Staff WriterThe Crown Australian Open has a habit of producing Sunday drama, and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen looks intent on scripting his own entrance into golf’s big leagues. The 26-year-old Dane closed out his third round with the swagger of a man who knows the moment is his to seize.
Neergaard-Petersen ripped through Royal Melbourne with a third-round 66—thanks to a late hat-trick of birdies that would’ve made a seasoned card-shark blush—moving him to 14-under and two clear of a chasing trio that includes home favourite Cam Smith, South Korea’s Si Woo Kim and Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz.
For a player still hunting his maiden DP World Tour win, he doesn’t look remotely bothered by the occasion. He shared the lead at halfway, then surged ahead early with a long-range birdie at the second. Another followed at the fourth, before a sloppy drop at the fifth snapped the momentum. But golf rarely rewards sulking, and the Dane responded like a man raised on cold Scandinavian resolve—rolling in a birdie at the seventh to turn in 32.
The back nine wasn’t without turbulence. A bogey at the 10th threatened to derail the rhythm, but he steadied himself, clipped a birdie at the long 14th, and then rediscovered the groove with a 12-footer at the 16th to tie Smith at the top.
Then came the finish. A tidy make from 15 feet on 17 was followed by a gorgeous 32-footer on 18—a walk-off statement that stamped his name firmly at the summit heading into Sunday’s shootout at the Crown Australian Open.
It’s all arriving on cue for a player still riding the lift from securing dual membership with the PGA TOUR. Whether tomorrow becomes a life-changer remains to be seen, but make no mistake: he’s playing like a man ready to break the door down rather than knock politely.
“I stayed true to my plan all week”
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen said: “I felt like I stayed true to my plan all week, which has been to stay patient. Obviously it’s not really what you want there on the fifth, 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.
It’s been good just kind of getting used to the conditions, playing firm and fast golf courses and then for me, even that week after, Dubai was a long week, obviously really happy with the outcome there, but it was nice to just have some downtown and play with a good mate (David Micheluzzi) of mine on great golf courses.”
The words of a man who has one hand on the steering wheel and the other on destiny.
Smith Grinding, but Loving the Chase
Cam Smith hasn’t yet rediscovered his silky best, but the 2022 Open champion isn’t drifting quietly into the night. His card didn’t have the same punch as earlier rounds, but he clung on, coaxed a score out of a scratchy long game, and—crucially—kept himself in the fight.
Smith said: “I feel like I definitely didn’t have my best stuff today. 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.”
A dangerous man to have lurking within two shots on a Sunday. Especially here.
Si Woo Kim Learning Royal Melbourne on the Fly
Si Woo Kim might be new to the quirks and wicked slopes of Royal Melbourne, but he’s taken to it as if somebody handed him an exam and he guessed all the right answers.
Si Woo Kim said: “My first time playing 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.
I haven’t experienced much other than the U.S. Open. So, this is maybe the second, third time for national open. So this is special, and it is so much more different than I thought it was.
(On the crowds) This is so great, that’s why I was feeling like a Major first day, first tee off before, so it was so special. And then even today, there were so many in the crowds, any good shot or bad shot, a lot of cheering for us. So it was great.”
If this is him learning on the job, the rest of the field might want to set early alarms.
The Final Round Awaits
So here we are: Royal Melbourne, a leaderboard loaded with shot-makers, and a confident Dane carrying a two-shot edge into what promises to be a frenetic showdown at the Crown Australian Open.
Neergaard-Petersen has the lead and the form. Smith knows how to summon the roar. Kim is figuring the place out at frightening speed. Ortiz is waiting for someone to slip.
Tomorrow won’t be quiet. And it won’t be gentle. But it will be golf worth watching.
