This week was no exception.<\/p>\n
The leaderboard was littered with low rounds from those willing to play the waiting game and respect the hallowed turf. A low score here comes to those who select their moments wisely; the Composite Course demands respect. You can play the holes in a number of different ways, but you earn the right to score.<\/p>\n
Why is Royal Melbourne so brilliant?<\/p>\n
Perhaps it\u2019s Alister MacKenzie\u2019s genius that makes this golf course as close to perfection as it gets. Its West course is consistently ranked the top course in Australia by this publication\u2019s highly regarded ranking panel, and a top-ten venue in the world. The composite layout used for the tournament is considered the epitome of the Sandbelt golf course. Every corner is sculpted to require precise tee shots and approach shots. Miss by an inch and the ground will bite. Yet when you do execute, the reward is extraordinary. Strategy and drama, as this week has again shown.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Cam Smith returned to form at Royal Melbourne. PHOTO: Getty Images.<\/p>\n
We were served a rollercoaster ride with Rory McIlroy.<\/p>\n
The Northern Irishman traded six bogeys for five birdies in his opening 72 and never quite found steady form until it was too late in the tournament. On wind-whipped opening day, he stubbornly thumped full shots skyward rather than opting to flight them. He is one of the better exponents of controlling the ball \u2013 he simply chose not to on Thursday, and paid the price. Between the banana-peel saga and putts sliding just past, McIlroy\u2019s week was chaotic. But by Sunday, he appeared to have figured it out, finishing in a tie for 14th. It shows that Royal Melbourne doesn\u2019t discriminate against any player trying to rush it; even a great player can be reduced to his knees at times if he doesn\u2019t play the way the doctor intended.<\/p>\n
The combination of sporadic wind gusts, showers and the greens hardening saw some of the lesser mortals buckle. Big names slipped off the pace under difficulty, making way for survivors who revel in these exact conditions. That only made the final frame more electric.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Rory McIlroy finally figured it all out on Sunday. PHOTO: Getty Images.<\/p>\n
The last man standing was Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen; his up-and-down the 18th on Sunday will be a staple of Australian Open highlight reels for years to come, showcasing an exciting young talent. The Dane did have an extended preparation for this Australian Open, playing rounds with David Micheluzzi at Peninsula Kingswood. Maybe the preparation was the difference this week.<\/p>\n
But perhaps fittingly, Cameron Smith was there right until the bitter end. He returned to form in front of a bellowing home crowd. He showed all the flair and creativity that earned him an Open Championship at the Home of Golf. He was the creative spark all week, rising above every challenge the golf course threw at him. It was ultimately heartbreak for the Queenslander on the 72nd hole with a missed 10-footer to go into a play-off sliding by, but it was a delight to see one of this country\u2019s finest return to form in a tournament that means so much to him after a tough stretch.<\/p>\n
Part of what made this Open so compelling was the cast of international challengers shaping the ball beautifully. South Korea\u2019s Si Woo Kim was sparkling on Saturday, carding a six-under 65. Neergaard-Petersen led the way to claim the Stonehaven Cup. New Zealander Daniel Hillier, another immaculate shot-shaper, lurked in the chase alongside local creative genius, Min Woo Lee and the timeless Adam Scott.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Heartbreak. Smith’s Stonehaven surge slides by. PHOTO: Getty Images.<\/p>\n
Kim, in particular, appeared completely at home to the naked eye. He deliberately targeted the fat side of greens when he needed to, trusting that Royal Melbourne\u2019s undulations would feed his ball toward the hole.<\/p>\n
After a week like this, you can\u2019t help but think the Sandbelt ought to have a century-long lease on the Australian Open. Rarely do you see a course fitter for such drama. The Australian Open was perfectly primed for a big Sandbelt finish \u2013 and it was served on a platter. Royal Melbourne produced the kind of golf that tests everything in a player\u2019s repertoire. This week, it struck the perfect balance of chaos and excellence. It is the beating heart of golf in Australia, a place of pure brilliance and magic.<\/p>\n
\n \u00a9 Golf Australia. All rights reserved.
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