“Neergaard-Petersen kept his focus when the pressure increased on the final holes.”
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen produced a calm and composed finish to win the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne, claiming the biggest victory of his career. The Danish golfer finished at 15-under par, edging home favourite Cameron Smith by just one shot after a tense final round.
Neergaard-Petersen started the day with a small lead, but the pressure built as Smith briefly moved ahead on the back nine. The Dane responded with key birdies on the 12th and 13th holes to regain control of the tournament.
The drama peaked on the 18th hole. Neergaard-Petersen pushed his tee shot into the rough but recovered brilliantly, saving par with a well-judged chip and putt. Smith reached the green in regulation but three-putted for bogey, missing a short par putt that would have forced a playoff.
The victory is Neergaard-Petersen’s first major tour title and secures him valuable exemptions into upcoming major championships. For Smith, it was another painful near-miss in his pursuit of an Australian Open crown.
Neergaard-Petersen called the win “a dream come true,” saying he felt huge pressure down the stretch but trusted his game when it mattered most.