A resurgent Cameron Smith has positioned himself to salvage a difficult year, storming into contention for his first Australian Open title. The Queenslander fired a sparkling five-under 66 on Saturday to sit just one stroke behind the leader, becoming the top local hope at Royal Melbourne.
Smith's Masterclass Sets Up Final Round Charge
The former world No.2 is in a tie for second at 12-under par, trailing only Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, who leads at 13-under. Smith's third round was a short-game masterclass, thrilling a massive gallery among the 30,187 fans on the famed sandbelt course.
He momentarily held the outright lead after a birdie on the 17th hole. His charge was highlighted by a stunning eagle on the par-five 14th, where he chipped in from off the green. However, a dropped shot on the difficult 18th, coupled with Neergaard-Petersen's late surge of four birdies in his last five holes, saw the Dane reclaim the front-running spot.
Local Hopes and International Challengers
Smith shares second place with fellow LIV Golf competitor Carlos Ortiz of Mexico and South Korea's Si Woo Kim. The leading group of challengers sets the stage for a thrilling final day.
Other Australian hopes remain within striking distance. Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee are both at 10-under par, while Lucas Herbert fired one of the rounds of the day, a 65, to sit at eight-under. Lee, who was third after the second round, fought back valiantly after a tough start, nailing four consecutive birdies on the back nine to stay in the mix.
A Turnaround in Form for the Open Champion
Smith's performance marks a significant turnaround. The 2022 British Open champion arrived at Royal Melbourne after a string of disappointing results in 2025, including missed cuts at all four major championships and the recent Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane.
His slump traces back to this very event twelve months ago, where he imploded during the second round. Determined to find form, Smith has been a constant presence on the practice range and putting green this week, and his hard work appears to be paying dividends.
Tournament drawcard Rory McIlroy's hopes are all but over, sitting nine shots off the pace at five-under. His third round was hampered by a bizarre double-bogey on the second hole when his ball became lodged under a discarded banana peel.
All eyes will now be on the final pairing on Sunday, as Cameron Smith aims to cap a forgettable year with a memorable and long-awaited home soil victory.
