Four (4) LIV Golf stars to take on Rory McIlroy in prestigious tournament

Four members of LIV Golf have been added to the field for the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne in December, which will be headlined by Rory McIlroy and Cam Smith.

Rory McIlroy is set to embark on a world tour to finish the year, and he is the headline name at the Australian Open, where it has been announced he will be joined by a quartet of LIV Golf stars.

The PGA Tour of Australasia announced on Tuesday that Joaquin Niemann, Carlos Ortiz, Sebastian Munoz and Josele Ballester have been added to the field for the prestigious event, which will be held at Royal Melbourne Golf Club from Dec. 4-7.

The Stonehaven Cup, presented to the champion of the event, remains one of golf’s most historic trophies. However, its prestige has declined in recent years as fewer international players have traveled to Australia to compete. This year, though, things look set to change with five-time major winner Rory McIlroy — the 2013 Australian Open champion — returning for the first time in 11 years.

Local stars and LIV Golf members Cam Smith, Marc Leishman, and Lucas Herbert had already confirmed their participation, and Tuesday’s announcement brings the total number of LIV players in the field to seven.

Defending champion Joaquin Niemann, widely regarded as LIV Golf’s standout performer, has claimed seven titles — including five this year. He also competed at Royal Melbourne in 2019 as part of the International Team in the Presidents Cup.

“It’s always an honor to play in a tournament like the Australian Open, and returning to Royal Melbourne as a past winner makes it even more meaningful,” said the Chilean. “I have great memories from the Presidents Cup at the Composite Course and can’t wait to go back. That experience will help, but practice rounds will still be key because Royal Melbourne requires smart strategy and precise shot-making. It’s been an amazing year so far, and winning the Stonehaven Cup again to close out 2025 would make it even more special and give me great momentum for 2026.”

Mexican golfer Carlos Ortiz added: “I get to travel to many countries, and Australia is one of the best places in the world to play golf — not just for the quality of the courses, but because the fans are so passionate and engaged. They create an incredible atmosphere. I’m really excited to spend two weeks in Australia — first in Brisbane for the BMW Australian PGA Championship, then in Melbourne for the Australian Open. I haven’t played in either event before, but I know they’re both prestigious tournaments that mean a lot to Australians, and they’re held in two fantastic cities I can’t wait to visit.”