Elvis Smylie and caddy Brad Beecher en route to a round of 65 this morning – image Golf Australia
When play drew to a close after a demanding opening day of the 2025 Crown Australian Open Championship at Royal Melbourne, three players, one from the morning field and two who played late in the day led at 6 under, the trio opening up a two-shot lead as the event heads into day two tomorrow.
Queensland’s Elvis Smylie, New Zealand’s Ryan Fox and Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz all recorded opening rounds of 65, all three putting together impressive rounds on a day where blustery winds buffeted the iconic layout and an increasingly firm golf course added to the demands.
23-year-old Queenslander, Elvis Smylie, took the Royal Melbourne composite layout by the scruff of its neck in his opening round which began at 7.10 am and when he walked from the course around 12.30, his round of 65 had given him a two-shot lead.
At one stage, six players were tied at 3 under and in the lead before Smylie played his homeward nine in 30 to move clear.
In windy and firm conditions, even from his early tee time, Smylie bogeyed his first hole but thereafter his game and strategy were exemplary, adding seven birdies, including three in a row at his 4th, 5th and 6th holes.
Smylie has just completed his rookie season on the DP World Tour, where he performed with distinction, making it all the way to the top 50 who played the DP World Tour Championship. His win at last year’s PGA Championship, followed by a 5th place at the Australian Open a week later, set up his season and although he tread water for much of the year thereafter, a great runner-up finish in France and a 6th place in Denmark elevated his status late in the season.
The former Australian Boys Champion has long been considered one of Australia’s brightest hopes for the future, and today he displayed the benefit of the experience he has gained this year, producing such a good round while playing with Cam Smith and former Masters Champion Danny Willett.
“Yeah, it was really solid round, 65 round around Royal Melbourne, the first round of an Aussie Open would be great,” said Smylie. “That three-putt to kick things off wasn’t that great, but I felt like I did a really good job of putting that behind me. And as you can probably hear, the winds are a big factor today. I felt like I did a good job at using my creativity and imagination with flighting a lot of really nice shots, and then always making sure I’m leaving it on the right side of the hole.
“I think it just goes to show how much I’ve learned over on the European tour, the DP World Tour that is. I think week, week out you’re always adjusting, adapting. The courses are so different, the climates are so different.
“So I think you’re constantly adding tools to your toolbox. You’re playing against some of the best players in the world over there. And I’ve played around Royal Melbourne a lot of times before, so especially in this northerly breeze, which is quite a tricky breeze to play in, I felt like I navigated it quite well.”
Ryan Fox – impressed late in the day – image Golf Australia
Fox played in the afternoon field where the conditions became more demanding as the day wore on, with a firmer golf course and slightly gustier winds.
“It was a tough day out there today,” said the 38 year old. I think if they hadn’t slowed the greens down, we would’ve struggled to play through the middle of the day there. It got pretty nasty, and yeah, I was very, very happy with the score today.
“I would’ve taken even par today. This golf course is tricky enough. There’s obviously a lot of trouble, especially with all the crosswinds. It’s pretty wide off the tee for the most part, if you hit the right club, but with all the crosswinds, you can get yourself in a lot of trouble. So I was very happy I managed to stay away from all the bad stuff today and holed a couple of putts early and sort of kept me on my way and hung on through the middle, through the really tough stretch of holes there, and then took advantage of the par fives and a couple of good wedge shots coming home.
“I’ve been playing really nicely at home. I’ve had two months off, so I’ve kind of expected a little bit of rust last week and surprised myself a little bit through the first 27 holes and then the rust kicked in after that, and I made some silly mistakes and really sloppy bogeys and stuff like that, but there were some positive signs. I played really nicely on Sunday last week and felt like 3-under was the worst score I could have shot.
“Yeah, it would be a little nice little early Christmas present, I reckon (to win). I’ve put myself in good position, obviously, but there’s a whole lot of golf to be played and I expect Royal Melbourne to get some of its own back on me at some point during the week.”
Carlos Ortiz – image Golf Australia
Ortiz has won multiple events on the PGA, Korn Ferry and Asian Tours, but in more recent times has been a member of LIV Golf, where he has already won an event in Houston, the city he also won his only PGA Tour event.
“I mean, it feels like kind of linksy, like an Open championship, so I think the only other time I’ve played something like this, it’s over there,” said Ortiz.
“I guess we got lucky, as soon as we got on 16 green, the wind changed, and so we played downwind, we hit a good driv,e and I hit a good second shot to about 15, 20 feet and made the putt.”
“I mean, honestly, it was like the cherry on top of the year, like my last golfing trip,” added Ortiz, referring to playing Royal Melbourne for the first time. “So yeah, playing Royal Melbourne, it’s always been something I’ve had in my bucket list and I saw the opportunity this year and I took it. So I’m very happy, I’m very impressed with the way they run the tournament here. You can definitely feel the history, the way they’re running the tournament, it’s proper. So I’m glad I came down.”
Rory McIlroy might not have performed to expectation on day one, but that he was responsible for some of the largest crowds seen on a golf course in 16 years, suggests he has done his job for the event already, and he has hardly played himself out of it at this stage.
McIlroy opened with a lengthy birdie putt at his first hole, but then bogeyed the 2nd and 3rd. He struggled for much of the day, but, despite being outside the top 50 when he finished his round of 72, he knows he is still very much in the event.
“It’s tricky,” said McIlroy. “Very, very tricky. Greens are getting firm. It was a good thing they didn’t cut them today; it would’ve been unplayable. But yeah, really tricky conditions. Felt like I could have shot under par or shot something in the sixties, but it doesn’t look like anyone’s going to get too far away today. So I limited the damage and hopefully conditions are a little better over the next few days, and could make a run.”
McIlroy might have been disappointed and frustrated with his opening round, but that so many people flocked to the golf course was a testament to his standing in the game, and he acknowledged the turnout.
