In a dramatic finish that will be replayed for years, Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen conjured a miraculous final-hole escape to break Cameron Smith's heart and claim the Australian Open crown at the iconic Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
A Final Hole For The Ages
The stage was set for a grandstand finish on Sunday, with Neergaard-Petersen and local hero Smith locked together at 15-under par heading to the 18th tee. The Australian seemed to have the decisive advantage when his approach shot found the green, while the Dane's effort veered right into thick rough between bunkers.
What followed was pure theatre. From an almost impossible lie, Neergaard-Petersen executed a sublime chip to within 15 feet of the pin. With the weight of the tournament on his shoulders, the 26-year-old then calmly sank the par putt, sending the gallery into raptures.
The pressure then shifted entirely to Smith, who three-putted for a bogey, his missed final putt handing victory to the Dane by a single, heartbreaking shot. "It's hard, I'm really at a loss for words – it's been a battle all day," an emotional Neergaard-Petersen said afterwards. "You know, even from the outside, sometimes you can look calm, but there was a storm inside all day today."
Smith's Home Title Dream Deferred
For Cameron Smith, the defeat extends a frustrating winless streak dating back to August 2023. The 32-year-old Queenslander, a three-time Australian PGA champion, has been vocal about his desire to win his national open above all other titles outside the majors.
Smith had fought valiantly throughout a tense back nine, taking the lead for the first time at the 10th hole. The pair traded blows, with Neergaard-Petersen edging ahead at the 13th, only for Smith to birdie the 14th and draw level again. Both birdied the par-5 17th, setting up the fateful final hole. Korea's Si Woo Kim bogeyed the last to finish in outright third at 13-under.
McIlroy's Melbourne Mania and Future Promise
While the duel for the Stonehaven Cup provided the climax, the week belonged in many ways to Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irish superstar, playing the tournament for the first time in a decade, drew massive, sell-out crowds wherever he went, with his appearance fee justified by the global spotlight he brought.
McIlroy finished tied for 14th at seven-under after a final round of 69, but his impact was felt far beyond the leaderboard. "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.
He has committed to return for the 2026 Open at nearby Kingston Heath, a course he controversially rated above Royal Melbourne before the event. He hopes his presence will encourage more of the world's elite to compete. "I think the scenes and just how this tournament has looked on TV all week... it makes an impact," McIlroy added.
Elsewhere, South Africa's Michel Hollick fired the low round of the day, a 65, to surge into fourth place. Adam Scott, who began the day in contention, could only manage a 70 to finish fifth. The victory caps a remarkable year for Neergaard-Petersen, whose strong DP World Tour form had already secured his PGA Tour card for 2026. At Royal Melbourne, however, he secured something even more immediate: a maiden major tour victory in the most dramatic fashion imaginable.
