Cameron Smith is two shots off the lead at the Australian Open after firing a 6-under-par 65 in the second round at Royal Melbourne. The 2022 British Open champion shares fourth place with Adam Scott and Carlos Ortiz at 7-under, trailing co-leaders Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and Daniel Rodrigues, who are 9-under.
When asked what it would take for him to win the Stonehaven Cup, Smith's reply was blunt: 'Good golf.' The laid-back Queenslander adopted a simple approach, sinking six birdies in a bogey-free round. 'I don't think I need to do anything different,' Smith said. 'That (second round) was just really solid, really committed to shapes, and shots and flights.'
Smith cut a casual figure on the fairways, playing alongside Elvis Smylie and Danny Willett, while much of the spectator interest focused on the group ahead featuring Rory McIlroy, Min Woo Lee and Scott. Smith thrived on the lower-key atmosphere, noting, 'There wasn't yelling and screaming out there, thank God.'
The 32-year-old's form line had been shaky after missing the cut at the Australian PGA Championship last week, but he comfortably avoided the same fate in Melbourne. 'I'm here to win the Stonehaven Cup and I've put myself in a good spot to do that,' he said. Smith, Scott and Ortiz will tee off in the second-last group of the third round at 11.39am AEDT.
