Joaquin Niemann’s huge LIV Golf season has hit turbulence at the Australian PGA Championship, as he faces a nervous wait on the cut line at Royal Queensland.
In this video, get a fast, fan-focused recap of Round 2: Niemann’s even-par 71 and his battle to survive the projected -1 cut, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen’s struggles, and how Marc Leishman and Cam Davis surged into contention at -7.
We’ll also break down Brett Rankin’s stunning move to double digits under par, plus where Aussie stars Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee and Cam Smith sit heading into the afternoon wave.
Stick around for the Round 1 rewind: Rocco Repetto Taylor’s insane closing stretch (birdie-birdie-eagle-eagle-birdie-birdie), Sebastian Garcia’s bogey-free 63, Daniel Gale’s hole‑in‑one BMW moment, and how the leaderboard is shaping up for the weekend.
If you love LIV vs DP World Tour storylines, Aussie cult heroes, and wild scoring runs, this is your full Australian PGA LIVE-style breakdown.
Chapters:
0:00 Joaquin Niemann’s nervous cut-line wait
1:45 Leishman & Cam Davis charge into contention
3:10 Brett Rankin’s home‑course heroics
4:30 Round 1 madness: Rocco Repetto Taylor’s 8‑under in 6 holes
6:00 Aussie stars watch: Scott, Min Woo Lee, Cam Smith
8:00 What to watch in Round 3 and beyond
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A LIV golf stars championship dreams are hanging by a thread. While an Aussie underdog is stealing show, we Neman, a dominant force on the LIV circuit with multiple victories this year, is facing an unexpected struggle at the Australian PGA Championship. Will he even make the cut? Meanwhile, a relatively unknown Spaniard delivered a truly historic performance. Buckle up golf fans because this tournament is already delivering drama. Nean who tasted victory five times on the LIV tour this season finds himself in a precarious position after the second round at Royal Queensland. He carded an even part 71 for the second consecutive day, leaving him flirting with the cut line. The pressure is on. As the morning groups concluded their rounds, the projected cut line hovered around minus one. This means Neman’s fate rests on the performance of the afternoon field. He needs them to struggle to push the cut line down and secure his place in the weekend rounds. It’s a nail-biting waiting game for the Chilean star. Adding to the list of international players facing challenges is Raasmus Negard Peterson, PGA Tourbound, who finished at plus 5 after rounds of 74 and 73. It’s a tough start down under for these international contenders. But here’s where it gets controversial. Some argue that the pressure of playing in a different format and environment is getting to these players, while others believe it’s simply a case of inconsistent form. What do you think is the real reason? On the brighter side for the home crowd, the Australian contingent is making a strong push. Mark Leechman and Cam Davis both posted impressive scores heading to the clubhouse at minus 7, just three shots behind the leader Brett Rankin. Leechman, a seasoned Australian veteran, has five holes remaining in his round and sits at three under for the day, putting him at minus 10 overall. Can he maintain his momentum and potentially seize the lead? Only time will tell. Other prominent Australian players, including Adam Scottus 3, Minu Lee minus3, and Cam Smithus 2 are set to tee off in the afternoon. The hopes of a nation rest on their shoulders as they aim to climb the leaderboard and contend for the championship title. And this is the part most people miss. The afternoon conditions at Royal Queensland can be notoriously tricky. Will the wind pick up? Will the greens become faster? These factors could significantly impact the scores and create even more excitement. Round one recap. A star is born almost. The first round witnessed an extraordinary performance from a relative unknown. Roco Repto Taylor from Spain. In a finish that will be etched in royal Queensland history. Repetto Taylor, a recent graduate from the secondary hotel planner tour, unleashed an unbelievable birdie birdie birdie birdie run to complete the final six holes of his first round in a staggering eight under par. Talk about making an entrance. The 23-year-old needed a mere 29 shots to navigate the front nine, his second nine. Ultimately signing off on a remarkable seven underpar round of 64. This placed him just one shot behind his compatriate Sebastian Garcia who held the overnight lead at minus 8. First round in Australia, first round on the DP World Tour. So very, very happy. I’m going to remember it for a long time, Rapetto. Taylor exclaimed, capturing the magic of the moment. Garcia playing exceptionally well at minus 7 with three holes remaining, saw his round suspended due to lightning on Thursday afternoon. He returned on Friday morning to birdie his final hole, capping off a bogey-free 63 and securing the overnight lead. Australian veteran Brett Rankin emerged as the leading local hope after the first round, matching Rapetto Taylor’s 64 to grab a share of second place. Rankin also finished strongly, carding five birdies on the front nine, his second nine. Daniel Gale, fresh off winning a BMW with a hole in one on the par 311th, is another Australian in contention, posting a solid 6 under par 65. Mark Leechman was among a group of players who shot 67s, including fellow Australian Anthony Quail, who is Tigerwood’s former Caddy Steve Williams on his bag this week, and New Zealand PGA Tour player Ryan Fox. Other notable scores from the first round included Adam Scott minus three, Minu Lee minus3, Cam Davis minus3, Cam Smith minus two, and Marco Ping minus one. Notable tea times round two all times QLD time 7:30 a.m. Whole 10 Daniel Hillier Cam Davis Wman Zimit Abraham Angsa Mach Lishman Rasmos Nagot Ptoen 12:30 p.m. Whole one Marco Ping Minu Lee Cam Smith 12:40 p.m. Poll one, Ryan Fox, Adam Scott, Elvis Smiley. So, what are your predictions for the rest of the Australian PGA Championship? Will Neman bounce back? Can Leechman or another Aussie player take the lead? And who will be the next surprise contender to emerge? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Let’s get the discussion started.
