Rory McIlroy Adds Cathedral Invitational To Schedule

Rory McIlroy has added the Cathedral Invitational to his schedule following the Australian Open in December, it has been revealed.

The World No.2 will make his second consecutive appearance Down Under later this year after also playing in the 2025 Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.

This year's event takes place at Kingston Heath, and the six-time Major winner will then take the two-hour drive northeast of Melbourne to the exclusive Cathedral Lodge and Golf Club for the Cathedral Invitational.

The news was confirmed by former tour pros Nick O'Hern and Mark Allen on the Talk Birdie To Me podcast.

O'Hern, who is a member of the club, revealed it sent out an email to members last week confirming McIlroy's attendance and he had the all-clear from the general manager to share it to the wider golf world.

Cathedral Lodge and Golf Club's course was designed by Greg Norman and is said to have fewer than 200 members.

The mixed event was founded in 2022 and is a 36-hole tournament featuring a pro-am format on day one before a professionals-only final round.

It benefits Adam Scott's foundation and the 2013 Masters champion will defend his title this year after beating the likes of Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert to the title in 2025.

Geoff Ogilvy, Elvis Smylie, Cameron John, Karl Vilips and Wade Ormsby were among some of the other well-known tour pros to tee it up last time out.

O'Hern revealed on the podcast that it was Scott who asked McIlroy to play the event, asking the Northern Irishman for a rare favor. McIlroy reportedly said it would be 'no problem at all' to add the tournament to his schedule.

McIlroy is said to have committed to playing just 18 holes, which raises the question as to whether the event's format will be tweaked to just an 18-hole shootout.

It's set to be a bumper summer of golf Down Under, with reports stating Bryson DeChambeau could add his name to the Australian PGA Championship, which returns to Sydney for the first time since 1998. The Lakes Golf Club will host the event from Nov 26-29, with the Australian Open taking place the following week.

It's more positive momentum for golf in Australia after the PGA Tour confirmed earlier this year that it had partnered with the DP World Tour and to elevate the Australian Open, for 2027, 2028 and 2029.

The deal promises to continue "the tournament's momentum", boost the prize money, give the event a "distinct window in the global golf calendar" and "optimise the opportunity to attract the world’s best players."