Australian Open 2025 Betting Tips: Four players to back to beat Rory

Our golf tipster is coming off a good week Down Under where his top selection - Marc Leishman - did indeed finish in the top five places and secured an each-way payout. This week, the DP World Tour stays in Oz with the Australian Open. You can follow the action on Sky Sports Golf all week.

Jamie Worsley is back with his usual long-read preview of the event and has picked out four players he likes the look of this week to back each-way, ranging from 14/1 all the way up to a 70/1 shot. Check out Jamie's thoughts and his Australian Open 2025 Betting Tips below...

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The DP World Tour stages a high-quality double-header across two continents this week. While a limited but strong field tees it up in South Africa at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, a heavyweight line-up has gathered at the esteemed Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the Australian Open, headed by world No. 2 and former winner, Rory McIlroy. 

TOURNAMENT HISTORY 

First held in 1903, the Australian Open – an event co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour (DPWT) and PGA Tour of Australia – has a long, rich history, and has been won by many of the game's biggest stars, past and present. 

Gary Player is the most successful player in the tournament's history, recording seven wins (1958, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1974). He is closely followed by his great rival Jack Nicklaus on six victories (1964, 1968, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1978). Meanwhile, Greg Norman (1996, 1995, 1987, 1985, 1980) and Ivo Whitton (1931, 1929, 1926, 1913, 1912) are the leading Australians with five wins apiece. 

The event has also witnessed triumphs for international talents such as Arnold Palmer (1966), Tom Watson (1984), Lee Westwood (1997), Rory McIlroy (2013) and Jordan Spieth (2014, 2016). 

Last five winners: 

• 2024 (Kingston Heath & Victoria) 

Winner: Ryggs Johnston (-18) 

Runner-up: Curtis Luck (-15) 

• 2023 (The Australian & The Lakes) 

Winner: Joaquin Niemann (-14, playoff) 

Runner-up: Rikuya Hoshino (-14) 

• 2022 (Kingston Heath & Victoria) 

Winner: Adrian Meronk (-14) 

Runner-up: Adam Scott (-9) 

• 2019 (The Australian) 

Winner: Matt Jones (-15) 

Runner-up: Louis Oosthuizen (-14) 

• 2018 (The Lakes) 

Winner: Abraham Ancer (-16) 

Runner-up: Dimi Papadatos (-11) 

After earning his place on the DPWT at Q-School at the end of 2024, American Ryggs Johnston won his first professional title in this tournament on just his second start on the tour. He will not return to defend his title this week, opting to play in South Africa instead. 

THE COURSE 

Following a 34-year hiatus, Royal Melbourne Golf Club returns to host the Australian Open for the 17th time. It was most recently seen holding the 2019 Presidents Cup, and it has also staged the 2013 Australian Masters, the 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, the Australian Masters of the Amateurs from 2011-2019, and 10 editions of the Australian PGA Championship. 

Widely regarded as the greatest golf course in Australia, and, indeed, one of the best in the world, Royal Melbourne was completed by Augusta National architect Alister MacKenzie in 1931. 

This week's layout is a par 71 measuring 7086 yards and is a composite of 12 holes from the West Course and six from the East Course at Royal Melbourne. It contains 3x par 3s (148-201 yards), 13x par 4s (312-476 yards) and 2x par 5s (530-569 yards). 

Arguably the purest example of courses in Melbourne's famous Sandbelt area, Royal Melbourne is a highly strategic, tree-lined venue built on gently rolling and undulating terrain. 

The firm and mostly doglegging fairways are wide and lined by sandy native areas. They require players to position the ball smartly to open up the best angle of attack into the greens, whilst the plethora of rugged, large and often deep bunkers are intelligently placed at the corners of the doglegs, creating frequent risk/reward situations. 

An abundance of bunkers also guard the huge, firm bentgrass greens. These predominantly elevated, well contoured surfaces encourage play along the ground and can be treacherous to putt from above the hole. In addition, they feature run-offs around most, which regularly funnel into tightly-mown chipping areas that put pressure on the skills of even the most confident short-game players. 

It's been 12 years since Adam Scott won the last DPWT-level event at Royal Melbourne, claiming the 2013 Australian Masters with a -14 winning total. Although much has changed in the interim, this is still a varied and exacting test that rewards creativity and elite shot-making. 

