The Women’s Australian Open will return as a stand-alone championship beginning in 2026, marking a strategic shift by Golf Australia after three years of staging the event alongside the men’s Australian Open in a mixed-format competition.
From 2022 to 2024, the tournament adopted a joint format in which men and women competed simultaneously on alternate tees, sharing the course and prize pool at alternating tee boxes. That experiment will officially come to a close in 2025, with Golf Australia confirming that the women’s competition will be held independently going forward.
New March Date and Three-Year Adelaide Commitment
Golf Australia announced on Friday that the 2026 Women’s Australian Open will take place from March 12–15 at the Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide, South Australia. The tournament, which will be co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour (LET), also received a three-year commitment to remain in Adelaide through 2028.
The scheduling change shifts the tournament out of its traditional December slot and into March, positioning it within a busy stretch on the global women’s golf calendar.
Boost for International Participation
Although the LPGA Tour has not yet released its 2026 schedule, its co-sanctioned events in Asia traditionally occur in February and March. Golf Australia believes this move could provide an ideal window for international stars — particularly from Asia — to travel to Australia for the event.
That includes newly crowned Women’s PGA Champion and world No. 5 Minjee Lee, Australia’s top-ranked female golfer. With Adelaide now a fixed stop on the calendar and well-aligned with the broader Asia-Pacific swing, officials hope to attract a deeper field and broader international exposure.
McIlroy Headlines Men’s Event in 2024
While the women’s championship returns to a solo spotlight, the men’s Australian Open remains firmly in focus. Golf Australia recently confirmed that four-time major champion Rory McIlroy will headline this year’s men’s tournament at Royal Melbourne from December 4–7.
In a separate announcement last month, McIlroy was also revealed to be contracted to appear at Kingston Heath — another prestigious Melbourne Sandbelt course — for the 2026 edition of the men’s Open.
A Strategic Realignment for Australian Golf
The return of the Women’s Australian Open as a stand-alone tournament underscores a broader strategic realignment by Golf Australia to boost visibility and competitiveness in both men’s and women’s professional golf.
Officials said the move is designed to give both tournaments the space to grow independently and create better scheduling opportunities for elite players, sponsors, and broadcast partners.