Golf superstar McIlroy steps onto the course at Royal Melbourne

Golf superstar Rory McIlroy has touched down in Melbourne ahead of this week’s Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.

The reigning US Masters champion arrived in the early hours of Monday morning, with a small entourage and his own security detail.

The Northern Irishman travelled to Royal Melbourne, where he was expected to walk the course, as part of a tour of the world-renowned sandbelt clubs, on Monday afternoon.

McIlroy hit his first shot on the par three fifth hole in front of about 50 people, mostly members of the prestigious club.

There was a tense moment when his on-course security guard, Andrew Dawber, stopped the following crowd told them to hold their ground.

McIlroy’s sandbelt tour also took in Victoria, Kingston Heath, Commonwealth and Metropolitan.

McIlroy plays a shot at Royal Melbourne.Credit: Jason South

The winner of five major championships last competed in the Australian Open in 2014, when Jordan Spieth won the Stonehaven Cup. The previous year McIlroy won an epic final round duel with Adam Scott to take the crown at Royal Sydney.

McIlroy has committed to playing the Australian Open for two years, including next year’s event at Kingston Heath, enticed by the opportunity to play the sandbelt courses for the first time.

Rory McIlroy throws a golf ball to a young fan. Credit: Jason South

His visit, backed by the Victorian government, is seen as the biggest coup for Australian golf since Tiger Woods’ famous visit in 2009 for the Australian Masters.

McIlroy’s first visit to Royal Melbourne was memorable for 13-year-old Jensen O’Brien, the son of a club member who came away with two of the champion’s golf balls.

Whatever the outcome of the tournament, McIlroy won’t leave empty-handed; he was given a pair of RM Williams boots by the club president and captain on Monday.

Jensen O’Brien, 13, was given two of McIlroy’s golf balls.Credit: Jason South

McIlroy headlines the Australian Open field alongside Adam Scott and Joaquin Niemann, while young Spaniard David Puig will attempt to go back-to-back after winning the Australian PGA Championship at Brisbane’s Royal Queensland Golf Club at the weekend.

Other Australians in the field include Marc Leishman, Min Woo Lee, Cam Smith, Lucas Herbert and Cam Davis.

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