Cameron Smith’s hopes of securing a DP World Tour victory at the Open de France ended abruptly after he missed the cut, finishing two rounds at two over par. The 2022 Open champion’s collapse was sealed by two double-bogeys in his final three holes, including a costly second consecutive approach shot into the water on the par-4 18th.
Smith’s performance at Le Golf National was a stark contrast to the consistency required to advance, with Golf Monthly reporting that those errors extinguished his chances of adding to his trophy haul since the 2022 Australian PGA Championship. As a LIV Golf player, Smith’s form also dims his prospects of featuring prominently in the upcoming International Presidents Cup team.
Carlos Ortiz, another LIV golfer with 10 professional wins but no DP World Tour title, also failed to make the weekend cut, finishing at one over. Ortiz started with an even-par 71 that suggested promise but could not maintain that level as the course’s challenges took their toll. His struggle to keep pace with the field underlined the difficulty of the conditions at Le Golf National.
While Smith and Ortiz faltered, Matt Fitzpatrick continued to dominate the leaderboard. The Englishman maintained his bogey-free run with a seven-under 64 on Friday, lifting his total to 13 under par and taking a one-shot lead over Jeff Winther. Fitzpatrick’s round included capitalizing on the par-five third and a clutch up-and-down on the final hole to stay ahead. He told Sky Sports, “I played really solid again and felt comfortable with my game.”
Ryan Gerard, who was overlooked for the Presidents Cup roster by Brandt Snedeker, stayed in contention, three shots behind after shooting a 65. Meanwhile, defending champion Michael Kim slipped to third following a bogey on the last hole.
The cut line at Le Golf National proved unforgiving, with the course’s demanding layout punishing any lapses in precision. Smith’s double-bogeys and retreat to two over par exposed the narrow margin for error, especially over just 36 holes.
This year’s Open de France has been a test of form and nerve, catching several big names off guard. For Smith, the early exit is a setback at a crucial time for his international career, while Ortiz’s continued search for a DP World Tour breakthrough faces another hurdle. The tournament’s leaders now prepare for the weekend rounds with Fitzpatrick in front and the field striving to close the gap.
According to Yahoo Sports.