Cameron Smith faced another disappointing outing on home soil, missing the cut for the seventh consecutive time at the Australian PGA Championship. The three-time champion posted a four-over-par 75 at the Royal Queensland Golf Club, leaving him unable to progress past the second round. Smith began his Friday round on a hopeful note, starting at two under par, but struggled to convert early birdie opportunities, leaving two putts frustratingly on the lip of the hole.
As the round progressed, Smith’s fortunes deteriorated. A bogey on the 11th hole pushed him below the projected cut line. His attempts to salvage the round were thwarted as he missed further par opportunities on the 13th and 14th holes. Although he managed to sink an eight-foot birdie putt at the 17th, his performance was ultimately marred by a double-bogey on the 18th, resulting from a missed green and a subsequent three-putt. He finished the day two over par, far from the leading scores.
Strong competition characterized the leaderboard, with early clubhouse leader Brett Rankin finishing at nine under, despite a double-bogey on his penultimate hole. Kazuma Kobori, Wenyi Ding, and Anthony Quayle also made significant strides, all finishing with competitive scores. Min Woo Lee, the reigning champion, joined Rankin at nine under after carding six birdies but faltered with a bogey on the final hole.
The leaderboard remained crowded with players such as Cameron Davis, Daniel Hillier, Marc Leishman, and Marco Penge all sitting at seven under. Adam Scott lurked closely at six under, having made a long birdie putt on the 17th. Defending champion Elvis Smylie managed to rally at two under, securing his place in the next round, while European stars Joaquín Niemann and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen struggled, finishing at even par and five over, respectively.
Smith’s recent form has been disappointing, particularly after a disheartening seven-over-par 78 at the same venue in 2023, which left him in tears. He returned to the tournament the following year to claim a runner-up finish, followed by a near victory at the Saudi International. Unfortunately, his momentum has since waned; he has now missed the cut at all four major championships this year and has not secured a victory in nearly two and a half years.
Despite the challenges, his playing partner Min Woo Lee demonstrated resilience, capitalizing on scoring opportunities throughout the round. On the other hand, Leishman showcased an impressive performance, chipping in for eagle from a bunker and executing a daring driver shot from the fairway to secure a birdie during an electrifying finish.
Leishman expressed his determination to pursue an elusive major Australian title, stating, “We’re golfers and entertainers, and I really enjoy entertaining… playing the way you’d play at home.” His focus on bold and creative shots underscores the competitive spirit of the tournament.
With the Australian Open on the horizon, Smith now faces the challenge of overcoming his recent struggles as he attempts to regain his form and confidence in the upcoming events.
