BRISBANE, Australia — Former Open champion Cameron Smith and Jason Day, who’s again Down Underneath for the primary time in seven years, shot 4-under 67s Thursday and had been two strokes off the lead after the primary spherical of the Australian PGA at Royal Queensland.
Smith, the 2022 Open champion at St. Andrews, 2015 PGA Championship winner Day and fellow Australian Marc Leishman had been in a gaggle behind first-round chief Elvis Smylie, the son of former Australian tennis professional Liz Smylie. He shot 65.
Joel Girrbach of Switzerland, France’s Victor Perez, Cristobal del Photo voltaic of Chile and Australian Matias Sanchez had been tied for second with 66s, a stroke behind Smylie.
Min Woo Lee, who received final yr’s match at Royal Queensland, shot 68 and was three strokes off the lead. Lee, Day and Smith had been in the identical early group Thursday within the joint PGA Tour of Australasia and the inaugural European Tour occasion for the 2025 season.
The 22-year-old Smylie, who’s from the close by Gold Coast, stated the match was like a “dwelling recreation” for him.
“It’s solely an hour’s drive,” Smylie stated. “I’ve performed plenty of golf right here. I’m fairly acquainted with the course and each a part of my recreation’s actually good in the meanwhile. I’m actually comfy with what I’m doing.”
The 37-year-old Day stated he loved being within the featured group Thursday. He hadn’t performed in his dwelling nation because the 2017 Australian Open and he has not performed the Australian PGA since 2011.
“Clearly Cammy’s (Smith) is an enormous draw right here. It’s good to get on the market and watch Min,” Day stated. “It’s unbelievable how far that man hits it. He looks like he’s obtained plenty of management. He simply had simply a few dangerous breaks and clearly some swings on the market, however general, he’s taking part in fairly strong.
“It’s at all times nervous to come back again and attempt to defend,” Day added. “After which once you’re within the marquee group, there’s lots of people watching and it’s at all times slightly bit extra nerve-wracking coming again as a defending champ.”
Day stated Smith was feeling beneath the climate and Smith later confirmed the prognosis.
“I feel Tuesday out right here within the rain after which Wednesday within the rain, a few massive weeks and stuff, I feel it simply obtained to me slightly bit,” Smith stated. “Just a bit little bit of a head chilly factor . . . I’ll be proper, I’ll reside.”
Australian Geoff Ogilvy, the 2006 U.S. Open champion who now spends most of his time designing golf programs, shot 69.
Lee (ranked No. 48) and Day (No. 31) are the one gamers from the highest 50 on the earth within the subject. Smith is taking part in his third straight week in PGA Tour of Australasia tournaments – he closed with 74 final week to lose a two-shot lead on the New South Wales Open, ending tied for second and three strokes behind winner and fellow LIV participant Lucas Herbert.
Most of the similar gamers will journey to Melbourne subsequent week for the Australian Open, additionally on the European Tour, which is being performed concurrently with the Ladies’s Australian Open at famed sandbelt programs Kingston Heath and Victoria.
