Just ask Cameron Smith, who, through 9 holes during Friday’s second round at the Australian Open, sat at 11-under par overall. He was squarely in the mix, jockeying with fellow Australian Lucas Herbert for the pole position.

An unflappable Lucas Herbert led his home Australian Open at the halfway mark on Friday as fan favourite Cameron Smith tumbled down the leaderboard with a poor back nine at Kingston Heath.

Lucas Herbert shot an 8-under 63 at Victoria Golf Club to take the first-round lead at the Australian Open, with 2022 British Open champion Cameron Smith two strokes behind.