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Cameron Smith has been left frustrated by a few loose drives that stalled his hopes of making a run at the PGA Championship.
Cameron Smith has been left frustrated by a couple of loose tee shots that put paid to his PGA Championship hopes in the third round.
Already facing an uphill battle courtesy of a six-shot deficit through two rounds, the mullet-toting Queenslander knew he needed to be near flawless to make his move on Kiawah Island's Ocean Course.
But Smith could only find seven of 14 fairways from the tee, leaving him short of chances to fire at flags and find birdies.
"I just didn't hit my driver good enough," Smith told AAP.
"I hit a fair amount of what I thought were good drives that just ran into the rough and as soon as you are out of position it's a grind to make par around here."
Smith shot a one-over 73 to be the leading Australian at 2-over, tied 33rd and nine shots off leader Phil Mickelson - with the 50-year-old American putting himself in position to become the oldest major champion.
While Smith sits well off the pace, he's only three shots out of the top 10, a target he's set himself for Sunday's final round as he sets himself for the US Open, British Open and the lucrative FedExCup Playoffs over the next three months.
"I think I'm really close to breaking this course," Smith said.
"The more you play here the more you learn so I can't wait to try to make a run tomorrow.
"I might not have a chance to win but I do have a good shot at making a good week out if it, and going home with my chin up.
"There's lots of big golf coming up so it would be nice to sneak a top-10 in and take some momentum forward."
The rest of the Australians are well back with Jason Scrivener at 4-over after a even-par 72.
Former world No.1 Jason Day also had a 72 but at 5-over will need a miracle on Sunday to get inside the top 17 and move up the rankings to qualify directly for the US Open.
"That's the last thing on my mind tomorrow. I just need to keep building confidence in my game, especially my putting," Day told AAP.
"You never want to miss a major but if I dwell on this one, I might sabotage the long-term work I'm putting in for the future.
"I used a new putter today and got a little confidence but could use some more.
"There will be plenty of US Opens to play if I get fixed for the long term."
Matt Jones carded a 74 to be 6-over, Cameron Davis a 76 to be 7-over while a 77 from Lucas Herbert left him languishing at 9-over.
