The Australian Open returns to the hallowed turf of Royal Melbourne this week and as always the Sandbelt is set to steal the show. Firm fairways, lightning greens and world class bunkering create a test that rewards imagination and ruthlessness in equal measure. With a field boasting global stars, Aussie favourites and rising DP World Tour talent, this feels like one of the strongest editions in recent years. Whoever lifts the Stonehaven Cup will have earned it the hard way because the Sandbelt never hands out freebies.
Check out our preview and betting tips for the event below and if you're keen to tail our tips, consider joining Betfair - a betting exchange that offers the best odds in the country!
DP World Tour: Australian Open Betting Tips
Royal Queensland Golf Club, Thursday 27th - Sunday 30th November
Top Picks
Rory McIlroy ($7.25/Top 10 $1.70)
Rory teeing it up at Royal Melbourne is box office stuff. His high towering iron play is perfect for holding the ultra firm greens and his creativity suits the course’s endless options off the tee. Royal Melbourne rewards players who can shape shots both ways, flight it against the breeze and rely on elite ball striking which are all Rory strengths. If he finds rhythm with the putter he will be the man everyone else is chasing on Sunday.
Marc Leishman ($18/Top 20 $1.86)
Few Aussies know how to navigate firm windy conditions better than Leishman. His ability to trap irons, hit those low spinning trajectories and manage his ball around choppy Sandbelt run offs makes him a major threat. The home crowd inspires him and this setup suits his old school skillset. Leishman has not played his best consistently in recent seasons, but Royal Melbourne is exactly the kind of place where he can rediscover his magic.
Value Picks
Lucas Herbert ($38/Top 30 $1.86)
Herbert’s combination of power and touch makes him a perfect value play this week. He thrives on firm turf, loves shaping the ball and his short game gets the job done when conditions get fiery. Royal Melbourne rewards those who can get up and down from awkward lies and Herbert’s hands are elite. If he starts holing a few putts he is absolutely capable of contending.
Alex Fitzpatrick ($56/Top 30 $2.05)
Alex continues to make strides globally and this type of strategic precision first layout is right in his wheelhouse. He is tidy with the irons, confident around the greens and mentally sharp enough to handle a course that punishes any lapse in focus. Fitzpatrick has the temperament for a thinking man’s test like Royal Melbourne and he shapes as one of the most intriguing sleepers in the field.
The Field
The Australian Open field is a brilliant mix of heavy hitters, DP World Tour regulars, rising Aussies and seasoned veterans who understand every nuance of Sandbelt golf. With world class names headlining and a long list of players treating this as a springboard into the new season, expect intensity from the very first round.
Royal Melbourne tends to expose weaknesses quickly so the players bringing confidence, ball control and sharp short games will separate themselves early. Young Aussies and international rookies often pop here because fearless golf goes a long way on hard fast tracks but it is the seasoned Sandbelt navigators who usually hang around late.
This is an event known for unpredictable leaderboard swings, late Sunday drama and brutally honest scoring. The best players always rise at Royal Melbourne which makes this one of the most respected national opens in world golf.
The Course
Royal Melbourne is a strategic masterpiece, wide off the tee but only if you find the right sections. Angles matter more here than raw distance. From the fairway players face firm sloping greens guarded by cavernous bunkers and short grass run offs that make even simple misses feel like puzzles.
The greens are lightning fast and unforgiving. Being on the surface is only half the battle because being on the correct tier and below the hole is everything. The Sandbelt turf encourages creativity and players must think in trajectories not just yardages.
Wind will be a factor, it always is on the Sandbelt, and even a modest breeze can turn comfortable holes into absolute traps. Par is a good score at Royal Melbourne and whoever wins will do so by outsmarting the course not overpowering it.
