Cam Smith and fellow Aussie Min Woo Lee climb the rankings to be in contention for the US Open amid chaos of LIV Golf and PGA merger
- Smith defected to LIV Gold
- Lee is part of the PGA Tour
- Both in the running for the US Open
Australian golf stars Min Woo Lee and Cameron Smith have climbed the rankings to remain firmly in contention for US Open glory in Los Angeles.
Lee fired the low shot of the morning, a five under par 65, to charge within three shots of American clubhouse leader Wyndham Clark.
Bidding to join her two-time Major winner sister Minjee as US Open champion, Lee’s dazzling round included an extraordinary 407-yard run on the 16th hole.
That set up the fifth birdie of the day for the 24-year-old.
Then the Perth prodigy wowed the fans with his iron game, hitting an approach to the last from within four feet for a sixth birdie to ice his brilliant round and climb to six under.
“Everything works pretty well,” Lee said.
“My approach game has been lacking for the last year – or my entire career – so it’s been pretty nice to be in the positive for the last two days.
‘Hit it well, drive it well. Riding a long distance actually, which is good on this course because it is long.
Australian golfer and LIV Golf defector Cameron Smith backed up his 69 in the US Open first round with a 67 on Friday (US time)
PGA Tour and Aussie golfer Min Woo Lee also entered the fray with a five-under-par 65.
Lee and Smith are now within easy reach of the American clubhouse leader Wyndham Clark
Smith is two strokes down at four under after backing up his first-round 69 with a 67 on Friday.
After teeing off on the 10th, Smith dropped an early shot on the No.11 before collecting birdies on the 12th, 13th and 15th to get his round back on track.
The world No. 9 had two more shots on his inside nine to be well placed for a weekend challenge.
“I just haven’t been able to drill into that 15-30 foot range,” Smith said.
“I just need those longer putts, one or two to go down every round, and here I am.”
Lee and Smith entered the third major tournament of the year after a career-best result at last month’s PGA Championship in New York and carried the momentum to Los Angeles Country Club.
“The turn of the corner probably came about a month before that,” Smith said.
“I feel like I’ve been playing golf for a few months. Just feels really solid. I feel like I’m not doing much wrong.
Minjee Lee is the defending US Open women’s champion and will defend her title next month at Pebble Beach.
Smith navigated difficult conditions and a week of uncertainty with the merger of LIV Golf and the PGA Tour to be in contention for the US Open
Lee aims to emulate her two-time major winner sister Minjee as US Open champion
Now his little brother has the chance to complete the first major double in golf history.
Lee said staying patient was key.
‘[I’m] just don’t make too many mistakes. When I hit him in the raw, I have to take my meds and just hit him,’ he said.
Fellow Australian Cam Davis also enjoyed his best PGA Championship yet, tying for fourth place to earn a ticket to next year’s Masters but will miss the cup in Los Angeles.
Davis dropped to 11 with a horror of 79 and finished his second round tied for last in the 156-man field.
Lucas Herbert, Adam Scott and Jason Day all had afternoon tee times.
Herbert was even tied and Scott and Day were both down to three and battling to make the cut.
Clark took the club lead at nine under with a second-round 67, after opening with a 64 on Thursday.
Former champion and four-time major winner Rory McIlroy is just one shot behind after a three-under 67.