Australian PGA Championship Round 1 highlights from Royal Queensland: Cameron Smith fires 69 with hot putting after short game grind, Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott card 68s at 3-under, while leaders Ryan Fox, Wenyi Ding hit 4-under. Kazuma Kobori’s epic ace on party hole 17 steals show amid muggy conditions. Catch analysis on LIV stars, Scott’s steady play, and Smith’s major drought quest in this $2.5M event.
Key moments: Smith’s 10m birdie vs Lee’s flag bounce bad luck, Fox’s rust-free return, Quayle with Steve Williams caddying. Afternoon groups feature Leishman, Ancer, Niemann, Davis.
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Minu Lee, Adam Scott, and Cameron Smith were in the running after the opening round of the Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane. Cameron Smith, a three-time champion, former world number two, and major winner without a title in over 2 years, started his day at 2:45 a.m., carding a 2 under 69. Ryan Fox, Winnie Ding, Topio Pulkinan, and Anthony Quail shared the early lead at four under, while Adam Scott and Minu Lee both recorded rounds of 68. Lee’s approach to the final hole hit the pin, but he had to settle for par after Smith drained a 10-meter birdie putt. Scott, a former world number one and two-time winner of the event, birdied the first and 18th holes on a steady round. Fox playing his first competitive round in two months found his rhythm quickly and Elvis Smiley playing in his group handled the midm morning humidity. New Zealand’s Kazuma Kroi acceed the par 317th hole showcasing his pitching skills from 118 m. Smith’s pudding and chipping were exceptional in 2022, but he’s been struggling since missing all four major cuts this year. On Thursday, he made 101 putts and 26 in total, attributing his performance to his hard work in Brisbane. Lee, who won in 2023, expressed satisfaction with his performance, while Scott indicated a steady approach for the weekend. Scott noted the difficulty of making many putts on the course, emphasizing the importance of not getting frustrated. The LIV trio of Mark Leechman, Abraham Answer, and Walke Neman along with Cam Davis were in the afternoon groups.
