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Cameron Smith has suffered a dramatic second-round collapse as his LIV Golf teammate Lucas Herbert surged to a four-stroke Australian Open lead in Melbourne.
Cameron Smith has called out golf's new golden boy Elvis Smylie after enduring a dramatic second-round collapse at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Smith's LIV Golf Ripper GC teammate Lucas Herbert is threatening to run away with the Stonehaven Cup after the 2022 British Open champion slumped from one shot behind to eight off the pace in an extraordinary collapse on Friday.
Herbert steadied after a brief wobble to open up a four-stroke break atop the leaderboard over unheralded American Ryggs Johnston with a six-under 66 at a windswept Kingston Heath Golf Club.
Smith had been hot in his trail in solo second spot after a brilliant five-under-par front nine, including an eagle at the first hole and three birdies in the next five.
But the former world No.2 will enter the weekend well back in a tie for 17th after imploding down the stretch after officials placed Smith and his playing partner, newly crowned Australian PGA champion Smylie on the shot clock for slow going.
Smith racked up three bogeys and a double-bogey six on the 16th hole after also suffering a penalty for an unplayable lie after his errant drive.
In the space of barely two hours, Smith followed his outward 31 with an inward 41 to eventually sign for an even-par 72.
"I just made a couple probably poor choices mentally. We got on the clock there and it didn't seem like we were playing that slow and it felt like we were just rushing," he said.
"That just led to a few bogeys and then you kind of get on that train in that wind - it's not a good spot to be in."
Smith and Smylie were also placed on the clock during last Sunday's final round of the PGA at Royal Queensland, and Smith pulled no punches when asked if that was unusual.
"I don't get put on the clock too often. I feel like we do a pretty good job. There is a common denominator there that's a little bit slower," he said in a thinly-veiled swipe at Smylie's pace of play.
"But, yeah, no, it's not something I like because I feel like I'm a pretty fast-paced player.
"So being put on the clock is just another thing. I feel like I do my best out there to play as quick as I can and then I feel like I'm running around."
Smith said he wouldn't bother taking the issue up with Smylie after being asked if he would "have a word to the common denominator".
"It's not my job to," he said.
"I think there's better ways to go about about that stuff, but that's another topic."
The official time warning didn't faze Smylie, though, as the 22-year-old carded a sublime 64 to rocket into a share for third at nine under.
He had been three over through seven holes on Thursday, but has since amassed 13 birdies to roar back into contention to complete a rare summer double of twin victories at Australia's two flagship golf tournaments.
In a five-way tie with Austrian Lukas Nemecz, Scot Oliver Lindell and Americans Harry Higgs and Jordan Gumberg, Smylie has only Herbert and Johnston in front of him.
Another four players, including former NSW Open and Amateur champion Harrison Crowe, are at eight under in joint 12th spot.
Marc Leishman, after a second-round 68, is among six more players sharing 12th, one stroke further back and one ahead of Smith.
But they all have to reel in Herbert, who is looking to back up his NSW Open triumph three weeks ago with the biggest win of his career.
"I've got 36 holes in the sandbelt this weekend. The easiest trap to fall into would be to think you've got control of this tournament," Herbert said.
"It doesn't take much to jump up and bite you.
"So I'm definitely the position I want to be in, but I certainly don't have control of it."