Cameron Smith denied first Australian Open title as Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen claims win
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen shows off the Stonehaven Cup after his Australian Open triumph. (Getty Images: Graham Denholm)
In short:
Cameron Smith finished runner-up at Australian Open, with Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen winning by one shot.
Smith and Neergaard-Petersen were tied at 15-under-par ahead of the final hole.
Neergaard-Petersen made par but Smith finished with a bogey to miss the chance of forcing a play-off.
A missed putt has cost Cameron Smith the chance of winning his first Australian Open, as Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen claimed a thrilling one-stroke victory at Royal Melbourne.
The tournament came down to a grandstand finish, with Neergaard-Petersen and Smith tied at 15-under-par when they stepped up to the 18th tee.
Smith made the green in two shots, much to the appreciation of the large crowd, while Neergaard-Petersen found the rough near the bunkers close to the putting surface — known as Dunk Island — with his second stroke.
The Dane produced a neat play to chip his ball onto the green, before sinking a clutch 10-foot putt for par.
Smith missed a long-range attempt at birdie and could not manage par with a putt five feet out from the cup, denying him the chance of forcing a play-off.
Neergaard-Petersen said he felt for Smith after the tense finish.
"I know this is one of events that [is] very big for him, so obviously I feel him in that way," Neergaard-Petersen told reporters following his win.
"I was nowhere on 18. I had nothing from the right and somehow, some way I managed to get it up and down.
"So, obviously I feel for him. But he's a class act and it was great to be out there with him today."
Aside from collecting a sizeable slice of the $2 million prize money and having his name engraved on the Stonehaven Cup, Neergaard-Petersen also earned an invite to next year's Masters at Augusta National.
It was the 26-year-old's first victory on the DP World Tour, which co-sanctioned the tournament.
Cameron Smith cut a dejected figure on the 18th green after his final-hole bogey. (AAP: James Ross)
For Smith, it will be a case of what might have been.
After starting the final round two strokes behind overnight leader Neergaard-Petersen, Smith seized top spot after draining a lengthy putt for birdie on the par-four 10th hole.
The lead swapped hands on the 12th hole when Smith posted a bogey and Neergaard-Petersen converted on a birdie putt.
Two holes later, the pair were level-pegging again, after Smith tapped in for a birdie.
Cameron Smith had been outright leader during the back nine holes. (Getty Images: Graham Denholm)
Neither could break the deadlock, although it appeared Neergaard-Petersen might gain the edge on the par-five 17th hole.
Smith had sent his second stroke into the spectator gallery, needing to part the crowd and have a sponsorship sign moved so he had a clear view of the pin.
Par seemed Smith's best possible score, but he got himself onto the green and sank a putt for birdie, matching his Danish rival before they made their way to the 18th hole.
Smith carded a 2-under 69 in his final round, one shot ahead of Neergaard-Petersen.
The bogey on the 18th was his third of the day, while he managed five birdies.
No doubt disappointed to come so close, Smith could take solace from the fact that he had bounced back to form after missing the cut at last week's Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane.
Adam Scott finished the tournament on 11-under.
South Korea's Si Woo Kim finished third on 13-under, two strokes ahead of the fifth-placed Adam Scott (1-under 70).
Charismatic Australian Min Woo Lee went 3-over (74) in the final round to finish on 7-under in a share of 14th place.
The Australian Open's star attraction, Rory McIlroy, was also tied for 14th, having registered a 2-under 69 in his fourth round.
More than 100,000 spectators attended the tournament across the four rounds, with 33,408 making their way to Royal Melbourne on Sunday.