Cameron Smith’s struggles on the golf course continued as he missed the cut for the seventh consecutive time at the Australian PGA Championship held at the Royal Queensland Golf Club. Despite starting strong, the three-time champion faltered during his round, finishing with a score of four-over-par 75.
Smith began his Friday round at two under par, right on the projected cut line. He had opportunities to secure birdies early on but faced disappointment as he left two putts on the edge of the hole. A bogey on the 11th hole marked the beginning of a downward spiral, as Smith’s attempts to regain momentum faltered with missed par putts on the 13th and 14th holes.
Hope appeared to flicker when he made an eight-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole. However, his round ended dramatically with a double-bogey on the 18th after missing the green and three-putting. Smith finished the day at two over par, far behind the leaders who were making impressive strides.
Leaderboard Highlights
At the top of the leaderboard, Brett Rankin emerged as the early clubhouse leader, finishing the day at nine under par, despite encountering a double-bogey on his second-to-last hole. He was joined by Kazuma Kobori, Wenyi Ding, and Anthony Quayle, all of whom had at least one hole to play. Min Woo Lee, the 2023 champion, also made a strong showing, recording six birdies before a bogey on the final hole left him just one shot back at eight under.
Other players in contention included Cameron Davis, Daniel Hillier, Marc Leishman, and Marco Penge, all sitting at seven under. Meanwhile, Ryan Fox experienced a challenging round, dropping three shots late to finish at five under. Notably, former champion Elvis Smylie managed to make the cut after finishing at two under.
Smith’s recent performances have raised concerns, particularly after a disappointing outing last year where he shot seven over par and left the course in tears. He did rebound in the subsequent year, finishing as the runner-up and competing well at various tournaments. However, his current form has seen him miss the cut at all four majors this year, and his winless streak is extending towards two and a half years.
Smith’s Upcoming Challenges
As Smith prepares for the upcoming Australian Open, the pressure will be on him to reverse his fortunes. His playing partner, Min Woo Lee, has enjoyed recent success on the PGA Tour, while Davis has demonstrated strong form after an absence from competition since August.
Leishman, who has yet to win a major Australian title, displayed resilience during his round, notably chipping in for eagle from a bunker on the seventh hole. He expressed his commitment to take risks and entertain the crowd, emphasizing the enjoyment of playing bold shots.
“I really enjoy entertaining, whether it’s a driver off the deck or a cool, spinning bunker shot,” Leishman stated. “I’m battling the whole time and trying to take it on to get to a lot of the pins that some people can’t.”
With the Australian Open on the horizon, all eyes will be on Smith to see if he can overcome his recent challenges and find his way back into contention. As the tournament unfolds, the golfing community will be eager to witness whether he can reclaim his former glory.
