The Crown Australian Open is over with Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen of Denmark winning his first DP World Tour title. Here we will show a full review of the results and events of the memorable tournament as well as the history of it.
Overview of the Crown Australian Open
A Brief History of the Tournament
The Crown Australian Open is not only the oldest Australian open golf tournament but also the most prestigious. The inaugural open was in 1904 and is a stroke play tournament organized by Golf Australia.
The winner of the tournament received the coveted Stonehaven Cup and it is played at various courses in Australia. From 1992 to 2019 the tournament was part of the PGA Tour of Australasia. There was no event in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic and is now part of the DP World Tour.
The Crown Australian Open has had many main sponsors over the years and the 2025 tournament was the first with Crown Royal taking the mantle of the main sponsor.
The significance of the Australian Open as one of the oldest golf championships cannot be underestimated. It is not only the biggest and most popular golf tournament Down Under, but golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Rory McIlroy have referred to it as the fifth major.
McIlroy had the best betting odds for the 2025 Open and besides sports betting there is great casino action at the best online casino Australia.
Format and Venue of the Latest Edition
For the 2025 golf Australian Open it was a stroke play format played over four rounds. The event was held at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne and it was the 17th time the Open was held there. The course has the distinction of holding the tournament the second most times only behind The Australian Golf Club, which has hosted 22 times. The Royal Melbourne Golf Club is a 36-hole venue with two courses in the West and the East with the West being ranked among the top five in the world. There is also a Composite Course, which is a mix of both and where the Australian golf Open is played. The Composite Course has a yardage of 7,046, is a par 71, and the turf is primarily Bermuda grass and the special fescue blends on the greens make them fast, firm, and challenging.
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Final results of the Crown Australian Open
Tournament Winner
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen won the 2025 Australian Open golf tournament in dramatic fashion finishing one stroke ahead of major winner Cam Smith and two shots clear of Si Woo Kim. He held off Smith, who he trailed by two shots heading into the back nine of the final round. The Australian Open golf prize money that Neergaard-Petersen won for the top spot was $2 (AUD) million.
Podium Finishers and Top Contenders
Here is a breakdown of the top 5 finishers at the Australian Open golf 2025:
1. Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
2. Cam Smith
3. Si Woo Kim
4. Michael Hollick
5. Adam Scott
Neergaard-Petersen was in control for most of the tournament until the final day. His last round was his worst after shooting a 67, 66, and 66 in his first three rounds. Smith was his biggest challenge and that was a surprise after the 2022 Open Championship winner had not even made the cut in his previous seven tournaments.
After the Australian Open golf results Neergaard-Petersen is now tied for second in the DP World Tour rankings after only two events. He is tied with David Puig of Spain with Kristoffer Reitan of Norway leading the way after the win in the first event, which was worth more points.
Performance of Australian Players
There was good showing from the Aussies in the Australian golf Open with three players from the home country finishing in the top 10 with Smith (second), Scott (fifth), and Elvis Smylie (tied for eighth).
The finish by Smith was one of the standout stories after how he had struggled, previously missing seven straight cuts. Adam Scott had a solid showing as well as the former world #1 and Masters champion looks to win his first tour tournament since 2020.
Key Events that Shaped the Tournament
The steady play of Neergaard-Petersen shaped the tournament and even though had a few slips and shot his worst round in the final one he came up clutch in the end. He had a two-shot lead heading into the final round but after four birdies and three bogies he walked to the 18th tee tied with Smith. Neergaard-Petersen failed to make the green on the par 4 in two and hit his third shot within 10 feet of the pin. He drained the pressure-filled par put while Smith missed his par part to give the Dane the win.
Turning Points of the Final Round
Neergaard-Petersen trailed Smith by two shots after the back nine of the final round. It was vital when he birdied the 12th hole for a two-shot swing, where Smith faltered with a bogey. The Dane then took a one-shot lead with a birdie on 13 but Smith drew even with a birdie on 14. Still, the 14th was a big hole for the eventual champion, as he hit it in the trees and scrambled to make par.
