Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen fought off the challenge of Major champion and home favourite Cameron Smith to claim his maiden DP World Tour title at the Crown Australian Open.
The Dane began the final day at Royal Melbourne Golf Club with a two-shot lead, but was tied with Smith as the pair made their way down the 18th.
After missing the green, the 26-year-old faced an uphill battle to save par, but he rose to the challenge, getting up and down courtesy of a nerveless ten-foot putt to pile the pressure on Smith’s par putt. And with Smith unable to find the cup, Neergaard-Petersen celebrated a one-shot victory, finishing the week on 15 under par after signing for a closing 70.
Smith finished on his own in second on 14 under, one ahead of South Korea’s Si Woo Kim in third.
Neergaard-Petersen is no stranger to the winner’s circle, having tasted victory three times on the HotelPlanner Tour in 2024 on the way to topping the Road to Mallorca Rankings. But despite enjoying a remarkable 2025 season on the DP World Tour to earn dual membership with the PGA TOUR, he was not able to win.
He entered the final round in New South Wales with a two-shot advantage but saw his lead evaporate in the early stages as he bogeyed the fourth. He regained the outright lead with a tap-in birdie at the sixth, but dropped shots on the ninth and tenth to sit two strokes behind Smith at the start of the back nine.
A long-range birdie at the tough 12th led to a two-shot swing, as Neergaard-Petersen grabbed a share of the lead once more, before birdieing the 13th from close range to hit the front on his own.
After his tee shot at the 14th landed under the trees on the right side, the Dane did well to save par but was caught at the top as Smith made birdie on the same hole.
With both playing finding birdies at 17, there was nothing to separate the pair with one hole remaining, however Neergaard-Petersen produced a big finish when it mattered to win and earn his spot at next year’s Masters Tournament.
Si Woo Kim, Michael Hollick and Adam Scott all qualified for The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale through the Crown Australian Open, which is part of The R&A’s International Qualifying Series.
