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MELBOURNE. — World No. 3 golfer Cameron Smith struggled yesterday in the opening round of the Australian Open, falling behind course record-setting leader David Micheluzzi, while Grace Kim led the women’s tournament in Melbourne.
British Open champion Smith was left frustrated after a difficult day in which he finished one-over par with four bogeys, leaving him tied for 64th.
Smith, who won the Australian PGA Championship last weekend, is playing in his first Australian Open in three years, and will need to improve at Kingston Heath on Friday to make the halfway cut.
“I thought it was all pretty rubbish, to be honest,” Smith said. “That’s as bad as I’ve played in a long time.
“The course was pretty difficult, the conditions were pretty difficult, but still I need to be better than that.”
Local professional Micheluzzi set the benchmark, firing seven-under and course record 63 to lead by three shots from fellow Australian Matthew Griffin.
Micheluzzi opened his round with a bogey on the 10th, but then reeled off eight birdies to march four shots clear at one stage.
“I know this course like the back of my hand, and I got the putter going too,” Micheluzzi said.
“I’ve just got to do the same thing. Just hit it good tomorrow, shoot a decent score and then obviously come into the weekend, hopefully flopping with all the big boys.” — AF
Online Reporter