Australian Open Golf: After shooting an amazing nine-under 63 in the first round, past champion Cam Davis lit up The Lakes and took the lead in the Australian Open clubhouse area.
Making the most of the perfect scoring conditions in the morning, Davis went six under for his first nine holes and added three more birdies in the final round.
When severe weather stopped the magical round from shattering John Senden’s course record on Wednesday night, the administration made the decision to tell preferred falsehoods.
I made a few really good putts to hold onto the lead. Davis said the round was really difficult.
“I know this place relatively well, and I have plenty of good memories in the bank to go out and play the course with, but that’s by far the cleanest round I have ever had around here.”
West Australian Hayden Hopewell and Scot Connor Syme are tied for second place at seven under par. The American golfer leading the PGA Tour is Patrick Rodgers, who is ahead by one shot.
Scot Grant Forrest tied for sixth place with three other players at The Australian after posting the best morning round of 65. The Lakes were where all three of the leaders started their rounds.
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Superstar Cameron Smith, who started the Australian PGA Championship with a five-under 66 last week, was suddenly just four strokes from the lead. But having missed the cut in his first round, he had to make do with a 70. Min Woo Lee was the bookies’ favourite going into the competition.
However, Davis dominated the morning.
First, World No. 43 set the tone with four birdies and an amazing eagle three on the short but difficult par-5 14th.
On the fourth, sixth, and eighth holes, he continued to make birdies, but he was furious because he missed a short putt at the last one that would have put him at 10 under.
“Without the wind, it was awesome to make the most of the conditions the way they were,” Davis said.
“I just felt like I had good, clean control of my ball all day and gave myself good putts for birdies.”
If Davis makes the halfway cut on Friday, he will play his next three rounds at the Australian Golf Club, the site of the 2017 Open, which he won six years earlier.
With hopes of winning both the Open and the Australian PGA Championship, Lee entered the turn at three under. However, things were not going as planned.
His second blunder of the day came on the par-5 eleventh hole, when he mishit his cunning fourth shot into yet another trap. He needed to pitch in to stay on par. He immediately broke out to the cheers of the large crowd that had watched the morning’s main event.
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Lee earned his first birdie of the day on the twelfth hole. He added two more on holes 14 and 18. Then he made an amazing sand shot to within a few centimetres to save par.
Smith and Lee crossed the finish line together, although Lee was apprehensive in the opening nine kilometres following his crash at Royal Queensland.
On the 11th and 14th holes, respectively, the 2022 Open Champion teed off and shot two balls into the water, yet he struggled to make par each time.
Worried that the leading player in the field of 156 and the world’s No. 20 would soon have to retire early again, Smith found himself stuck in the bunker on the par-3 18th hole.
Despite making progress on the back nine, Smith finished the round at least one stroke below par.
Some General FAQs About Australian Open Golf
Because of the large number of players, the first two days of the Australian Open utilise two golf courses simultaneously. One course cannot accommodate the total field size of the All Abilities men’s and women’s tournaments.
Until the 2023 event, spectators will continue to witness some of the top men’s and women’s golfers playing for separate championships simultaneously on the same course in the combined tournament concept.
Top Australian golfers will compete in the ISPS HANDA Australian Open, airing live and free of charge on 9Network and 9Now from Thursday to Sunday.
Before lifting their trophies, the Australian Open champions and their opponents will have hit 48,000 tennis balls with serves, volleys, and backhands. The competition ends soon.
Sydney’s Australian Golf Club and Lakes Golf Club are co-hosting this year. The men’s and women’s teams will alternate courses for the first two days before the remaining two rounds at the Australian Golf Club on the weekend.
For the second year in a row, Sydney will host the men’s and women’s competitions concurrently at two different courses, marking a first for the city.
For forthcoming tours and competitions, watch Foxtel and Kayo Sports live. Foxtel and Kayo Sports broadcast the US Open, PGA Championship, Masters, and Open—the four major competitions. There is no contract or installation.
Golf Australia owns and operates the most prominent and well-established golf tournament on the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Australian Open.
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