Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen wins Australian Open as Cameron Smith blows five-foot putt

Cameron Smith has missed a crucial five-foot putt that would have forced a play-off, handing victory to Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen at the Australian Open.

A devastated Cameron Smith has had the Stonehaven Cup ripped from his grasp in one of the more extraordinary finishes seen at the Australian Open.

The Queenslander went from being in pole position for victory on the final hole to missing a five-foot putt to send the tournament to a play-off after Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen produced a stunning up-and-down from an almost impossible position in the thick rough.

In a drama packed finish, the pair had traded the lead over the final nine holes - Smith had snared the outright lead briefly after a birdie on the 10th hole - but were locked together on 15-under coming down the 18th.

After both hit perfect drives on the 435m par-four, a long overdue local victory seemed to be on the cards when Neergaard-Petersen sprayed his second shot into the no-go zone between bunkers while Smith’s landed in the heart of the green.

But the Dane, who started the final round with a two-shot lead, showed he has ice in his veins with a brilliant chip giving him at least an outside chance of making a miracle par which he did by nailing a turning 15-foot putt.

Smith’s long birdie putt had snaked its way to within five-feet but suddenly all the pressure was on him to make the par putt and force a play-off after Neergaard-Petersen’s heroics.

With more than 33,000 fans holding their breath inside Royal Melbourne, unfortunately Smith’s putter which had been rock solid all day suddenly lost its radar and his first win since August 2023 went begging.

Cameron Smith reacts after his par putt on the 18th hole slides over the edge . Picture: Michael Klein

Neergaard-Petersen said he felt for Smith and rated the odds of him pulling off his recovery wedge and winning putt as “one in a 100”.

“Absolutely (feel for Smith), the thing that is crazy is we’ve all been there,” he said. “I feel for him for it to go that way, I mean I was nowhere at 18, I had nothing but somehow, somewhere I managed to get an up and down.

“But I feel for him, he’s a class act and it was great to be out there with him today.”

Smith, who shot a two-under 69 which included five birdies and three bogeys, was too distraught to speak afterwards. He signed some autographs for fans before avoiding the media and retreating to be with his family in the clubhouse.

Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen makes an incredible up and down on 18, to become the 1st Dane to ever win the Australian Open. A few weeks ago he earned a PGA Tour card, now he’s won the biggest event of his career and qualified for the Masters. What a season!pic.twitter.com/fXMDsWcxxL

— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) December 7, 2025

He’d said after a brilliant third round which put him in contention that victory in the Open would shut a few people up given the horror year he’d endured.

The 2022 British Open champion had missed the cut seven times this year including being the only player to miss the cut at all four majors.

Last week he was left almost in tears after not making the weekend at the Australian PGA which was held at one of his favourite courses at Royal Queensland.

On Sunday Smith came up against one of world golf’s rising stars with Neergaard-Petersen capping off a brilliant season by claiming his first significant victory which also came with an invitation to next year’s Masters at Augusta.

Smith was shattered to have the Open slip through his grasp. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images.

The 26-year-old has enjoyed a whirlwind 12 months which saw him claim eight DP World Tour top tens, including a runner-up finish in Qatar and a tie for third at the season finale after playing in the final group on Sunday alongside Rory McIlroy.

At the start of the final round there were high hopes of a three-pronged Aussie assault but in the end it was only Smith who was able to fly the flag.

Former winner Adam Scott shaved the hole with a number of crucial putts, shooting a one-under 70 to finish fifth on 11-under while Min Woo Lee had an afternoon to forget with a three-over 74 saw him slide to seven-under.

First-round leader Elvis Smylie was the third-best Aussie finish at nine-under after a 69 on Sunday while tournament drawcard McIlroy couldn’t get his putter going, shooting 69 to end his Royal Melbourne experience at seven-under.

A devastated Smith refused to comment afterwards.

RECAP HOW THE DAY UNFOLDED BELOW

3.50PM: SMITH IN THE MIX DOWN THE STRETCH

Cameron Smith said last night it’s been a long time since he’s been in contention to win a tournament, and you can imagine how fast his heart rate would be right now as the one tournament he wants to win more than any other (maybe bar the Masters) is there for the taking.

He’s looked remarkably composed throughout the entire final round. Walking with his group, it’s been noticeable how deliberate he has been in his approach to his putting. He’s taking far more time trying to read these greens than playing partners Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and Si Woo Kim, and has putted brilliantly for most of it.

It’s still anyone’s championship with just a few holes left, but there’s only man the crowd wants to win. He’s handling the pressure superbly so far.

2.30PM: SMITH TAKES OUTRIGHT LEAD

The great Aussie hope Cameron Smith has fired himself into the outright lead after turning for home in a three-way tie for the lead at the Australian Open.

With nine holes to play the Queenslander was one-under for his final round at 13-under alongside overnight leader Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and Korean Si Woo Kim.

But he claimed the outright lead with a birdie on the 10th.

Former winner Adam Scott is next, two shots adrift at 11-under while fellow Aussie Min Woo Lee has struggled, dropping two shots for his round to be off the pace at eight-under.

Masters champion Rory McIlroy has had issues on the greens and is about to finish his round at five-under. - SCOTT GULLAN

Cameron Smith has fired himself into an outright lead. Picture: Getty

THE ONE MAN NOT CHEERING A FINAL-DAY MCILROY MIRACLE

Not everyone has been a fan of Rory McIlroy at Royal Melbourne this week. Certainly not American Charlie Hoffman, who stepped up his comeback from injury with a rare appearance at the Australian Open (Hoffman missed the cut with 73-73).

Now, to put it mildly, Hoffman and McIlroy have had beef in the past.

Most of it stems from Hoffman sending a letter to his fellow PGA Tour members earlier this year criticising players who say they want to play less events but still compete in the DP World Tour’s Race To Dubai, the indoor simulator league TGL and The Showdown, a one-off event played before last Christmas which included world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

Guess who was the only player to feature in all the events Hoffman mentioned? McIlroy. You can understand if he felt it was a personal attack.

This week, Hoffman was asked by Golf Australia magazine about how to get more American players to Australia’s big events when the conversation turned to McIlroy, who has insisted he wants to play traditional and historic tournaments and test himself on courses like Royal Melbourne.

“Let’s get this straight — Rory is getting paid to be here,” Hoffman said.

“He’s not here just because it’s Royal Melbourne. He’s being paid, simple as that. The course is one of my favourites in the world, but if Rory wasn’t getting paid, he wouldn’t be here.”

Ouch!

Originally published as Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen wins Australian Open as Cameron Smith blows five-foot putt