Through no fault of his own, Cameron Davis is tagged “the other Cam” whenever golf fans debate the stars of Australian golf.
His superb nine-under-par 63 to lead after the opening round at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open in Sydney was another step towards showing the stage is big enough for two to share.
Davis already has one trophy that 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith openly covets. Davis won the 2017 Australian Open in style from a long way back with a closing 64.
That breakthrough achievement came at The Australian Golf Club where the tall talent from Sydney gets to play the final three rounds of his national Open this week.
“The start here (in round one at The Lakes) was a key. You want to make the most of good conditions and I did make some nice putts,” Davis said.
At this two-course event, he now shifts to play at The Australian Golf Club next door.
“It’s a different golf course, different grass, probably different conditions too. You’ve just got to start all over again pretty much,” Davis said.
“I’d love to be right up there on Sunday.”
Smith has worked to do to be up there. Smith twice found the lakes at The Lakes early in his round but salvaged par fives on both occasions. He finished with a one-under 71 to be eight strokes adrift.
Davis is ranked No.43 in the world. He had a win on the PGA Tour in 2021 but has produced some of his most consistent golf at that level through this year.
Davis was five-under through his opening five holes with the hottest of starts. He was unfazed by the par five 14th, his fifth hole of the day.
He hit a low three iron to a good point of the fairway, his “nice stock three iron” over a lake was stellar to land inside 2m and he sunk the putt for eagle.
Smith was still a little frustrated by his round but thought there is “definitely something to build on” with the way he committed to shots.
American Patrick Rogers, at eight-under with 64 at The Lakes, is Davis’ nearest challenger. Young Hayden Hopewell (65) is seven-under after taking advantage of the soft early conditions at The Lakes while Scotland’s Connor Syme got to seven-under with his 64 at The Australian.
In the Australian All Abilities Championship, Cameron Pollard and Tommaso Perrino lead the way with two-under 69s at The Australian.
