The Players Championship has long been considered golf’s fifth major championship, with the tournament at TPC Sawgrass always producing plenty of drama and excitement.
Tiger Woods thinks the Players is the fifth major, a common feeling among many in the golfing world, from players to fans.
But for now the major championship count remains at four, beginning with The Masters and ending with The Open Championship.
The PGA Championship and the US Open arrive in between, with that pattern continuing in the 2026 season.
Golf should consider making the Australian Open the fifth major championship
The Players Championship will continue its unofficial status as the fifth major next year, with its world-class field, iconic venue and huge purse all playing a part in that title.
But the Australian Open has just emerged as a very real contender for this hypothetical honor after what transpired at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
Firstly, like TPC Sawgrass, it is an iconic venue, with five-time major winner Rory McIlroy holding Royal Melbourne in very high regard.
McIlroy compared Royal Melbourne to Augusta National in his latest appearance at the event, a sentiment echoed by Adam Scott.
Which tournament would you like to see become the fifth major championship?
The Australian Open, for example, should almost be the fifth major. The market down there is huge with potential.
Rory McIlroy
In that regard, the Australian Open boasted a world-class field this time around, with major champions McIlroy and Scott joined by the likes of Cam Smith, Min Woo Lee and Joaquin Niemann.
Another hugely positive factor for the event was the support, with McIlroy shocked by the Australian Open fans, who turned up in huge numbers early on at Royal Melbourne.
Of course, the grand slam champion helped attract many eyes, along with the talented Australians in the field.
And finally, with the endless talk of making the game more global in recent times, there would be no better way of doing exactly that than by including the Australian Open in the major schedule.
What does the future of the Australian Open look like?
Major championship talk aside, the Australian Open is set to continue its growing momentum after a successful tournament this week.
Scott predicts more big names at the Australian Open next time out, with McIlroy having already committed to the 2026 edition at Kingston Heath.
Do you think Scottie Scheffler should play more outside of the United States?
TPC Sawgrass will continue to draw many eyes in 2026, helped by its iconic Island Green par-three 17th hole.
But it now has a serious rival in the intriguing debate for golf’s fifth major championship, particularly given the many superb golf courses within the Sandbelt region in Melbourne.
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