Cameron Smith jumps into lead at Australian PGA Championship

BRISBANE: Major winner Cameron Smith and his former protege Elvis Smylie will battle in the final group at the Australian PGA Championship after seizing a share of the lead in the rain-shortened tournament Saturday.

The 2022 British Open champion Smith was playing in front of his home crowd in Brisbane and huge crowds followed him as he shot a 65 to be 10-under-par after 36 holes.

Smylie carded a 67 to join him with Smith´s LIV Golf teammate Marc Leishman a stroke further back.

Young South African Aldrich Potgieter and Australian David Micheluzzi were eight-under, while former world number one Jason Day fired a 69 to be four off the pace.

The opening event of the DP World Tour´s 2025 season was drenched by torrential rain that forced officials to cancel Friday´s second round and shorten the tournament to 54 holes.

But the sun came out as Smith downed seven birdies and a lone bogey, with the Australian determined to grab a first victory of 2024. “It was nice,” the 31-year-old said.

“(The sun) always puts a smile on your face and the golf was pretty good too. I started solid and kept it going.”

Less than 15 minutes after Smith finished, Smylie, 22, struck a dazzling approach into the 18th for a closing birdie and a 67.

In 2019 Smylie was the recipient of a scholarship Smith runs for Australian junior golfers that included an all-expenses-paid trip to his hero´s American home to learn how he prepared for tournaments.

“I learned what life is like being one of the best golfers in the world and what he goes through on a day-to-day basis,” said Smylie.

“What he´s done for Australian golf... he´s been a great role model of mine for a very long time.”

Smylie, the son of multiple tennis Grand Slam doubles champion Liz Smylie, is expecting a little less conversation when grouped with Smith as he chases the biggest win of his career on Sunday.

“There will be casual (chat) but he´s wanting to beat me as much as I´m wanting to beat him,” he said.