GA confirmed that five-time major champion and career grand slam winner McIlroy will headline this year's Australian Open and has also committed to play in 2026.
Royal Melbourne on the Melbourne sandbelt will host the tournament from December 4-7 while nearby Kingston Heath is the home of the Open next year.
Sutherland said that talks started with the world No.2 before his historic win at the 2025 Masters Tournament, which completed the career grand slam.
That victory made McIlroy the most valuable commodity in world golf and able to command a multi-million dollar appearance fee.
"Thankfully the conversation was happening before the Masters," Sutherland said at the announcement at Royal Melbourne on Wednesday morning.
"We did have a moment there where, when he won the Masters, thinking, 'Oh, what are the implications of this? Maybe he's going to get offers from all over the world, and maybe the numbers will be different.
"But fortunately Rory has been completely true to his word."
McIlroy claimed the Stonehaven Cup in 2013 in a titanic battle at Royal Sydney with Adam Scott, who was in career-best form, before returning the following year to unsuccessfully defend his title at The Australian.
Sutherland said playing on Melbourne's sandbelt was a lure for 35-year-old McIlroy, which helped secure him for a two-year deal.
"He has for a long time expressed a desire to come here and play tournament golf on the sandbelt," Sutherland said.
"The conversation's been going on for a long time, and fortunately nothing changed when he won the Masters - it just became an even more compelling proposition."
McIlroy backed Sutherland's words in a statement on Wednesday.
"I'm proud to be committing to the Australian Open for the next two years, especially with it being played on the world-class Melbourne sandbelt, somewhere I've always wanted to play professionally" McIlroy said.
Like when former world No.1 Tiger Woods played in the Open in 2011, Sutherland said the appearance of the Northern Irishman would help elevate the status of the tournament and he expected a "very strong line-up".
He predicted crowds to swamp the course given the popularity of McIlroy.
"The popularity of Rory cuts across generations, but it also cuts across nationality," Sutherland said.
"Even at Augusta a few weeks ago, an Irishman going head to head with an American, Rory was as popular as any player on the course and the cheers for Rory's success and desire for him to win is huge.
"Over the weekend, the number of ticket enquiries we had was absolutely phenomenal."
With the Open format moving away from the divisive combined event with the women's and all-abilities, Sutherland hoped to see leading local golfers such as Scott, who missed last year's tournament, sign on.
"Talking to the Australian golfers, it's very clear how much the Australian Open means to them and they're very proud of it and want it to be successful," Sutherland added.
"Adam is one of a number of current day players that have their name on the trophy but I know he would absolutely love to have his name on it again so we would be very optimistic about Adam being here to play as well."
