Record-breaking Smith leads, Aussies dominating 150th Open at St Andrews

Australia’s Cameron Smith is two shots clear of the field at the halfway mark of the 150 Open Championship at St.Andrews.

Media release

Cameron Smith has produced the best 36-hole score to par in Open Championship history to reach 13-under with a two-shot lead at St Andrews on a stunning day for Australia.

Four other Australians are inside the top-12 as Smith’s 64, the low round of the day, pipped Adam Scott’s earlier 65 put him into a tie for eighth at seven under par.

The day belonged to Australia with Min Woo Lee and Lucas Herbert also inside the top-12 at six-under for the tournament, and our nation’s two highest ranked male players took it upon themselves to light up the Old Course.

Seven of the 11 Australians made the cut.

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Scott almost brought the house down with a long-range eagle putt that nearly dropped at the 18th as Smith was waiting to tee off from the first, and it appeared as if the 2013 Masters had tagged in his fellow Queenslander to take over as chief entertainer.

The world number six happily accepted the responsibility and got to work immediately with a hat-trick of birdies to kick things off which included a 47-footer at the first to keep the place jumping.

“Obviously got off to a really hot start,” Smith said. “And it’s very easy to just keep going, getting on the front foot and maybe trying to hit some shots that are a little bit too aggressive. But just stayed patient and holed some really nice putts.”

He kept the ball rolling with consecutive birdies at seven and eight, and another at ten, but it was another monster putt at the par-5 14th that had fans flocking to see him in action.

The murmurs had begun around the course that Rory McIlroy’s record for the lowest round in an Open at St Andrews – a 63 in 2010 – was in danger as Smith displayed the kind of form that secured him the the PGA Tour’s 72-hole scoring record with 34-under at the Tournament of Champions in January and the Players Championship in March.

It was not to be however, as he parred his way home but it was clear he had uncovered something special at the Scottish Open last weekend – where he shot 68 and 67 on Saturday and Sunday to finish tied tenth.

“I think I just played some really good golf last week. Just a little bit I guess more pep in my step,” Smith said.

“My last few tournaments before that one weren’t the greatest. I wasn’t really happy with how I was playing. It’s nice to put a good, solid weekend together ahead of this one.”

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