Cameron Smith Surges Ahead in Australian Open, Eyes Maiden Title
A resurgent Cameron Smith is poised to finish an otherwise forgettable year with a maiden Australian Open title, taking over from Min Woo Lee as the top local hope. The former world No.2 is in equal second spot heading into the final round at Royal Melbourne on Sunday after a sparkling five-under 66, highlighted by an eagle on the 14th to sit at 12 under.
According to the official Australian Open website, Smith’s impressive performance has put him in a strong position to claim his first title. His hard work on the driving range and practice putting green this week appears to have paid off, with the 32-year-old matching the leaders with a birdie on the par-four 12th and then emerging as the sole front-runner two holes later when he chipped in to eagle the par-five 14th.
Leaderboard Update
With the Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen at 13-under, Smith is in a group two shots back alongside fellow LIV golfer, Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz (66), and South Korean Si Woo Kim (65). Australians Adam Scott (68) and Lee (69) are both at 10-under, while Lucas Herbert had one of the rounds of the day with a 65 to sit another two shots back. As reported by ESPN, Lee was third after the second round but sank down the leaderboard on the back of four bogeys, with three coming on the front nine amid some wild shots off the tee.
Tournament drawcard Rory McIlroy is five-under heading into the final day, his third round hindered by a double-bogey on the second hole when his ball was bizarrely caught under a discarded banana peel. According to the PGA Tour website, McIlroy again produced a stellar back nine with four birdies for a 68 but his tournament hopes are all but over, nine shots off the pace.
Smith’s Road to Redemption
Smith arrived at Royal Melbourne after a string of missed cuts in 2025 – including at all four majors and the recent Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane. His slump started 12 months ago when he imploded during the second round of the Australian Open, starting the day one shot off the lead and ending it eight shots back. However, as noted by Golf Australia, the 2022 British Open champion was a regular figure on the driving range and practice putting green this week, determined to find some form, and his hard work appeared to finally pay off.
With his maiden Australian Open title within reach, Smith will look to capitalize on his momentum and make the most of his opportunity. As the official Australian Open website states, the tournament is one of the most prestigious events in Australian golf, and a win would be a significant milestone in Smith’s career. Will he be able to overcome the competition and claim his first title, or will Neergaard-Petersen hold on to his lead? The final round promises to be an exciting conclusion to the tournament.
