ISPS HANDA Australian Open: DP World Tour Fantasy ones to watch

As the 2025 Race to Dubai season continues with the ISPS HANDA Australian Open, don't miss out on the chance to compete against golf fans from around the world in the DP World Tour's Official Fantasy game.

The DP World Tour remains Down Under for the second of back-to-back events as Kingston Heath Golf Club and The Victoria Golf Club play host to Australia's national open in Melbourne.

Joaquin Niemann returns to defend the title he won 12 months ago as a field of 156 men compete in the same week stars of the women's and all abilities game are also sharing the spotlight.

Among the household figures of the men's game on show are Aussie Major champions Cam Smith and Geoff Ogilvy, while fellow DP World Tour-winning countrymen Min Woo Lee, Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert along with David Micheluzzi are sure to draw big crowds with them.

Elvis Smylie arrives fresh off winning his maiden DP World Tour title on home soil, with France's Victor Perez leading a cast of DP World Tour regulars in the field that includes Jordan Smith, Yannik Paul and Daniel Hillier.

If you have not done so already, you can still sign up to play the official 2025 DP World Tour Fantasy game and submit your six-man team before round one gets under way on Thursday.

To play Fantasy DP World Tour, click here.

What can I win?

There are plenty of prizes on offer throughout the 2025 season including the Ultimate Prize courtesy of DP World which includes:

- Flights to Dubai for two people

- Accommodation in Dubai for two people

- Private lesson from a top DP World Tour professional on the Earth Course driving range

- Two ball on the Earth Course the day after tournament play finishes

- Two General Admission Season Tickets for the 2025 DP World Tour Championship

Those that finish second to fifth in the season long competition will also receive a range of DP World Tour Store vouchers. There will also be prizes to be won on a weekly and monthly basis so no matter how well you start or when you sign up to play, you will always have the opportunity to win.

Fantasy Insight: While there is a strong contingent of Australian stars teeing it up, the bookmakers have Niemann as the favourite ahead of his title defence. Despite that, local expertise does seem to be integral for players of our game with the top three picks all being home stars.

Of those, Cam Smith is the most popular pick in 82% of teams, followed by Cam Davis at 75% and Min Woo Lee at 71%. Then comes Niemann at 59%, with Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen rounding out the top five at 44%.

Here, we pick out three players in action this week who are worth considering for your Fantasy team selections.

Favourite - Joaquin Niemann

The Chilean enjoyed his time in Australia at the start of last season, backing up a fifth-place finish at the Australian PGA Championship by edging out Rikuya Hoshino in a play-off to become the first South American winner of this event last year. He also arrives in Melbourne off the back of finishing tied seventh in the DP World Tour Championship at the end of last season earlier this month. In his nine starts on the DP World Tour schedule last season, he did not miss a cut and secured a top ten for his nation in the Olympic Games.

Form Horse - Elvis Smylie

A little over a month ago, the Australian was still awaiting his first victory in the paid ranks. But with two titles - both on home soil - in quick succession confidence will be sky high for the 22-year-old. One of two players to receive the Cameron Smith Scholarship in 2019 - the year he became the Australian Boys' Amateur champion - his potential is coming to the surface. He held off acclaimed countrymen Smith and Marc Leishman to win the BMW Australian PGA Championship over the weekend for his maiden DP World Tour title, shortly after his first success as a professional in the Bowra & O'Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open on the PGA Tour of Australasia last month.

Wild Card - Angel Ayora

The Challenge Tour graduate made a brilliant start to his rookie season on the DP World Tour, finishing tied sixth at the BMW Australian PGA Championship. That followed back-to-back runner-up finishes on the Challenge Tour as he finished fourth on the Road to Mallorca Rankings. Despite his fleeting experience on the DP World Tour since his debut as an amateur at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters in 2022, the Spaniard does have form in this event having finished tied 21st last year. Having turned 20 last month, he is a raw but the talent is certainly there and he'll hope to prove a surprise package.

Looking back - BMW Australian PGA Championship

Elvis Smylie featured in a fraction under 16% of teams, while he rewarded four players who selected him as their team Captain.

Our pre-event pick as Favourite Min Woo Lee finished tied 15th, with Form Horse Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen eighth, while our Wild Card selection Joel Moscatel missed the cut on his first start since graduating from the Challenge Tour.

Season so far - 2024 DP World Tour Fantasy Top 10 player rankings