1. The Champion and the Scoreboard: A One-Stroke Difference
Neil Gao Peterson won the Australian Open and his first DP World Tour title with a four-round total of 67, 66, 66, and 70, for a total score of 15 under par. Smith finished second at 14 under par, South Korean Kim Si-won third at 13 under par, South African Mitchell Horlicks shot the best score of the day at -12, and Adam Scott finished at -11.
This week at Royal Melbourne, the top of the scoreboard was firmly held by two players: local icon Smith rallied from a two-stroke deficit to tie, then overtaken, only to be overtaken by his opponent, ultimately failing to secure his “dream championship.” For Neil Gao Peterson, this victory is like a ticket to a bigger stage—after securing his 2026 PGA Tour qualification through the DP World Tour last season, he added another significant trophy to his tally in the Southern Hemisphere.
2. The “Miracle” of the Final Hole: Ups and Downs in the Right-Hand Rough
What truly cemented this match’s place as a classic was the scene on the 18th hole. Both players were tied for the lead at 15-under par on Royal Melbourne’s iconic par-4 final hole: Smith’s tee shot landed smoothly on the fairway, his second shot reached the green, leaving him with a long, downhill birdie putt, seemingly giving him the upper hand.
On the other hand, Neil Peterson’s tee shot went to the right, his second shot stuck in the thick rough between the right bunker and the green, leaving him almost in a sideways position, his flagstick partially obscured by the high slope. Visually, it looked more like a “bogey and playoff” situation. But he chose to take the initiative: a high, precisely placed drop shot sent the ball more than ten feet from the hole, at least keeping himself a chance to solve the problem with a putt.
Then, the tables turned: Smith’s birdie putt missed, leaving him with a five-foot par putt, which he missed again in the midst of the breathless crowd, finishing with a three-putt for bogey. Meanwhile, Neil Peterson, in complete silence, sank his ten-foot par putt—the ball went in, the scoreboard closed, and he won by one stroke. He later admitted, “From the outside, I might have looked calm, but inside I was in a storm all day,” and the ups and downs of the 18th hole were “all about willpower.”
3. The Tug-of-War on the Back Nine: Birdies for Each Hole
If you only look at the last hole, it’s easy to overlook the fierce battle of the previous nine. Entering the back nine, Smith sank a birdie putt of about three meters on the 10th hole, taking his first solo lead and quickly shifting the atmosphere at Royal Melbourne towards the home team. Neil Peterson then birdied the 12th to level the score, and then won the 13th to pull back into the game.
Smith didn’t give up easily, birdying the 14th hole to tie his opponent again. The two remained neck-and-neck until the iconic par-5 17th, where both birdied: Smith chipped in from a right-side position, while Neil Peterson secured the lead with a standard three-putt, bringing them both to 15-under par on the 18th tee. This back-and-forth made the final hole both brutal and perfectly aligned with the afternoon’s trajectory—all the differences were compressed into the final moment before the ball was in play.
4. Home Heartbreak: Smith and the “One Step Away” Australian Open
For Cameron Smith, this loss was more painful than the scoreboard itself. A three-time PGA Championship winner and home hero, he had repeatedly stated publicly that, besides the majors, his most coveted title was the Australian Open—a “home tournament” yet to be signed by him.
This time, starting two strokes behind, he shot a 69 amidst the home crowd, finishing the round with two under-par shots interspersed with birdies and misses, but hesitated for half a second on the crucial putt. When his return par putt grazed the hole, a collective sigh escaped the crowd; that moment represented both a technical lapse and a minor psychological and emotional collapse under extreme pressure. This scene is destined to remain in the memories of Australian fans for a long time—on the best stage, in the best form, in the most eager week, he was just a five-foot curve away from the trophy.
5. Other Protagonists: Rory McIlroy, Kim Si-won, and Scott
Besides this finale primarily focused on the “Danish and Home Hero,” Royal Melbourne had several other supporting characters.
- Rory McIlroy finished with a 69 in the final round, for a total score of 7 under par, ultimately tying for 14th place, alongside local rising star Lee Min-woo. Five birdies and three bogeys showcased his world number two brilliance while also revealing a lack of complete mastery of the rhythm on sand greens. He stated after the round that he plans to return to Kingston Heath in 2026 and hopes this tournament will attract more top players from around the world to the Australian Open.
- Kim Si-won finished third at 13-under par, maintaining a solid performance throughout the week and remaining within the leader’s sights, though his final round’s putting firepower lagged slightly behind the top two contenders.
- Adam Scott, who once seemed poised to lift the Stonehaven Cup again at 45, ultimately carded a 70 for a total of -11, hovering on the edge of the top five. This demonstrates the veteran’s continued competitiveness but also highlights the unavoidable challenge of accurate green play at Royal Melbourne.
6. A Course, a Victory, and a New Name
The story of this Australian Open was largely built on the stage of Royal Melbourne: the wide views, the firm sandy greens, and the high-risk choices of the approach shot made every good shot shine brighter and every deviation seem more significant. On such a course, Nigel Peterson’s choice to finish with a “saving par in the thick grass” rather than waiting for a playoff made his first major championship title all the more extraordinary.
For him, this was not only the result of a week of consistent performance—his scores remained in the 60s and 70s for four days—but also a psychological testament: on a course dominated by local favorites and world stars, an unfamiliar Nordic name can also add punctuation to the final moments. For Smith, this was a regret that will repeatedly appear in his memory, yet it also continued one of golf’s oldest themes: great players often have to lose several trophies that were almost within their grasp before they truly learn how to seize the next opportunity.
