Neergaard-Petersen Wins Australian Open by One Stroke

Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen captured his first DP World Tour title on Sunday by edging out Australian favorite Cameron Smith by one stroke at the Crown Australian Open, securing a dramatic victory on the final hole at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia.

The 26-year-old Dane, who recently earned a PGA Tour card for 2026, finished at 15-under par with a final-round 70. Entering the 72nd hole tied with Smith at 15-under, Neergaard-Petersen found trouble after his approach shot faded into thick rough right of the green. He recovered with a precise chip to leave a 10-foot par putt, which he holed under pressure. Smith, playing in front of a home crowd, reached the green but three-putted from 65 feet, missing a five-foot par attempt to force a playoff. The win earns Neergaard-Petersen an invitation to the 2026 Masters at Augusta National.

"It's been a battle all day," Neergaard-Petersen said afterward. "Even from the outside, you can look calm, but it was a storm inside for me all day. But I managed to keep battling and to get it up and down to make that putt on the last. I don't know what to say, to be honest."

Smith, the 2022 British Open champion and a LIV Golf player,...