“Yeah. I mean some crowds for seven o’clock in the morning. Yeah, it was great. It was a wonderful atmosphere to play in. Obviously playing with Adam in Min Woo too. Yeah, it was unbelievable. It was really cool to see how many people were lining the fairways and framing the greens and stuff, so yeah, it was cool.”
At the completion of play, 41 players had broken par with a cut score, dependent on conditions, likely to be around 1 or 2 over.
McIlroy, at 1 over, has some work to do if he is to ensure he is around at the weekend to justify the expense so many have forked out to come to see him play, but he is also not far enough from the leaders to count him out of contention.
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Leishman’s maiden Australasian Tour victory brings 2025 to a close
Marc Leishman – image PGA of Australia
Marc Leishman’s narrow but impressive victory in yesterday’s Vic PGA Championship at Moonah Links on the Mornington Peninsula brings to a close the first half of the 2025/2026 PGA Tour of Australasia season.
Leishman’s final hole birdie on the windswept layout saw him overcome the long-time leader Josh Younger to win by one with a four-way tie between Connor McDade, Jimmy Zheng, Adam Bland, and Andrew Campbell one shot back in third place, a final round of 76 symbolic of one of the toughest days for scoring seen on the PGA Tour of Australasia in some time.
Only two players in the field of 53 broke par on the final day as the Peter Thompson-designed layout took its toll in the near, gale-force winds.
Leishman, who was clearly the most credentialed player and the highest world-ranked player in the field, began the final round one ahead of Younger, whose only victory to date at this level or beyond was when winning the 2019 NSW Open.
Younger began the day with a birdie to move level, and when Leishman bogeyed his 2nd and 3rd holes, Younger had opened up a two-shot lead, which he retained to the turn.
Younger was still two ahead playing the 13th, but a series of bogeys and less mistakes by Leishman saw the pair level playing the par 5 last.
It would be Leishman, a six-time winner on the PGA Tour and runner-up in the 2015 Open Championship, but now ensconced on the LIV Tour, who edged ahead with a birdie to claim his first PGA Tour of Australasia title.
Leishman moves to second place on the PGA Tour of Australasia Tour Order of Merit. By finishing 3rd in the WA Open, 3rd in the Australian PGA Championship, 18th at the Australian Open, and now this win, he trails only NSW Open winner, Christopher Wood.
Whether that standing and the encouraging experience of a first Australasian Tour win convince Leishman to play more events on the Australasian Tour leading into the New Year remains to be seen, but the tournament certainly benefited from the presence of one of Australia’s finest performers over the last 15 or so years.
Results
Order Of Merit
South Australia’s Jack Thompson finishes runner-up in Saudi Open
Jack Thompson – file image courtesy of Photosport NZ/NZ Open
The 2026 Asian Tour has drawn to a close following the completion of this week’s Saudi Open and, with it, the finalisation of the Order of Merit.
Australia’s Jack Thompson finished runner-up to Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren in the US$1 million event, catapulting him from 62nd on the Order of Merit to finish 21st, giving him surety of tenure on the Asian Tour next season after beginning the week with his future under question.
Thompson, who finished runner-up to Ryan Peake at this year’s New Zealand Open, began the final round tied with Hellgren and actually took a two-shot lead early in the front nine but fell two behind late in the round before two late birdies saw him finish one behind.
Thompson’s 30-foot eagle putt at the last narrowly missed, allowing Hellgren to hole from a much shorter distance to claim his first Asian Tour title.
“Yeah, it’s a tough one,” said Thompson, who birdied three in a row from the third to have the lead early on.
“Obviously, I started off pretty well. I didn’t hit the ball anywhere near good enough today, but just scrambled so well, made some good birdies, holed some good putts. Also missed a couple of putts.
“So yeah, I mean, at the end of that, I can’t really complain. I think if you told me I’d finished second at the start of the week before, when I needed to keep my card, I would have been pretty happy. But we obviously want more. Always want more.”
Thompson earned US$110,000 for his great week.
Victory for Hellgren atones for what has been a testing few seasons playing on the Asian Tour.
He arrived in Asia in 2020 with an impressive resume that included multiple wins in Scandinavia as an amateur and professional. He’d also roomed with American Brooks Koepka when playing college golf at Florida State University.
He finished tied ninth at Qualifying School in 2020 but only competed in one event before play was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When play resumed on Tour he did not quite make the impression that was expected of him, with his best result tying for third in the 2022 Yeangder TPC.
Even before this week, he admitted to being exhausted after a long stretch on tour and behaving badly on and off the course. He said a holiday with his family in Spain over the past few weeks helped him get back on track, and that was most definitely the case this week.
The leading Australian at the completion of this season’s Order of Merit is Thompson’s fellow South Australian Wade Ormsby who finished the year in 12th place, highlighted by his win in the International Series event in Jakarta.
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Final Asian Tour Order of Merit
South Australian Jack Thompson leads Saudi Open
Jack Thompson – file image Asian Tour
South Australian Jack Thompson arrived in Saudi Arabia this week needing a good week if he was to avoid losing his Asian Tour card for 2026, and the manner in which he has negotiated his opening 36 holes suggests that he has completed the task.
Thompson has begun the US$1 million Saudi Open at the Dirab Golf and Country Club with consecutive rounds of 65 to lead the final event of the 2025 Asian Tour season into the final 36 holes.
27-year-old Thompson leads by one over Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren, Victorian Todd Sinnott the next best of the Australians in 24th place. Sinnott entered the week in 106th place on the Order of Merit so needs a very special final 36 holes if he is to retain his playing rights for next season.
Despite going so close to winning the New Zealand Open (an Asian Tour event) in March, Thompson has battled for much of the season on the Asian Tour and is currently in 62nd position on the Order of Merit, needing to be inside the top 65 in order to retain his playing privileges.
