Cameron Smith declined post-round media interviews after falling just short at the Crown Australian Open, leaving Royal Melbourne visibly frustrated following another runner-up finish in his national championship.<\/p>\n
The 32-year-old, who lost a playoff to Jordan Spieth at Royal Sydney GC nine years ago, had been chasing the Stonehaven Cup he has repeatedly described as the trophy he wants most outside a second major title.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite owning three Australian PGA crowns, the Australian Open<\/a> remains the one domestic prize that continues to elude him.<\/p>\n Smith<\/a>, who captains Ripper GC on the LIV Golf League<\/a>, had arrived at this year\u2019s national open under unusual scrutiny.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 150th Open champion had missed all seven cuts in events offering Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points this season \u2014 including all four majors \u2014 with last week\u2019s early exit from the Australian PGA compounding a difficult season.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n A victory at Royal Melbourne would not only have been a powerful statement to silence a few critics, but a deeply personal milestone.\u00a0<\/p>\n For much of Sunday, it looked within reach.\u00a0<\/p>\n Smith stood tied for the lead with Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen on the par-4 18th after just having poured home a 15-footer for birdie on the par-5 17th to remain locked with the Dane.\u00a0<\/p>\n After both players split the fairway, Neergaard-Petersen pushed his approach into a patch of rough in the greenside bunker, while Smith found the left side of the green but some 50 feet away from the pin.\u00a0<\/p>\n When Neergaard-Petersen chipped past the hole to 20 feet, the advantage shifted to Smith, even when his first putt came up six feet shy.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Neergaard-Petersen stepped in and drained his clutch 20-footer for par to set the clubhouse target at 15-under par.\u00a0<\/p>\n Smith\u2019s six-foot par attempt then slid left, confirming another painful near-miss.<\/p>\n Neergaard-Petersen\u2019s victory<\/a> marked his first DP World Tour<\/a> title just weeks after securing his first PGA Tour card via the DP World Tour.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n The win also guaranteed him a first appearance at The Masters in April 2026.<\/p>\n But for Smith, the disappointment was unmistakable.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Australian Open has always carried near-major significance for him, especially in front of adoring sell-out home crowds like at Royal Melbourne this weekend.\u00a0<\/p>\n Winless globally since LIV Golf Bedminster in August 2023, he had hoped a triumph at the Australian Open would cap a challenging season and realign his career trajectory.\u00a0<\/p>\n But while looking much more like his 2022 best, Smith fell short of his dream win.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n