A gutted Cameron Smith has come up agonisingly short in his bid for a coveted maiden Australian Open title as Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen broke home hearts with a last-hole up-and-down for the ages at Royal Melbourne.

Rory McIlroy will look to win yet another prestigious title this year when he headlines the 2025 Australian Open this week. McIlroy has claimed a host of trophies throughout 2025 including The

Rory McIlroy has posted a two-under 69 to finish the week at seven-under. Once again he drew the biggest galleries on course, but the early bogeys today and the nine-shot lead left him too far back to make a real dent.

Neergaard-Petersen then somehow hacked his ball out about ten feet past the pin, while Smith left himself a nervy par putt to force a playoff after the 26-year-old came up clutch with the putter in hand, saving par in what he told reporters at Royal Melbourne was a “one in 100” play.

Australia’s best men’s golfers will get their shot at the current world no.2, when Cameron Smith, Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott, Marc Leishman and kiwi Ryan Fox will be hell bent on stealing the limelight to pocket the $2 million in prize money on the line.

A relieved Rory McIlroy made a late flurry of birdies to avoid the embarrassment of missing the Australian Open cut – also saving the blushes of the Victorian government – on a nerve-shredding day at Royal Melbourne.