Making the cut this week would have been sufficient, but to lead by one heading into today’s third round, no doubt will provide the freedom for Thompson to enjoy his final two rounds of the year and look forward to a return to the Asian Tour.
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Order of Merit
Australian Open win completes bucket list year for Neergaard-Petersen
A rather rewarding week for the Dane – Neergaard-Petersen – image Golf Australia
As was the case at last week’s Australian PGA Championship, the eventual winner might not have been the result the huge crowds turned out to see, but the success of the event overall will stand the Australian Open in good stead moving ahead.
The star invite of the week, Rory McIlroy, more than covered his significant cost, given the incredible support the event received from Melbournians and others, and the positive manner in which the world number two, and only the 6th man to complete the Grand Slam, promoted golf on the sandbelt.
McIlroy bounced back from a slow start to the week and the threat of a missed cut to finish in a share of 14th, but his value to the event was established almost before the tournament had started, given the ticket sales ahead of the event.
The decisions made by Golf Australia to secure McIlroy’s involvement, to revert the event to a standalone championship and to play the event at Royal Melbourne, turned the 2025 Australian Open into arguably the highest attended in the history of the event and have established the base for its continued growth into an event of genuine world standing.
Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and Cameron Smith stood on the tee of the 72nd hole with a share of the lead at 15 under. Both were in good shape with their tee shots but when Neergard-Petersen missed the green right into a seemingly impossible position on a sandy island in the greenside bunker, Smith appeared to have the edge.
Having seen that result and knowing the Dane had short-sided himself, Smith likely aimed for the middle of the green, but although he found the green he was left with a very difficult and lengthy two-putt.
Then came the magnificent pitch over the bunker by Neergaard-Petersen. He finished 20 feet from the hole, which might not sound all that impressive, but given the degree of difficulty he faced, it was an outstanding result.
Smith putted down to 5 feet and seemingly still with the running. Neergaard-Petersen, however, saw it differently, holing his putt to effectively add another couple of feet to Smith’s putt.
Smith stood over his putt with a playoff likely, but when he pulled the putt, it was over, and Neergaard-Petersen had won his first DP World title.
“I have felt a similar kind of pressure, but nothing like the last six, seven holes with the crowds,” said Neergard-Petersen. “It was absolutely incredible the size of them, the cheering that was going on, it was absolutely fantastic, and it’s a day I’ll never forget. That’s for sure.
“I mean to win my first event, and for it to be the Australian Open, which is such an historic event, I think I asked you how it’s one of the oldest tournaments in the world, the national open of Australia. Just a quick peek at some of the names that are on there, and to be able to put my name among those names is unbelievable.
“There were a lot of people that asked me why I decided to go down here and that being able to have a chance to put my name on such a historic trophy was definitely one of them and just can’t wait to be back and try and defend.”
The winner was asked if he had any empathy for Cam Smith’s narrow loss.
“Absolutely. The thing that’s crazy, we’ve all been there. I know this is one of the events that are very big for him, so obviously I feel him in that way. I mean, 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 feel for him. But he’s a class act, and it was great to be out there with him today.”
Neergard-Petersen has had an amazing 2025. By finishing inside the top ten of golfers in the Race to Dubai rankings and not otherwise qualified for the PGA Tour, he has earned the right to play in the US next year. He now has his first DP World title, and as a result of winning the event, he earns a start at the Masters next season.
“It means the world to me. I think growing up, the Masters wasn’t the first tournament that I watched, but as soon as I watched that tournament, it was the first event that I was like, if I one day I become a professional golfer, that’s the event I want to play. So it’s a dream come true, and I can’t wait for April.
“It’s the perfect exclamation point and what has been now a perfect season. I had two big goals going into this season – was to get a PGA TOUR card and to win a tournament. So to do it on the last event of the calendar year for me is – I’m speechless. It’s the perfect end to a fantastic year.”
It was a gut-wrenching finish for Smith, who has now been runner-up twice in his national open. It was, however, a brilliant comeback for Smith after missing the cut last weekend in Brisbane.
Smith finished one shot ahead of Si Woo Kim, South African Michael Hollick was 4th and Adam Scott 5th.
The leading three players in the event, not otherwise qualified for the Open Championship in July, earned an invitation to Royal Birkdale. Si Woo Kim, Michael Hollick and Adam Scott are securing those starts.
Scott has played 97 straight major championships, and by the time he gets to Birkdale, he will likely have extended that streak to 100, given that he has a start at the Masters as a previous winner, a start at the PGA Championship given his standing in the game and, although not yet qualified, a likely start at the US Open.
The Open Championship will be his 26th start at the Open Championship.
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Eclectic mix of countries chasing Australian Open title
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen – enjoying one of many holes putts today – image Golf Australia
Five different countries are represented amongst the leading eight players heading into tomorrow’s final round of the Crown Australian Open, with seven of that group chasing a first Australian Open title.
The odd man out is Adam Scott, who is looking to add a second Australian Open to his two Australian Masters and two Australian PGA Championships, but the chances of a first-time winner of the event and yet another foreigner in tomorrow’s intriguing battle are high.
Foreigners have won the last three Australian Opens and seven of the last ten, only Matt Jones (twice) and Cameron Davis breaking that trend.
Tomorrow, however, Cam Smith, Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee are all within four shots of the lead, Smith in a share of second place with Mexican Carlos Ortiz and Korea’s Si Woo Kim and all four appear more than capable of claiming what would for them be a dream Australian Open victory, given the venue and the standing of a revitalised event.
The leader at 14 under par and two clear of the field is 26 year old Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen whose round of 66 was one of eight rounds of 66 or better in today’s third round and chasing his first win on the DP World Tour, a victory would not only give him such a significant title on an iconic golfing layout but a start in next year’s Masters and Open Championship.