The slightest mistake can quickly turn the greatest scoring opportunities – such as on the two drivable par 4s, the 4th and 8 holes – into disaster, and I hope we get the intended firm-and-fast conditions to see this magnificent layout at its absolute best this week. 

THE WEATHER 

There is some rain at the start of this week, but that is forecast to make way for generally bright and clear weather throughout the tournament.  

It is predicted to be extremely windy during Thursday's opening round, with 19mph winds accompanied by 35mph gusts. While it dies down from Friday onwards, gusting winds of over 22mph will persist and should make for a tricky week in Melbourne. 

KEY STATS 

• SG: Approach 

• SG: Around-the-Greens (SG: ATG)/Scrambling 

• SG: Putting (bentgrass) 

• Par 4 Scoring 

You've got to have your all-round game on point to contend at Royal Melbourne. Though with generous fairways on which many players will be positioning their ball in similar areas, it will take imagination into and on/around the greens to stand out. 

It's imperative to be precise into these sizeable greens; not only to avoid those dangerous run-offs, but to leave the ball in the correct spot to avoid nervy downhill putts. 

The windy conditions will make approach play difficult, leading to many a missed green and calling on the field's short-game skills. Furthermore, with 13 par 4s at this venue, players that rank high in par 4 scoring are of interest. 

CORRELATING EVENTS 

There is no exact substitute for golf in the Melbourne Sandbelt. With that, it's definitely worth checking out the 2024 and 2022 editions of the Australian Open at nearby Kingston Heath Golf Club and Victoria Golf Club – two more renowned golf courses in this area. 

I also believe any form in the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club could be helpful. Whilst not a Sandbelt course, it was influenced by the design philosophy of courses in this area, with Alister MacKenzie providing input in the early days of the venue's development. 

Despite looking different, many aspects of play in the Sandbelt mirror that of British links courses. They are built on firm, sandy turf and are naturally rugged in appearance, with strategic bunkering, large, undulating greens, and generally wide fairways that suit shot-makers. This means that we can look towards events such as The Open Championship, Scottish Open, and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship for clues. 

THE FIELD 

World No. 2 Rory McIlroy is the headliner in this week's field, making his first start in the event since he was the defending champion in 2014. There are a further six players from inside the top 100: Ryan Fox (No. 41), Min Woo Lee (No. 42), Si Woo Kim (No. 54), Matt McCarty (No.55), Adam Scott (No. 62), and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (No. 82). 

We have 11 former winners all teeing it up in Melbourne. Joaquin Niemann (2023) is the most recent of these, joined by Matt Jones (2019, 2015), Abraham Ancer (2018), Cameron Davis (2017), Rory McIlroy (2013), Greg Chalmers (2011, 1998), Geoff Ogilvy (2010), Adam Scott (2009), John Senden (2006), Peter Lonard (2004, 2003), and Stephen Allan (2002). 

LIV's Lucas Herbert, Marc Leishman, and Cameron Smith strengthen the home challenge; David Puig is again in action after his breakthrough DPWT victory at last week's Australian PGA Championship; and Charley Hoffman is the lone entry from Category 12 – a category that is open to players that finish from 101-200 in the FedExCup standings on the PGA Tour the previous season. 

SELECTIONS 

Market leaders (1/4 5 places): Rory McIlroy 9/2, Joaquin Niemann 10/1, David Puig 12/1, Marc Leishman 14/1, Si Woo Kim 14/1, Adam Scott 16/1, Min Woo Lee 16/1 

Min Woo Lee 

I'm going with four proven winners at this level and above to try and get Rory McIlroy beat, and after a contending effort in Queensland, it's Min Woo Lee who is my leading candidate. He has a superb short game, is continuing to show improvement in approach, and possessing promising amateur form at Royal Melbourne, he should be comfortable in this week's surroundings. 

Min Woo's 5th-place finish in the Australian PGA Championship was his third top-10 in four appearances, following results of 5th in the Open de France on the DPWT, and 10th in the PGA Tour's Baycurrent Classic. 

He was strong on and around the greens at Royal Queensland – no surprise for a player who ranks 2nd in this field in all-round short-game performance in 2025. However, it was his iron play that really caught the eye – an area that is usually his biggest weakness – ranking 2nd in greens-in-regulation (GIR) and gaining strokes in approach for the second DPWT event in a row. 

