[PHOTO: Getty Images]
With the start of the 2025 Crown Australian Open just 13 days away, the field is taking its final form with a late dash of international flavour added this week from the DP World Tour.
Headlined by career grand slam winner Rory McIlroy, the latest DP World Tour contingent includes some of the rising stars of world golf and established names, while other noteworthy players have received invites, including former Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts.
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Having just secured his PGA Tour card via the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen [pictured] will be one of the players to watch at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, which hosts the men’s Australian Open for the first time since 1991.
Ranked 38th in the world, the Dane will be joined by his compatriot, Johan Skov Olesen, who won The Amateur Championship in 2024 and was the co-leader at the end of the first round of this year’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
Alongside the Danish contingent will be the likes of Matthew Jordan, Romain Langasque, Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston, David Puig, Shubhankar Sharma and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, with the Thai cult figure a former winner in Australia and Johnston spending an extended period in Western Australia this year as he works his way back from injury.
Bringing the number of New Zealanders contesting the Australian Open to a total of eight, Daniel Hillier will also tee it up on the Composite Course, with some recent history with the marquee man in the field.
Finishing in a tie for 16th at last week’s DP World Tour Championship, Hillier narrowly missed his PGA Tour playing privileges by finishing 18th on the Order of Merit, but did play the third round in Dubai with McIlroy.
Joining the likes of former Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winners Ryan Fox and Kazuma Kobori, Hillier will hope to become the first Kiwi to lift the Stonehaven Cup.
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Also into the field via the DP Word Tour co-sanctioning of the event are West Australians Jason Scrivener and newly minted card holder Connor McKinney, who secured his playing rights for next season at the recent qualifying school.
Similarly regaining status via Q School recently, Eddie Pepperell, known for his podcast and social media as well as his golf that has earnt him two DP World Tour wins, while Bernd Wiesberger, and eight time winner on DP World Tour, is another of the multiple time champions making the trip to Melbourne.
Tickets for the 2025 men’s Australian Open are on sale now at www.ticketek.com.au
