Australian Open golf 2025 Live Coverage: Smith and Scott grab early birdies to start final day charge

4 hours ago 2

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Good morning, let’s go golfing

By Iain Payten

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the Australian Open.

My name is Iain Payten and I will be your trusted caddy for the fourth and final day at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, and our man Sam McClure is on course and following all the action.

The treasured Stonehaven Cup is up for grabs, and there are some massive names in the mix for the Aussie Open title. The last groups are just about to tee off, and the conditions couldn’t be better: a nice sunny day and a light breeze at best.

Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen has a two-shot lead at 14-under, after some impressive golf so far. Australian star Cam Smith is within striking distance at 12-under, however, in a group of three, with Korea’s Si Woo Kim and Mexico’s Carlo Ortiz.

It’s been a great fightback from Smith, who missed the cut the Australian PGA Championships last weekend and spoke about feeling lost and out of form.

As they were last week at the Australian PGA, Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee are also right in the mix at 10-under.

The main man Rory McIlroy? Well, we’ll get to him. He’s already on course.

12.06pm

Early birdies for Smith and Scott

The star Australian challengers have made their intentions known already.

Cam Smith just grabbed a birdie on the very first hole of the day, to cut the lead of Neergaard-Petersen down to one shot.

And just a hole ahead, Adam Scott did likewise, draining a three-metre putt on one of many fast greens at Royal Melbourne. He’s up to 11-under and into a share of fifth spot.

Unfortunately, McIlroy’s charge took a blow when he bogeyed the 7th hole, giving back a stroke.

12.03pm

Who is Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen?

By Iain Payten

So let’s learn a little more about our current leader, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.

The 26-year-old Dane turned professional in 2023, after a successful amateur career and a stint in US college golf, where he was a star for the Oklahoma State University team.

Neergaard-Petersen had a great year on the Challenge Tour (the second-tier tour in Europe) in 2024, with three wins, and that saw him promoted to the DP World Tour in 2025.

Another strong year followed, finishing runner-up at the Qatar Masters and the Puerto Rico Open. His storming finish saw him finish tied-third in the DP World Tour Championship, behind Rory McIlroy and Matt Fiztpatrick, and that result saw him secure a promotion to the 2026 US PGA Tour card as well.

An Australian Open win would cap a sensational year.

11.34am

How to follow the scores

So we’ll endeavour to keep you up-to-date today about all the big moves and will be posting regular score updates.

But if you’re keen for a bit more detail, open up a new window and fire up the live leaderboard found here as well.

It’s worth mentioning that the winner of the Australian Open today will also qualify for the Masters tournament at Augusta National next year. That deal was announced earlier in the year as part of a push from the Masters to help pump up national opens around the globe.

The Masters trophy is seen on on the first hole on day four of the Crown Australian Open 2025 at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

As they have for several years, the winner of the Stonehaven Cup (and the other two leading players) will also get a start in the Open Championship as well, if they’re not already qualified.

11.34am

The story with Rory

By Iain Payten

Having flirted with the cut line in the opening two days, McIlroy teed off just after 10am.

And after starting at 5-under - nine shots off the leader - the Masters champion has already made a move. He believes he can do something today.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his second shot on the first hole.

McIlroy birdied two of the first three holes and is currently sitting at 7-under, in equal 12th, after playing five holes.

He couldn’t possibly, could he?

If anyone can do it, it’d McIlroy.

11.34am

Good morning, let’s go golfing

By Iain Payten

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the Australian Open.

My name is Iain Payten and I will be your trusted caddy for the fourth and final day at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, and our man Sam McClure is on course and following all the action.

It’s been a great fightback from Smith, who missed the cut the Australian PGA Championships last weekend and spoke about feeling lost and out of form.

As they were last week at the Australian PGA, Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee are also right in the mix at 10-under.

The main man Rory McIlroy? Well, we’ll get to him. He’s already on course.