Cameron Smith’s struggles continued at the Royal Queensland Golf Club, where the three-time Australian PGA champion posted a disappointing four-over-par 75, marking his seventh consecutive missed cut. The local favorite began the second round precariously close to the cut line at two under but faltered as the round progressed, missing several crucial putts that could have turned his fortunes around.
After starting strong, Smith’s hopes dwindled with a bogey on the 11th hole. He faced further disappointment as par attempts on the 13th and 14th slipped past the cup. Although he managed to sink an eight-foot birdie on the 17th, it was not enough to salvage his day. A double-bogey on the 18th sealed his fate, leaving him at two over for the round.
The leaderboard saw early clubhouse leader Brett Rankin and others, including Kazuma Kobori, Wenyi Ding, and Anthony Quayle, all performing exceptionally well at nine under par. Rankin, despite a double-bogey on his second-to-last hole, maintained a strong position at the top with a score of seven under after completing 18 holes.
2023 champion Min Woo Lee demonstrated his prowess with six birdies before finishing one shot behind Rankin. Other competitors like Cameron Davis, Daniel Hillier, Marc Leishman, and Marco Penge also positioned themselves well, all at seven under, while Ryan Fox dropped three late shots to finish at five under. Adam Scott stood at six under, aided by a long birdie putt on the 17th. Defending champion Elvis Smylie managed to make the cut at two under, though European stars Joaquín Niemann and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen struggled to find their rhythm.
Smith’s recent performance at Royal Queensland marks a stark contrast to his previous year’s success, where he finished as runner-up before narrowly losing in a playoff at the Saudi International. This year has been particularly challenging for Smith, who has become the only player to miss the cut at all four majors and has not secured a win in nearly two-and-a-half years.
As the Australian Open approaches next week, Smith’s ongoing struggles raise concerns about his form. His playing partner, Min Woo Lee, has had a different trajectory this season, celebrating his first US PGA Tour victory earlier this year.
Leishman, who also competed on the same day, displayed impressive skill, chipping in for eagle from the seventh bunker and immediately following with a birdie. The former Greg Norman Medal winner has yet to claim a major Australian title but remains resolute in his pursuit. “We’re golfers and entertainers. I really enjoy entertaining,” Leishman stated, emphasizing his desire to take bold shots and challenge himself on the course.
With the Australian Open on the horizon, the pressure mounts for Smith to find his form and reclaim his status among top competitors in the sport.
