Australian hopes were high heading into the final major of the year, but The Open Championship ended in disaster for the nation and its nine hopefuls at Royal Portrush.
Marc Leishman was the only Australian to make the cut with Cameron Smith, Jason Day, Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee, Lucas Herbert, Elvis Smylie, Ryan Peake and Curtis Luck all failing to make the weekend.
That brutal pill would’ve been especially hard to swallow for Smith, who was hoping a return to British linksland would’ve been enough to reignite his form at the majors.
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Smith was the 2022 Champion Golfer at the Year after a stunning triumph at St Andrews, but defected to LIV Golf soon after and has seen his form at the majors trend downwards ever since.
But this year has seen that negative trend turn into a full-blown nosedive.
By missing the cut at Royal Portrush, Smith suffers the unwanted record of being the only male golfer this year to miss the cut at all four majors.
When added to his missed cut at Royal Troon last year, it makes five-consecutive majors in which Smith hasn’t played the weekend.
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Only two players — Adam Scott and amateur Connor Graham — scored worse on the day.
In the seven years prior to 2025, Smith had made 23 cuts of 27 in the majors — a strike rate that not even Rory McIlroy boasted in the same period.
Smith now heads back to the LIV tour where he sits 16th on the standings.
He is also now three years into a five-year exemption to play the Masters, PGA Championship and US Open, meaning he could soon be left with only The Open to play if he can’t turn his fortunes at the majors around.
PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND – JULY 17: Cameron Smith of Australia reacts on the 18th green during day one of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 17, 2025 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
LEISH MISSES CHANCE TO LOCK IN MAJOR FUTURE
Leishman will have to do things the hard way to feature in the major championships next year.
The 41-year-old started the final round determined to push for a top ten finish to book his place in The Open field at Royal Birkdale in 12 months time, but things did not go to plan with a disappointing 75.
Leishman sat on the couch for ten consecutive majors after joining LIV Golf in 2022, but returned to the showpiece events after coming through qualifying at last month’s US Open and earning his place at Royal Portrush with a top three finish at last year’s Australian Open.
A strong showing at Royal Melbourne in December awaits as his next best opportunity to return to the British Links, but otherwise as it stands, he will have to play qualifying events next years.
The Masters is a relatively closed shop with LIV golfers struggling to gain access unless they have won a green jacket, hold a five-year exemption to all the majors following a major victory like Cameron Smith, or receive a special invite from Augusta National like Joaquin Niemann.
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The PGA Championship is becoming more accommodating of LIV golfers, but while the door is still ajar, Leishman’s major future remains uncertain.
Although, he is not stressing about it, and is accepting that he was well aware that his world ranking would take a beating and make getting into the majors more difficult by joining LIV.
“Yeah, happy to be back. Obviously if everything works out and we can get in them, I’d love to play them,” Leishman said of the majors.
“If not, I’m not going to stress over it or anything. Yes, I really want to be here, but happy with my decisions.”
PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND – JULY 15: Marc Leishman of Australia tees off on the first hole during a practice round prior to The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 15, 2025 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
As for his game on the course, Leishman was disappointed with his final round but believes the positive signs are there.
“I didn’t start very well any round. Like today I had to get off to a good start and didn’t, and sort of everything seemed a little bit out of reach and just struggled after that,” he said.
“My ball striking was decent. I missed a few drives right. I’ve had a few driver issues this year just with them breaking. Not me breaking them, but them breaking. I had one break on the way over here, and I finally found one which is good. I’ll take that as a positive this week. I found a driver that I love, just couldn’t string enough good holes together, I guess.
“It seemed like every time I’d have a birdie today, I’d follow it up with a bogey or worse. So yeah, disappointing day, but take the good with the bad. Onwards and upwards from here.”
AUSTRALIAN RESULTS AT THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 2025
CUT — Jason Day, +2
CUT — Elvis Smylie, +3
CUT — Lucas Herbert, +4
CUT — Min Woo Lee, +5
CUT — Curtis Luck, +8
CUT — Cameron Smith, +8
CUT — Ryan Peake, +8