The DP World Tour makes a welcome return to Royal Melbourne this week for the 2026 Crown Australian Open, marking the Tour’s first visit in more than 20 years.
Founded in 1891, Royal Melbourne is home to two world-class courses, the East and the West, which are often combined to form the famed Composite Course. This layout has become a benchmark for championship golf, hosting some of the sport’s most prestigious events, including three Presidents Cups (1998, 2011, 2019), the 2013 World Cup of Golf, and 16 previous Australian Opens.
Its return as host in 2026 marks Royal Melbourne's 17th staging of the national championship at the club, and the first time since the event has been co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR of Australasia since 2022.
For the Tour, Royal Melbourne carries a special resonance. Between 2002 and 2005, the Heineken Classic brought the world’s best to its fairways, where Ernie Els established himself as the dominant force, winning three consecutive titles before Craig Parry broke the streak in a dramatic play-off. Those years cemented Royal Melbourne’s place in DP World Tour history, a venue where brilliance and resilience were equally demanded, and where champions were truly tested.
Here, we take a look back at those memories.
2002: Els cruises to five shot victory
Els arrived in Melbourne fresh from watching compatriot Retief Goosen dominate in Perth, and he produced a masterclass of control and composure to win the Heineken Classic in its first outing at Royal Melbourne.
Having opened with a 64 to lead by two shots Els, who had last tasted success at the Standard Life Loch Lomond in 2000, followed it with three successive 69s to stretch his advantage by a shot each day. He closed at 17 under par, five clear of the chasing pack of Peter Fowler, David Howell and Peter O'Malley, claiming his ninth victory on the then European Tour in considerable style.
“I like the way you guys do it down here with good tournaments and good courses,” Els said afterwards, his win marking a statement of intent for the season ahead, where he captured three other victories, including The Open Championship at Muirfield.
2003: Els' Dramatic Defence
If 2002 was serene, 2003 was anything but.
Els looked out of contention after two rounds, finding himself ten shots behind the leaders at the midway point. But Royal Melbourne rewards patience, and on Saturday he found his rhythm with a 66.
Sunday brought chaos as a dramatic final round unfolded with four different players topping the leaderboard. Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher led the early charge with a superb 65, matched only by Els and Jarrod Moseley. Gallacher twice drew level with Sir Nick Faldo, who briefly moved clear before Peter Lonard surged ahead in a jostling contest that saw five players tied at 12 under. Yet Els refused to be discounted, sinking birdies at the ninth and tenth to join Lonard, then adding successive birdies at the 13th and 14th to move to 15 under. With clutch saves at the 16th and 18th, the South African closed out a composed 65 to reach the clubhouse on 15 under, sealing a successful defence of his crown.
“I didn’t think I had much chance after Thursday and Friday,” Els admitted, having sealed his 12th DP World Tour victory.
2004: Els completes hat-trick of Heineken Classics
Els’ third successive victory at Royal Melbourne stamped his authority on the Heineken Classic, but the 2004 edition was far from a straightforward procession to the trophy.
It looked as though it might be after the South African opened with a course-record 60, followed by rounds of 66 and 68 to enter the final day eight shots clear. Yet what followed was almost unthinkable. A front nine of 42, featuring a solitary birdie, four bogeys and a triple-bogey at the fourth, saw his commanding lead evaporate as Adam Scott threatened to produce a famous upset.
Els, however, steadied himself when it mattered most. Three consecutive birdies from the 12th restored his advantage, and he clung on to finish at 20 under par, one shot ahead of Scott.
“It was like I had never played this game before on the first nine,” Els admitted of his 50th worldwide victory. “Then I played the back nine as well as I could.”
With the win, Els became only the fifth player in DP World Tour history to capture the same event three years in succession, joining Ian Woosnam (Monte Carlo Open 1990–92), Nick Faldo (Irish Open 1991–93), Colin Montgomerie (Volvo PGA Championship 1998–2000) and Tiger Woods (WGC–NEC Invitational 1999–2001).
2005: Parry triumphs in Play-Off
After three years of South African dominance, Parry delivered one of the most memorable victories of his career, defeating Nick O’Hern at the fourth hole of a sudden-death play-off.
The pair had finished locked together on 14 under par 270, with O’Hern — who held a one-stroke lead going into the final round — carding a level-par 71, while Parry birdied the 17th to post a closing 70 and force extra holes.
O'Hern, seeking a first title after 11 top ten finishes the previous season, had the upper hand throughout the play-off but was unable to take his chances as Parry refused to concede defeat. The left-hander missed from seven feet at the first extra hole after Parry had holed from twice the distance to scramble a par, and then missed a virtually identical putt when the players returned to the 18th for a second time. Switching to the 17th, Parry holed from ten feet to stay alive, and it was then on the return to the 18th Parry holed for birdie from 15 feet before O'Hern missed from a few inches closer.
“That was hard work. At every hole I thought I was going to lose,” Parry admitted afterwards. “This ranks right up there…it means a real lot to me.”
