In a dramatic finale that will be replayed for years, Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen conjured a miracle on the 72nd hole to snatch the Australian Open title from local hero Cameron Smith at the iconic Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
A Final Hole for the Ages
The pair were locked in a tense battle, tied at 15-under par as they approached the demanding par-four 18th on Sunday. The momentum seemed to swing decisively in Smith's favour when his approach shot found the green, putting him in prime position for a potential birdie. In stark contrast, Neergaard-Petersen's approach was pushed right, nestling deep in the long rough between two bunkers, leaving him a seemingly impossible up-and-down to save par.
What followed was pure theatre. The 26-year-old Dane executed a sublime chip shot that landed softly and rolled to within 15 feet of the cup. Under immense pressure, he then calmly sank the par putt, sending the gallery into raptures. Smith, faced with the task of matching him, saw his hopes evaporate with a devastating three-putt bogey, handing Neergaard-Petersen a one-shot victory.
Heartbreak for Smith, Elation for the Dane
For Cameron Smith, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow. The 32-year-old Queenslander, a three-time Australian PGA champion, has long coveted the Stonehaven Cup, the trophy awarded to the Australian Open winner. His winless streak now extends back to August 2023. He fought valiantly on the back nine, exchanging the lead with Neergaard-Petersen on several occasions, but was ultimately undone on the final green.
"It's hard, I'm really at a loss for words – it's been a battle all day," an emotional Neergaard-Petersen said after his win. "You know, even from the outside, sometimes you can look calm, but there was a storm inside all day today. But I managed to just keep battling, and then to get it up and down from there, to make that putt on the last." The victory caps a remarkable debut season on the DP World Tour for the Dane, which had already secured him a PGA Tour card for 2026.
South Korea's Si Woo Kim bogeyed the last hole to finish in outright third place at 13-under par.
McIlroy's Melbourne Mania and Future Promise
While not in contention on the final day, tournament drawcard Rory McIlroy still made a significant impact at Royal Melbourne. The Northern Irishman carded a two-under 69 to finish tied for 14th at seven-under, a result that included five birdies and three bogeys. His presence, however, justified a substantial appearance fee, with 'McIlroy-mania' generating sell-out crowds and electric atmospheres across the course.
"I said at the start of the week this is a golf tournament that's got so much potential and I think it showed a little bit of that potential this week," said McIlroy, the 2013 champion. "I wish I could have been in contention... but it's been an amazing week." He believes the global television coverage of the packed galleries will help elevate the tournament's stature.
McIlroy, who has committed to a two-year deal, will return to play the 2026 Australian Open at the nearby Kingston Heath Golf Club. Other notable finishes saw South African Michel Hollick fire a 65 to claim fourth, while Australian Adam Scott faded to fifth after a 70.