Lee played here several times as an amateur, going best when 4th in the 2018 Australian Master of the Amateurs. He's also developed a fantastic record in his national open, finishing 3rd in 2022 and 2023.  

Added to wins at Royal Queensland in 2023 and in the 2021 Scottish Open, this is clearly the type of test where his creativity shines. Expect to find him among the leading contenders at Royal Melbourne. 

Ryan Fox 

Ryan Fox returned from a two-month absence to finish an encouraging 39th in last week's Australian PGA Championship. He's a strong all-rounder who excels in approach and around the greens, and as someone who is also adept in the wind, this challenge will suit him more than most. 

The New Zealander has broken new ground in 2025. He earned his breakthrough PGA Tour victory at the Myrtle Beach Classic back in May and doubled up just three starts later, defeating Sam Burns in a playoff to lift the Canadian Open.  

Outside of a 19th-place finish in the US Open, he's largely struggled since then. However, he finished 14th in the Open de France two starts ago, and he was steady last week, sitting 22nd at the halfway point before eventually finishing 39th. 

He impressed with the driver there and was also neat and tidy around the greens. Interestingly, he's been at his best with his irons and the putter on the PGA Tour this season, ranking 43rd in SG: Approach and 51st in SG: Putting. This suggests that he's close to putting together a big week. 

Fox narrowly missed out on winning at Royal Melbourne in 2011, finishing 2nd in the Australian Master of the Amateurs. He now gets the chance to go one better at the venue, and as a proven wind player that excels on the links – finishing 1st and 2nd in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship – I'm keen on his prospects of doing so. 

Lucas Herbert 

Born in the state of Victoria and spending much of his junior career practising at nearby Commonwealth Golf Club, Lucas Herbert is extremely familiar with golf in the Melbourne Sandbelt. He hasn't finished outside the top 10 on his last three starts in this championship, and after showing a return to form on his latest outing in Saudi Arabia, he's an obvious candidate for success this week. 

Herbert was in blistering form at the beginning of the year, recording finishes of 2nd in Mexico City, 4th in Riyadh, and 4th in Hong Kong across the first seven LIV events. He then capitalised on this form in the International Series Japan on the Asian Tour with a commanding five-shot victory.  

He lost his way following the win, picking up just one further top-30 finish in those limited-field LIV events. However, he burst into life in the Saudi International two weeks ago, closing with a seven-under 64 to finish 5th, and I'm hoping he builds on that here. 

His short game has always been his biggest strength and that shows no signs of letting up, ranking 3rd in putting and 14th in scrambling on LIV in 2025. Meanwhile, he has the power to attack the doglegs of many of these risk/reward holes. 

Herbert was in complete control of this event in 2024, taking a four-shot lead into the weekend, but he struggled over the final two rounds, ultimately finishing 5th. Whilst disappointing, that was his third top-10 in a row in his national open, finishing 7th in 2023 and 10th in 2022. He can use last year's frustrations as motivation this week, finally making use of his extensive experience of this brand of golf to capture the title in Melbourne. 

Ryo Hisatsune 

After a promising start to 2025, Ryo Hisatsune's year has tailed off towards the end. However, he's remained in decent form from tee-to-green, and as a player who has performed in Australia right through his career, there are enough reasons to be positive about his chances this week. 

Hisatsune recorded four top-10 finishes over the first five months of his PGA Tour season, which went a long way towards securing his future on the tour for 2026. The best of those results came at the Valspar Championship, finishing 4th, and he also shone in Texas – finishing 5th in the Texas Open and 6th in the Charles Schwab Challenge. 

He picked up just one further top-20 from June onwards, finishing 13th in the Procore Championship. That said, he's gained strokes from tee-to-green in the majority of appearances, ranking 51st for the season in that area; his placing of 46th in SG: ATG gives me particular cause for optimism around this setup. 

Hisatsune has played four professional tournaments in Australia, finishing no worse than 31st. He was 2nd in the 2022 Australian PGA Championship, 8th in the 2023 Australian Open, and often performing to an elevated level in challenging, windy conditions, he can add another top-class Aussie result to his C.V at Royal Melbourne. 

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