Seven AAC Alumni Make PGA Championship Cut

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States: Cameron Smith continues to lead the Asia-Pacific charge at the PGA Championship.

The Australian world number four added an even-par 70 to his opening 68 at Southern Hills. He’ll enter the third round in a share of 10th place, seven shots behind pace-setting American Will Zalatoris.

It was an eventful day for Smith whose wayward tee shot on the second hole accidentally struck American Aaron Wise on the head. Wise, who was playing the seventh hole, was not seriously hurt and was able to continue.

Smith was one of seven former Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) participants to make the cut in the second Major of the year.

Joining him for the weekend are New Zealand’s Ryan Fox (140), Australian Lucas Herbert (141), Koreans KH Lee (142) and Kim Si-woo (143) and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and Australian Cam Davis (both 144).

Among those who won’t be around for the final two rounds are Australian Min Woo Lee (145), Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana (147) and Japan’s Takumi Kanaya (153).

For KH Lee, who successfully defended his AT&T Byron Nelson title last week, there was a minor cause for celebration. He carded a 73 to make his first cut in what is his sixth Major appearance. He made three birdies against six bogeys and enters the weekend in tied 41st place.

Four-time PGA Championship winner Tiger Woods made the cut for the 18th time in 22 starts at the event. He’s on 143 following a gutsy second-round 69.

Woods, who is making his 89th Major championship appearance, rallied from a double-bogey on the par-three 11th with birdies on 13 and 16.

While Zalatoris leads by one from Mito Pereira and three from Justin Thomas following a bogey-free 65, the performance of the day belonged to Bubba Watson who equalled the PGA Championship scoring record with a seven-under 63, becoming the 17th player (18th instance) to perform the feat.

Thanks to that inspired effort, the left-handed two-time Masters champion heads into Saturday’s third-round in sole possession of fourth place on 135.

But it’s proved to be a rare bad week for Scottie Scheffler, who won his maiden Major at last month’s Masters Tournament. He became just the third world number one to miss the cut at the PGA Championship.