The former Oklahoma State attendee during his collegiate playing career in the US, Neergaard-Petersen took a share of the lead into today’s third round and after an outward nine of 32, he turned the screws with birdies on the 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th to break two clear but with so many credentialed players within striking distance, he has a big task tomorrow to hold on.
“Yeah, I felt like I stayed true to my plan all week, which has been to stay patient,” said the leader.
“Obviously it’s not really what you want there on the fifth (where he three putted), I’ve had a great shot in there and walking away with a four, obviously stung a bit, but I felt like I was able to kind of calm myself down and then from there on in, I felt like I played some really good golf and obviously really happy with the finish. I’ve been able to finish well here over the last couple of events, even in rounds, so it’s nice to finish off well today.”
Cam Smith – Can his local fans get him across the line tomorrow? image Golf Austraia
Cam Smith overcame his missed cut in Brisbane last week to record a round of 66 today, and, in second place, he has a great chance to add an Australian Open Championship to his three Australian PGA Championships.
Smith suggested after his round that he had not played all that well, but it was good enough for him to be very much one of the favourites tomorrow.
“Yeah, I feel like I definitely didn’t have my best stuff today,” said the Queenslander. “I definitely didn’t hit it like I hit it the first couple of days, but still managed to get a score out of it and working my way around the course nicely. Yeah, so it was good to see a couple of putts go in.
“It’s just nice being in contention. It’s been a while since I’ve had this feeling, to be honest. So yeah, I’m looking forward to tomorrow. I love that it’s here. I love that it’s at Royal Melbourne. I love that it’s the Australian Open. I couldn’t think of a better place to get back into form.”
Si Woo Kim might not be getting the attention of others this week but there is little doubt about his pedigree, having won the Players Championship and three other titles on the PGA Tour. His round of 65 was the equal second-best of the day, and his well-established credentials might make him a very hard man to beat tomorrow.
Kim is playing Royal Melbourne for the first time this week, but is enjoying getting to know the layout better each day.
“My first time playing the course was Wednesday, so I don’t even know where I have to hit it. So Thursday even my caddie’s first time here too, so we get to know better, better and then now I know how to, I mean I know where it’s going, so at least, so I think that helps especially tomorrow.”
New Zealander, Daniel Hillier, and Australians Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott carry the hopes of the Australasians should Smith falter and although four from the lead, that could vanish in a heartbeat tomorrow, and they might well be right in the mix late in the day.
Rory McIlroy has likely given himself too much to do, being nine from the lead and seven from second place, but his round of 68 today after a double bogey gave hope to his many thousands of fans (31,000 at the course today) that they might yet see something special from the world number two tomorrow.
McIlroy’s presence in the event has revived the Australian Open into being the championship it deserves to be, and he will carry the hopes of a strong final day to finish off an outstanding contribution to the game in Australia.
Sure, he has been paid a lot of money to be here this year and next, but given what he has done for the event to date, he has been worth every bit of it.
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Royal Melbourne bares another of her many faces at Australian Open
Rory McIlroy’s impact on the tournament has been clearly shown already – image Golf Australia
One of the features which makes Royal Melbourne the highly recognised golf course it is, is the capacity to show its many different faces day to day.
Today’s second round of the Crown Australian Open provided further proof of just that when a reverse wind from that of yesterday’s opening day offered the opportunity for many who had struggled on day one to get themselves back into the event, the cut reducing by two shots from a projected 1 or 2 over last evening to even par and now 75 players who have made it to the weekend are within nine shots of the lead.
The blustery warm northerly winds, which had prevailed on day one until turning to the south late in the day, turned to the opposite direction today and made scoring a different proposition, with more than a dozen scores of 66 or better further confirming such.
The best of these was by one of our joint 36-hole leaders, Daniel Rodrigues of Portugal, whose round of 64, which included eight birdies in his last twelve holes to catapult him from the threat of a missed cut early in his round to a share of the halfway lead with Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
The pair are one shot ahead of Australia’s Min Woo Lee, whose round of 65 was highlighted by a hole out for eagle at the par 4 10th hole when holing his second shot from 174 metres.
“So it was a good number,” said Lee, referring to the shot. “Haven’t hit many three-quarter shots, and it was a three-quarter 9-iron and obviously firm greens, you don’t want to hit it too low. So that was an opportunity for a back pin and came off perfect.
‘It was 176 metres and it landed 164. We were trying to land 163, so we were one off.
“I mean, if I keep playing like this, I’ll be pretty happy. Very solid golf, so it’s going to be fun. Hopefully make some birdies and not too many mistakes, mate.
‘I think it’s going to firm up again, so yeah, you’ll be aggressive in the right moments. Again, you can’t overpower this course, and sometimes I feel like I was a bit too conservative, but at the end of the day, it wasn’t. So you can be like Rory and hit a driver, and he obviously had the time to do that as he was battling the cut. But you can make some birdies out there, being aggressive. So that’s the beauty of this place. You can play strong and sometimes conservative.”
Neither of the leaders has won on the DP World Tour, but there is quite a contrast in their respective experience; Neergaard-Petersen is currently ranked 82nd in the world while Rodriguez is outside the top 4000.
Rodrigues gained his DP World Tour playing rights when finishing 6th at the recent Tour School and played his first event as a cardholder last week in Brisbane, where he finished 33rd.
“Well, so far so good. I think the start in Australia has been awesome,” said Rodrigues. “It’s a little bit different from what I was used to, but it’s good, and I’m glad I’m here.
It’s (Royal Melbourne) hard, it’s good. It didn’t seem like it was hard today, but it’s a special place. I mean, you look around, and there are thousands and thousands of people on a Thursday and Friday, and it’s amazing. It’s awesome.”
Neegaard Petersen is a player good enough to have finished 3rd at the recent DP World Tour Championship behind Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy so he brings a lot of credentials to his standing in the halfway lead.
