Masters champion Rory McIlroy is heading Down Under for the first time in more than a decade to play the Australian Open on Melbourne’s famed sandbelt courses for the next two years.

When Rory McIlroy won the US Masters a month ago, most of those who follow golf were caught up in the excitement as the Northern Irishman and world No.2 completed a career grand slam of major titles.Not Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland.

Masters champion Rory McIlroy will play the next two editions of the Australian Open in a major coup for one of golf's oldest tournaments, which has struggled in recent years to get marquee names to undertake the long journey south.