Aussie connections help Rasmus land Open golf crown
Melissa Woods |
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen’s Australian Open victory had a distinctly local flavour, with an Australian caddy on his bag and European tour pal David Micheluzzi showing him the ropes.
Neergaard-Petersen broke hearts at Royal Melbourne, none more so than that of Cameron Smith, who faltered on the 18th while the Dane made an incredible up-and-down to clinch the Stonehaven Cup.
The 26-year-old showed he could deliver under pressure at last month’s DP World Tour Championship, where he made an eagle and three birdies in his final five holes to secure his PGA Tour card.
But the 33,000-strong crowd that flanked the course for the Sunday showdown was next level.
“I’ve felt similar kind of pressure, but nothing like the last six, seven holes with the crowd. It was absolutely incredible, the size of them, the cheering that was going on. It was absolutely fantastic,” Neergaard-Petersen said.
“It’s a day I’ll never forget.”
The Oklahoma State college alumni has an Australian caddy in veteran Brian Nilsson, originally from Gympie in Queensland.
Nilsson was a professional golfer who moved into caddying, with his first engagement being with John Senden.
He has worked alongside other fellow Australians including Peter O’Malley and Adam Scott while he also caddied in the women’s game with Su Oh.
Before linking with Neergaard-Petersen, he was a long time caddy for Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts.
“Brian, my caddy, I think we’ve worked together now for two years and he’s been so good from the very start,” the first Danish Australian Open champion said.
“We’re just a perfect match. He’s really experienced, but at the same time, we spent so many hours out there together so we’re also having a good time, which is very important, I think.”
Micheluzzi didn’t make the cut this weekend but can take some credit for getting Neergaard-Petersen’s sandbelt game in order.
The Victorian invited his European friend to play at nearby Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club before the Australian PGA Championship to help him become accustomed to such courses.
“David Micheluzzi invited me down to spend half the week down here and it was unbelievable,” Neergaard-Petersen said.
“One thing is that I really enjoy his company, but to play a great golf course and to kind of get a feel for what it could be like this week was fantastic.
“One of the things he was telling me, the way we played there, it was fairly soft by sandbelt standards, so it’s certainly firmed up, especially today.
“So just having him tell me a little bit about how some of those holes were playing, when they were really firm, kind of already got my brain started to think and imagine how certain shots could play.”
While Neergaard-Petersen intends returning to defend his title at Kingston Heath, he also has the Masters at Augusta in April to look forward to, with an invite accompanying his Open victory.
“It means the world to me, growing up, the Masters,” he said. “It was the first event that I was like, if I’m one day in professional golf, let’s do that.
“It’s a dream come true, and I can’t wait for it.”
AAP