“It’s been a couple of really good days. I thought yesterday I stayed really, really patient and was able to put together a nice finish and then today I got off to a really good start, and I think from there, pretty much I hit a lot of really good golf shots, gave myself a lot of chances and was able to convert some of them. So two really good days’ work and looking forward to the weekend.”
“So, as I said yesterday, that eagle I made on 14 yesterday really got me going and gave me a lot of momentum, and it was playing a little bit easier today. Still, it was getting really, really firm and fast out there with the wind and the heat all day. So I’d say probably around 14 yesterday is when it started to just get a little bit more manageable.
“Well, certainly I feel like I’ve proved over the last year or so that I have the level to compete out here and be in the thick of things on Sunday. So right now I’m just looking forward to a nice, calm afternoon and then get ready for tomorrow. I know there’s obviously a lot of golf to be played, and we saw today a little bit less wind, it’s a bit more scoreable, but again, the wind could pick up at any time out here, and as soon as the wind picks up, it becomes really, really difficult. So also at the same time, golf for the weekend’s just going to be to stay really patient.”
First round leader, Carlos Ortiz, Cameron Smith and Adam Scott are at 7 under and just two from the lead, adding to the excitement of a possible Australian victory in the event, Smith’s bogey free 65, a big improvement on his recent efforts and a great confidence boost ahead of what will be an exciting weekend for him.
“Yeah, really stoked,” said Smith, who would dearly love to add this title after finishing runner-up to Jordan Spieth nine years ago.. “It’s been a while, so I’m happy I’m up there. It was nothing special. I don’t think it was anything different to what I’ve been doing. It’s just a few putts went in, and the momentum was up and felt really good.
“Yeah, really excited. I mean, this is what the Aussie Open should be. It should be like this every year. There’s no reason why it can’t be. I think it had its darkest moments the last few years, and I can’t wait to see this tournament grow over the years to come.”
New Zealanders Daniel Hillier and Ryan Fox are just three off the pace, and with some 17 players within four of the lead, the weekend promises much.
Rory McIlroy gave tournament organisers a scare when after an air swing led to a bogey at the 14th, he was outside the cut line and the reason for so many people being at Royal Melbourne was in jeopardy but three birdies in his last four holes sorted that out and although seven shots from the lead he is not out of things by any stretch of the imagination.
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McIlroy kept his and the tournament organiser’s hopes alive – image Golf Australia
Fox and Ortiz match Smylie’s early lead
Elvis Smylie and caddy Brad Beecher en route to a round of 65 this morning – image Golf Australia
When play drew to a close after a demanding opening day of the 2025 Crown Australian Open Championship at Royal Melbourne, three players, one from the morning field and two who played late in the day led at 6 under, the trio opening up a two-shot lead as the event heads into day two tomorrow.
Queensland’s Elvis Smylie, New Zealand’s Ryan Fox and Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz all recorded opening rounds of 65, all three putting together impressive rounds on a day where blustery winds buffeted the iconic layout and an increasingly firm golf course added to the demands.
23-year-old Queenslander, Elvis Smylie, took the Royal Melbourne composite layout by the scruff of its neck in his opening round which began at 7.10 am and when he walked from the course around 12.30, his round of 65 had given him a two-shot lead.
At one stage, six players were tied at 3 under and in the lead before Smylie played his homeward nine in 30 to move clear.
In windy and firm conditions, even from his early tee time, Smylie bogeyed his first hole but thereafter his game and strategy were exemplary, adding seven birdies, including three in a row at his 4th, 5th and 6th holes.
Smylie has just completed his rookie season on the DP World Tour, where he performed with distinction, making it all the way to the top 50 who played the DP World Tour Championship. His win at last year’s PGA Championship, followed by a 5th place at the Australian Open a week later, set up his season and although he tread water for much of the year thereafter, a great runner-up finish in France and a 6th place in Denmark elevated his status late in the season.
The former Australian Boys Champion has long been considered one of Australia’s brightest hopes for the future, and today he displayed the benefit of the experience he has gained this year, producing such a good round while playing with Cam Smith and former Masters Champion Danny Willett.
“Yeah, it was really solid round, 65 round around Royal Melbourne, the first round of an Aussie Open would be great,” said Smylie. “That three-putt to kick things off wasn’t that great, but I felt like I did a really good job of putting that behind me. And as you can probably hear, the winds are a big factor today. I felt like I did a good job at using my creativity and imagination with flighting a lot of really nice shots, and then always making sure I’m leaving it on the right side of the hole.
“I think it just goes to show how much I’ve learned over on the European tour, the DP World Tour that is. I think week, week out you’re always adjusting, adapting. The courses are so different, the climates are so different.
“So I think you’re constantly adding tools to your toolbox. You’re playing against some of the best players in the world over there. And I’ve played around Royal Melbourne a lot of times before, so especially in this northerly breeze, which is quite a tricky breeze to play in, I felt like I navigated it quite well.”
Ryan Fox – impressed late in the day – image Golf Australia
Fox played in the afternoon field where the conditions became more demanding as the day wore on, with a firmer golf course and slightly gustier winds.
“It was a tough day out there today,” said the 38 year old. I think if they hadn’t slowed the greens down, we would’ve struggled to play through the middle of the day there. It got pretty nasty, and yeah, I was very, very happy with the score today.
“I would’ve taken even par today. This golf course is tricky enough. There’s obviously a lot of trouble, especially with all the crosswinds. It’s pretty wide off the tee for the most part, if you hit the right club, but with all the crosswinds, you can get yourself in a lot of trouble. So I was very happy I managed to stay away from all the bad stuff today and holed a couple of putts early and sort of kept me on my way and hung on through the middle, through the really tough stretch of holes there, and then took advantage of the par fives and a couple of good wedge shots coming home.