Standout Performances
While there were some standout performances the top ones had to be from the players that finished first and second. Neergaard-Petersen picked up his first DP World Tour title and Smith nearly won after missing the cut in his previous seven events. Neergaard-Petersen’s rounds of 66 in the second and third round were highlights giving him a great chance for his first tour win.
Course Challenges and Unexpected Difficulties
Besides the tough and fast greens there were windy conditions for the tournament, which challenged the players. The tougher holes, especially when there were persistent winds, were the fourth with a blind drive over sand dunes, the fifth with a par three over a valley, the bunker-laden seventh hole, and the par 4 dogleg on 17 with a very tricky slope from left to right.
Statistical Breakdown of the Tournament
Scoring Analysis
Here are the leaders for the Crown Australian Open golf 2025
· Scoring - Stroke Average – Neergaard-Petersen +67.25
· Strokes Gained – Total +3.77
· Driving - Strokes Gained (Off the Tee) - Rocco Repetto Taylor +1.41
· Approach - Strokes Gained - Neergaard-Petersen +2.09
· Around The Green - Strokes Gained – Michael Hollick +1.91
· Putting - Strokes Gained – Joshua Berry +2.02
Comparison with Previous Editions
This was one of the more exciting Australian Opens in recent history with the exciting finish. The field was a strong one and many came to see McIlroy, who finished 10th. Speaking of many, this year’s tournament broke the record for the number of fans in attendance.
How This Year’s Tournament Differed from Last Year
While there were some similarities to last season’s there were some differences as well. One of the main similarities are the Australian open golf results. Neergaard-Petersen and last year’s winner Ryggs Johnson each picked up their first DP World Tour title. However, Neergaard-Petersen was not a major longshot while Johnson definitely was. He was ranked 954th in the world at the time and had not won a tournament since high school.
Johnson won last year’s Australian Open in wet and windy conditions. He won by three strokes while the players behind him struggled in the final round. When Neergaard-Petersen won it was because of a clutch putt on the last hole and he and Smith were battling for all 18 holes of the final round.
While the Australian golf open is a prestigious event the strength of the field has been an issue. While there are some big names many of the top players are not in the field. This can be pointed to how Johnson got in the tourney last year despite a world ranking of only 954.
This year’s event was also the first where Crown Royal was the sponsor taking over for ISPS Handa.
Trends and Long-Term Patterns
The Australian Open golf tournament is the biggest Down Under and is one of the earliest stops on the DP World Tour. When we look back on the event this year it ranks up there with some of the most exciting ever.
Reactions and Expert Commentary
The reactions to the Australian Open golf 2025 were positive for the solid play and the massive galleries. The expert commentary from the Golf Channel and the NBC Sports App gave insight to the action happening from the opening round to the thrilling finish on the 18th hole of the last round.
Comments from the Winner and Participants
After the tournament win Neergaard-Petersen stated, "I'm really at a loss for words. It’s been a battle all day. From the outside, sometimes you can look calm but there was a storm inside all day today.”
Rory McIlroy said the crowds were "absolutely incredible" and said he was looking forward to playing in the tournament next season.
Media and Fan Reactions
The Golf Channel along with the NBC Sports App exclusively covered the tournament, as there was no local coverage. The fan reactions were amazing and that can be attested to the record-breaking crowd on the course.
What the Results Mean for the Upcoming Season
The Australian open golf results give the players that finished well a heads up for the long season of the DP World Tour. The first two tournaments were in Australia and the tour now heads to South Africa for three events.
Impact on Rankings and Player Momentum
It is still early in terms of the DP World Tour rankings and many players did not play in both of the events Down Under. Five of the 10 players in the current rankings only played in one of the first two events. Still, the two winners of Kristoffer Reitan and Neergaard-Petersen have the momentum and the confidence early on in the season.
All of the points earned by players are important for tournament entries and for the top players trying to earn a spot on the Presidents Cup team.
Conclusion
The Australian open golf 2025 tournament was a great success and saw one of the more exciting finishes in recent years. Neergaard-Petersen picked up his first tour win and the back and forth play between him and Smith is what made the tournament stand out. With such popularity for the first two events both players and fans alike are ready for a wild ride for the rest of the season.