Superstars shine in Brisbane gloom

Former world No.1 Jason Day is eyeing off a Sunday showdown with Cam Smith at the Australian PGA Championship after the tournament drawcards, and “Brissie boys”, lived up to their billing in a wet opening round at Royal Queensland.

Teeing off in the marquee group just after 6am Thursday morning, alongside defending champion Min Woo Lee, Queenslanders Day and Smith each shot rounds of four-under 67 to trail clubhouse leader Elvis Smylie (65) by two strokes.

Seeing Smylie’s score, Day was quick to declare “20-under” could be needed to win come Sunday, despite the watery conditions.

“I think the average score is going to be 20-under that wins,” he said.

“You’ve got to understand that it is going to be a bit of a marathon.”

Day was content with his 18 holes in his return to tournament golf in Australia after an absence of seven years.

“It was nice and steady – I managed the round very well,” he said after his bogey-free Thursday performance.

While Smith mixed in two bogeys with six birdies, he too was satisfied with his first-round effort.

“After the way I putted last Sunday (at the NSW Open), seeing the ball go in and getting a little bit of confidence, that was nice,” the 2022 British Open champion said.

“When I feel like I’m putting good, I feel like the rest of my game frees up and I can really start to play some aggressive golf.”

LIV star Smith enjoyed the rare experience of playing in the same group – which attracted a crowd of more than 1000 – as Day despite the hindrance of wet layout after a couple of days of heavy rain in Brisbane.

“He was one that I looked up to,” he said of the 2015 US PGA winner.

“We were probably both hoping for different conditions at the golf course.

“Hopefully the rain can go away. The greens are actually still pretty firm.

“Hopefully by Sunday we get an Australian golf course.”

Day was also grateful for the experience of going head-to-head in the same group with Smith, and hoped for a final-round, tournament-deciding battle between the pair suggesting a big score could be needed to win.

“I think the average score is going to be 20-under that wins. You’ve got to understand that it is going to be a bit of a marathon,” he said

“It would be fun (to go head-to-head with Smith). It’s always fun to be in contention regardless of who it is, but if it’s two Brissie boys it would be nice.”

“I’m very pleased with how today went..”

Lee, the third member of the star three-ball, who captivated the crowds on his way to victory in 2023, was less happy with his opening 68 after dropping three shots on the back nine.

“I’ve just got to be better,” the Paris Olympian said.

“I was just not decisive and not good.”

Day was delighted with the reception he got from the crowd.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been here so I was not too sure how things would unfold, but it’s been great. The crowds have been fantastic,” he said.

Smylie – who chipped in from the bunker on the ninth, his final hole of the day – has his way – was thrilled that Day was part of the field at Royal Queensland.

“I want to be where he is, so it’s definitely motivating to play against those guys,” the Gold Coast product and son of Australian tennis great Liz Smylie said.

“Every part of my game’s really good at the moment. I’m really comfortable with what I’m doing.”

Switzerland’s Joel Girrbach, Frenchman Victor Perez, Chile’s Cristobal Del Solar and Victorian Matias Sanchez were a stroke behind Smylie at five-under.

Joining Day and Smith at four-under were fellow Australians Marc Leishman, David Micheluzzi and Ben Eccles, South African Aldrich Potgieter, Spain’s Ivan Cantero and Englishmen Jordan Smith and Matthew Southgate.

Australian PGA Round 1 Leaderboard

-6 (65) - Elvis Smylie (QLD)

-5 (66) - Joel Girrbach (SUI), Victor Perez (FRA), Matias Sanchez (VIC), Cristobal del Solar -4 (67) - David Micheluzzi (VIC), Jordan Smith (ENG), Aldrich Potgieter (RSA), Ben Eccles (VIC), Cameron Smith (QLD), Jason Day (QLD), Marc Leishman (VIC), Ivan Cantero (ESP), Matthew Southgate (ENG)