“I’ve been playing really nicely at home. I’ve had two months off, so I’ve kind of expected a little bit of rust last week and surprised myself a little bit through the first 27 holes and then the rust kicked in after that, and I made some silly mistakes and really sloppy bogeys and stuff like that, but there were some positive signs. I played really nicely on Sunday last week and felt like 3-under was the worst score I could have shot.
“Yeah, it would be a little nice little early Christmas present, I reckon (to win). I’ve put myself in good position, obviously, but there’s a whole lot of golf to be played and I expect Royal Melbourne to get some of its own back on me at some point during the week.”
Carlos Ortiz – image Golf Australia
Ortiz has won multiple events on the PGA, Korn Ferry and Asian Tours, but in more recent times has been a member of LIV Golf, where he has already won an event in Houston, the city he also won his only PGA Tour event.
“I mean, it feels like kind of linksy, like an Open championship, so I think the only other time I’ve played something like this, it’s over there,” said Ortiz.
“I guess we got lucky, as soon as we got on 16 green, the wind changed, and so we played downwind, we hit a good driv,e and I hit a good second shot to about 15, 20 feet and made the putt.”
“I mean, honestly, it was like the cherry on top of the year, like my last golfing trip,” added Ortiz, referring to playing Royal Melbourne for the first time. “So yeah, playing Royal Melbourne, it’s always been something I’ve had in my bucket list and I saw the opportunity this year and I took it. So I’m very happy, I’m very impressed with the way they run the tournament here. You can definitely feel the history, the way they’re running the tournament, it’s proper. So I’m glad I came down.”
Rory McIlroy might not have performed to expectation on day one, but that he was responsible for some of the largest crowds seen on a golf course in 16 years, suggests he has done his job for the event already, and he has hardly played himself out of it at this stage.
McIlroy opened with a lengthy birdie putt at his first hole, but then bogeyed the 2nd and 3rd. He struggled for much of the day, but, despite being outside the top 50 when he finished his round of 72, he knows he is still very much in the event.
“It’s tricky,” said McIlroy. “Very, very tricky. Greens are getting firm. It was a good thing they didn’t cut them today; it would’ve been unplayable. But yeah, really tricky conditions. Felt like I could have shot under par or shot something in the sixties, but it doesn’t look like anyone’s going to get too far away today. So I limited the damage and hopefully conditions are a little better over the next few days, and could make a run.”
McIlroy might have been disappointed and frustrated with his opening round, but that so many people flocked to the golf course was a testament to his standing in the game, and he acknowledged the turnout.
“Yeah. I mean some crowds for seven o’clock in the morning. Yeah, it was great. It was a wonderful atmosphere to play in. Obviously playing with Adam in Min Woo too. Yeah, it was unbelievable. It was really cool to see how many people were lining the fairways and framing the greens and stuff, so yeah, it was cool.”
At the completion of play, 41 players had broken par with a cut score, dependent on conditions, likely to be around 1 or 2 over.
McIlroy, at 1 over, has some work to do if he is to ensure he is around at the weekend to justify the expense so many have forked out to come to see him play, but he is also not far enough from the leaders to count him out of contention.
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Rory McIlroy rekindles Australian Open’s glory days
Rory McIlroy – in action during today’s pro-am – image Golf Australia
Not since 2009 has there been so much hype about a 72-hole golf tournament in Australia, and it is no coincidence that the man who is responsible for nearly all of that hype at this week’s Australian Open, Rory McIlroy, could well be compared to the great Tiger Woods, who won the Australian Masters at nearby Kingston Heath 16 years ago with thousands of Australian golf fans from all over the country in attendance
Woods arrived in Australia with the enticement of a $3 million incentive for turning up, courtesy of the Victorian Government, but the man who was the game’s most dominant player then and the greatest player of the last 40 years and perhaps even longer, repaid the faith that was placed in him by winning by two shots over Greg Chalmers.
The crowds that week at The Heath and the money they injected into the local economy more than covered the cost of Wood’s involvement, and this week Rory McIlroy appears to be having a similar impact, given that so much of the event has been sold out long in advance.
One of only six players in the history of the game to have won golf’s Grand Slam, (all four majors) when he secured his fourth different major at this year’s Masters, McIlroy might be the world’s number two mathematically, but many would suggest (with the greatest of respect to Scottie Scheffler) he is the current greatest in the game and if he was to take home a second Australian Open title he might add further strength to that argument.
McIlroy first claimed Australian golf’s greatest prize when he gazumped Adam Scott at the 72-hole of the 2013 Australian Open, creating a two-shot swing with his birdie as Scott bogeyed from behind the green.
McIlroy winning the 2013 Australian Open at Royal Sydney
McIlroy has won four events in 2025, including his historic victory at Augusta National and indicated the form has continued late into the year with a 3rd place finish in Abu Dhabi and a runner-up finish at the DP World Tour Championship at his last start.
McIlroy faced a packed media assembly following his pro-am play today.
“Yeah, it’s been a very warm welcome and obviously delighted to be here. First time playing in Australia in quite a while, so I’ve been excited to come back. It hasn’t been a secret that I’ve wanted it to come back as well.
“I think just with obviously the wonderful golf courses that we’re playing the next couple of years, also the change in the format, going back to the traditional Australian Open has probably helped that too. But yeah, just really excited to be back.”
McIlroy has played here previously in his amateur days and did win this event in Sydney
“I think Australia has been a very big part of my golfing life and my golfing journey, going all the way back to playing the Australian Open as an amateur back in 2005 and 2006. And then I just think the quality of the golf down here, the quality of the players that have come from here.
“I mentioned it last night, but you look at an event like LIV Adelaide and the people that come out to that event and how excited they are that some of the top players in the world are down here playing, it just feels like this country is starved of top-level golf. Obviously, you’ve had Presidents Cups come down here and you’ve had a lot of good players still come through, but maybe just not on a consistent basis. And I think a market like this, with amazing fans and the history that it does have, probably deserves more of a consistency of big players and big tournaments.”
