Australian Open at Royal Melbourne: Preview, amateur bios, and how to watch
11/30/2025 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff
see also: Australian Open Championship, Royal Melbourne Golf Club
Rory McIlroy headlines one of the championship's top fields in years - at least four amateurs will have their chance at glory
The 2026 Crown Australian Open returns to Royal Melbourne Golf Club from December 4–7, bringing one of the strongest fields the event has seen in years. Rory McIlroy once again headlines the championship, continuing his commitment to the Australian Open through 2026 and giving the DP World Tour a marquee presence on the Melbourne Sandbelt. He’ll be joined by two of Australia’s biggest stars: Cameron Smith, looking to regain his best form on home soil, and Adam Scott, who enters the week in good rhythm after a solid T7 finish at the Australian PGA Championship.
Beyond the headliners, this year’s field includes a deep mix of DP World Tour regulars, international contenders, and home-grown Australians all chasing the historic Stonehaven Cup. Royal Melbourne’s strategic bunkering, firm turf, and swirling winds promise to provide a world-class test, setting up a compelling week as the DP World Tour’s Australian swing concludes.
AMATEUR INVITES
Harry Takis (Brisbane, Australia) — AmateurGolf.com Ranking: No. 22
Takis enters the Australian Open as the highest-ranked amateur in the field after a standout 2025 season that featured a win at the Singapore Open Amateur and top-five finishes at the Asia-Pacific Amateur (4th), Australian Master of the Amateurs (3rd), Sahalee Players (T2), and Australian Men’s Amateur (T4). He also delivered strong results in the U.S. during the collegiate season, including top-12 finishes at the Northeast Amateur and World Amateur Team Championship.
Fifa Laopakdee (Thailand / Arizona State University) — AmateurGolf.com Ranking: No. 31
Laopakdee, a junior at Arizona State, surged into the international spotlight in 2025 by winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, becoming the first Thai golfer ever to claim the title and earning invitations to both the Masters and The Open. His breakout year also included collegiate victories at the Cabo Collegiate and ASU Thunderbird Invitational, a T6 at the Sahalee Players, a Final 64 appearance at the U.S. Amateur, and a rise into the top 15 of the world amateur rankings.
Jye Halls (Ulladulla, New South Wales, Australia) — AmateurGolf.com Ranking: No. 39
Halls comes into the week riding a strong run of form, highlighted by wins at the Australian Men’s Amateur and the Keperra Bowl, along with a 2022 runner-up finish at the New South Wales Amateur that first established him as one of Australia’s top prospects. His consistency across elite events is unmatched, with top-10 finishes at the St. Andrews Links Trophy, Porter Cup, Monroe Invitational, Avondale Amateur Medal, and the Australian Master of the Amateurs.
Kaito Sato (Japan / Tohoku Fukushi University) — AmateurGolf.com Ranking: No. 270
Sato earned his place in the field with a commanding victory at the 2025 Japan Amateur Championship, where he reached 15-under to win one of Asia’s most prestigious titles at Yokohama Country Club. A student at Tohoku Fukushi University — the same program that produced Hideki Matsuyama — Sato remains less known internationally but arrives in Melbourne with the pedigree and momentum of a national champion.
USA TV TIMES AND HOW TO WATCH
Coverage of the Crown Australian Open begins from 8:00–9:30 PM ET on the NBC Sports App, followed by extended coverage from 9:30 PM–1:00 AM ET on Golf Channel/NBC Sports App.
Thurs, Dec. 4
Broadcasts resume with the Crown Australian Open from 8:00–9:30 PM ET on the NBC Sports App, then continue from 9:30 PM–1:00 AM ET on Golf Channel/NBC Sports App.
Fri, Dec. 5
Coverage runs from 8:00–9:30 PM ET on the NBC Sports App, with additional viewing from 9:30 PM–1:00 AM ET on Golf Channel/NBC Sports App.
Sat, Dec. 6
The final day’s broadcast window is 8:00–10:00 PM ET on the NBC Sports App, followed by late-night coverage from 10:00 PM–1:00 AM ET on Golf Channel/NBC Sports App.
About the Australian Open
The Australian Open is one of golf’s oldest national championships and now a key stop on the DP World Tour, co-sanctioned with the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia. Played in late November or early December at top venues like The Australian, Kingst...
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