that both national open championships will stand on their own two feet and prosper in their own right”.

“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,” Sutherland said.

“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.

“We look forward to continuing productive conversations with key partners and stakeholders around the location and other key aspects of upcoming national opens.”

The men’s Australian Open is set to again be played in late November-early December, while the women’s event is reportedly likely to be shifted to March, starting from next year.