McIlroy was asked his thoughts on just where this event should sit in the golfing landscape.
“If you look at the world of golf right now, there are three pretty big tournaments going on in the same week. You’ve got the Tiger’s event in the Bahamas, you’ve got the Nedbank in South Africa, and obviously you’ve got here.
“I mean Sun City used to be, the million-dollar event, it’s probably lost a little bit of what it had. I’d say this tournament has lost a little bit of what it had back in the say 30, 40 years ago, and I’d say even Tiger’s event is probably the same way. So I think because there’s so much golf and there’s so many tournaments, the eyeballs are divided and the interest in every one of those tournaments this week is probably not as high as it should be.
“So I think this tournament in particular, because of the history, because of the tradition, deserves to be a standalone tournament, a week on its own, and hopefully one day they could put together a schedule where the biggest and best tournaments in the world and the oldest and the ones with the most heritage can be elevated and stand on their own.”
When asked how he rates Royal Melbourne by world standards, McIlroy was very candid.
“I don’t want the membership to take this (the wrong way), but it’s probably not the best course in Melbourne. I think that’s my opinion, but certainly in the top 10 in the world. So it’s like there’s so much great golf in this country and especially in this area. But yeah, I guess I didn’t know what to… I watched this on tv, I didn’t anticipate how many blind tee shots there were going to be, and it takes a little bit to figure out. It’s certainly not straightforward.
“I think as well, it probably plays better in the southerly wind rather than a northerly wind. Some of the shorter holes are down wind and it plays a little funky then, but if you get the southerly wind, then it gets back into the wind, then they play really good. So it’s probably not a fair reflection on the golf course playing it in this wind. It would be good to play it in a few other directions, but it’s obviously an amazing golf course I’ve come here to go out and compete on this week.
Not that McIlroy will necessarily have things all his own way this week, several of the European players showed last week they have a real opportunity to contend again. Not to mention, most of Australia’s best (except Jason Day) are here to tackle not only one of the game’s greats but one of Australia’s greatest layouts and arguably one of the leading courses in the world.
Throw in the ever-improving New Zealander Daniel Hiller and his fellow countryman Ryan Fox and Australasian golf fans will have a great week either at Royal Melbourne or watching from afar, although many have made the pilgrimage.
Min Woo Lee played well enough last week in Brisbane to be considered a good chance to win what may be the first of several Australian Open titles. His win in Houston this year, his first on the PGA Tour, took him to another level, and as Australia’s now leading world-ranked player, he is clearly a great local hope.
Adam Scott has not won in 2025 and, in fact, has recorded only one top ten in tournament golf, but he continues to play well all the same, and did so at Royal Queensland last week. The 45-year-old won this event in 2009 and was runner-up in 2013, 2015, and 2022.
Scott has experienced success on the sandbelt, twice winning the Australian Masters, including his win at Royal Melbourne in 2013. He also finished runner-up to Ernie Els in the Johnnie Walker Classic at Royal Melbourne very early in his career (2004).
Marc Leishman won on the LIV Golf Tour this season and showed last week in Brisbane that his game is in good enough shape to do well again. Being a Victorian, golf courses in this region of Melbourne are familiar to him, and there is no reason why he can’t at least contend for the title despite little in the way of success in the event to date, other than a 3rd place last year.
Cam Smith is somewhat of a mystery at present. Smith has missed the cut in his last seven non-LIV Golf events and hardly inspires the confidence he has brought to this event in more recent years, although, even then, he missed the third-round cut in 2022, was 17th in 2023 and was 39th last year. Smith has played the sandbelt well in the past, having won his Australian Amateur title at nearby Commonwealth Golf Club in 2013, but his current form and underlying confidence must be in question.
There is little doubt, now that the Australian Open has regained its singular focus after a few years trying to please everyone by becoming just too inclusive, that it has a chance to return to some of its glory days and the involvement of one of the most watchable golfers in the history of the game in Rory McIlroy has already proven a success in that regard and is likely to even more by week’s end.
Tee Times Day One
Spain’s David Puig secures important career victory
David Puigh enjoying the moment after his two-shot victory – image PGA of Australia
23-year-old Spaniard, David Pugh, joins his fellow countryman, Seve Ballesteros, as one of two Spaniards to win the Australian PGA Championship and the first non-Australian since 2016 with his two-shot win at Royal Queensland today.
Starting the day as one of three leaders through 54 holes, Puig hardly put a foot wrong throughout his round of 66, leading by four at one stage before China’s Wenyi Ding birdied his 16th and 17th holes for a round of 66 and outright second place. Puig fell behind briefly when Min Woo Lee birdied his first hole to take the lead, but it was short-lived, especially when Lee bogeyed the 4th.
Numerous players threatened to challenge Puig at various stages of the round, but, given the manner in which he was playing, they needed a very low round if they were to catch the LIV Golf player, and 66 (9 players) ended up being the equal best round of the day as Puig held off any challengers for his first DP World title and his third win as a professional.
Puig attended college at Arizona State during an impressive amateur career in which he represented Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup and Spain in the Junior World Cup and won several collegiate events. He joined LIV Golf soon after leaving college, and although he has yet to win on that tour, he has won two events on the Asian Tour.
“Oh yeah, it feels amazing,” said Pugh. “Really had a lot of close calls the last few years and throughout this year and last year, and wasn’t able to pull it through, and it feels unbelievable, especially making it possible in Australia. Really excited and happy.
“Yeah, I mean, I was pretty nervous (today) to be fair. Especially, you’re kind of thinking about the past a little bit, what I could have done a little better. Yeah, I mean, I was definitely nervous, but I think I kind of kept my composure really well, and that start helped a lot.”
