01'디펜딩 챔피언' 뇌르고르-페테르센의 왕좌 수성전
라스무스 뇌르고르-페테르센(Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen)이 디펜딩 챔피언 자격으로 '캐피털닷컴 호주 오픈(Capital.com Australian Open)' 타이틀 방어전에 출전한다.
뇌르고르-페테르센은 지난 대회에서 눈부신 활약을 펼치며 우승 트로피를 들어 올린 바 있으며, 이번 대회에서도 강력한 우승 후보로 주목받고 있다.
세계적인 기량을 가진 선수들과의 치열한 경쟁 속에서 뇌르고르-페테르센이 다시 한번 챔피언의 자리를 지켜낼 수 있을지 골프 팬들의 기대가 모이고 있다.
02Original (English) — DP World Tour
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen will return to defend his Capital.com Australian Open title in December, with the Dane aiming to become the first player in 22 years to retain the Stonehaven Cup.
Neergaard-Petersen announced himself on the world stage with a thrilling breakthrough triumph at Royal Melbourne last year, claiming his maiden DP World Tour title by a single shot after an enthralling final-day duel with Cameron Smith.
This year’s Open will be played at the world-renowned Kingston Heath Golf Club from December 3-6.
In 2025, Neergaard-Petersen was locked alongside Smith heading to the 72nd hole, and then produced a remarkable up-and-down from thick rough beside the 18th green, holing a clutch par putt under enormous pressure.
The Australian narrowly missed his chance to force a play-off, handing the 26-year-old a career-defining victory and a trip to his first Masters at Augusta National, as well as a start in The Open where he finished in a tie for ninth.
Neergaard-Petersen will return to Melbourne’s famed Sandbelt, with the opportunity to become the first player since Peter Lonard in 2004 to successfully defend the Australian Open title.
"Winning the Australian Open was one of the biggest moments of my career and it's a week I'll never forget," Neergaard-Petersen said.
"Everything about my last trip to Australia exceeded my expectations. I know how difficult it is to win the Australian Open, so to come back as defending champion is a real honour.
“I'll have great memories from last year, and I’m sure more will come back when I return to Melbourne, but once the tournament starts the focus will be on trying to earn the right to lift the Stonehaven Cup again."
Neergard-Petersen joins 2026 Major winners Rory McIlroy and Ryan Fox, as well as Daniel Hillier, Sahith Theegala, Corey Conners and Joaquín Niemann as major international names in the field for Kingston Heath.