When asked if he was aware of the situation during his closing nine holes when potential challenges were coming his way, Puig responded; “Oh yeah, for sure. It’s kind of hard on this golf course, you still need to attack a little bit, right, with these greens and how tough they are and yeah… I was definitely aware, and managed to a good job of it.”
The day began with 25 golfers within five shots of the lead, with the prospect of one of the great final day shootouts in store.
Three birdies in his first four holes and an outward nine of 32 established the lead Puig could only have dreamed of at the start of the day, however, and as his joint leaders through 54 holes, Anthony Quayle and Richard Gouveia, fell away, it was several others who entered the fray.
In the end, it would be China’s Ding, another looking for a first win on the DP World Tour, who emerged with a round of 66 to finish outright second with New Zealand’s Nick Voke and Australian Marc Leishman another shot back in a share of 3rd.
Ding did exceptionally well with seven birdies, especially given he opened both nines with bogeys and can be extremely proud of his eventual finish, given he has just one professional victory to his name to date. The world’s 269th ranked player certainly gave evidence of a much stronger game than that ranking.
It has been one year since Ding turned professional, missing the cut at this very event last year on debut in the professional ranks.
“I mean, this feels pretty good,” said Ding. “Just last year I missed a cut here. It was my first event out here, and I was a little bit struggling for my game. I lose my driver, I lose my irons, I lose my putter, and after my play went downhill. I changed my irons, I changed my putter, everything changed. And right now I feel much better than before.
“Honestly, no, because I got bogey on the first hole. I was a little bit sad. I don’t know what I should do. And some pars after the bogey, probably not my day, just won’t get to even par. But I do really great before turning to the back nine. I do really good on the last three holes.
“I played a couple of events before this one – it was pretty good. So it gave me some confidence to get back to the DP World Tour.”
While the result might not have been ideal for the sponsors and a large public turnout, given the possibility of yet another Australian victory, there is little doubting the quality of golf produced by the winner, and it may be that the 2025 BMW Australian PGA Champion goes on to become one of the game’s better players in the years ahead.
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Fascinating shootout awaits at Royal Queensland
Anthony Quayle hits his tee shot at the par 5 9th – image PGA of Australia
A Spaniard, a Portuguese and a Queenslander will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the BMW PGA Championship at the Royal Queensland Golf Club in Queensland, the trio one ahead of New Zealand’s Kazuma Kobori and Australian Min Woo Lee.
Anthony Quayle, Ricardo Gouveia and David Puig finished their 54 holes at 13 under, but with 25 players within five shots of the lead, then tomorrow’s final round promises to be one of the great shootouts in major championship golf in this country.
All three leaders have yet to win on the DP World Tour; Quayle, in fact, is playing in just his first event as a cardholder after securing playing rights for this coming season through his efforts on the PGA Tour of Australasia last season.
The trio have, however, won tournaments on other tours previously, but this is a different level, and the opportunity to get their 2025/2026 DP World Tour seasons off to the best possible start is one that provides both opportunity and pressure.
Lee and several of those just off the pace, including the likes of Adam Scott, Marc Leishman and to a lesser extent Daniel Hillier are winners on either the DP World Tour or above and with other highly experienced players such as Geoff Ogilvy and Cameron Davis not far behind, tomorrow promises something quite special.
Quayle was treading water through the middle of his round after a strong start today but managed to birdie the 15th and 17th to rejoin the lead and set up perhaps the most important day of his career tomorrow.
When asked as to how he felt compared to his thoughts heading into last year’s final round, Quayle responded ;
“It’s funny, actually, going into the last round last year, I was driving here with my girlfriend, and I was in the car and I sort of just felt for the first time… I had some poor form leading up to it, and for the first time, I remember just saying to her, ‘I could go out and shoot 62 today and contend, and it could change everything.’
“I didn’t shoot 62, I shot 63, and I did contend, and it did start to change things for me. So yeah, I mean that last round was just such a massive momentum shift with my career in recent times, and I think tomorrow could be another chance to take it another step further.”
It has been well documented that Quayle has had the services of one of the game’s great caddies on the bag this week, Steve Williams, and he referred to his influence.
“I think I’ve already learned so much working with Steve. I’ve learned so much just about what I’m probably looking for in a caddie. And I think probably also learning a bit about my own game as well, and how that stacks up against some pretty good players. So look, I think you could probably call it a win irrespective. I think either way, I’ve had a fun week, and I think it’s something I’ll remember for a pretty long time.”
Gouveia suggested what a breakthrough DP World Tour win would mean if he were able to get the job done tomorrow
“It would mean the world. It was one of my goals for the season. So if I can do it on the first event of the year, that would be pretty special. But there’s a lot of golf to go, A lot can happen, and I’m just going to focus, obviously shot by shot, hole by hole, the normal cliche.
“I think everyone is going to try and come out hot tomorrow. The front nine is a bit more gettable than the back nine. So you’ve got so many good players. It doesn’t mean the good players are all going to come out hot. Everyone plays really well out here. So yeah, it’s just got to stick to my game plan and focus on what I can control, which is myself.”
Puig plays the LIV Tour in the main but is loving the opportunity to play these events.
“I mean, I never played in Australia besides the LIV event in Adelaide. And I was really looking forward to playing in different cities, and especially big cities like this week and next week. So it was in my schedule at the beginning of the year, coming here, and hopefully playing well.
“You guys have amazing golf courses here, and I was lucky enough to play some of them and finding that time to be here and playing this course, it meant a lot, and I’m glad that I’m actually doing pretty good.”
Not that the chances stop there. As round three has already shown with 12 rounds of 66 or better and an improved forecast tomorrow, anything is possible.
It is shaping as a fascinating final day with as many as twenty players going to bed tonight feeling they might have a chance to win one of Australian golf’s finest titles.
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