[photo: LIV Golf supplied]
Cameron Smith started the second round of LIV Golf Andalucia tied for the lead but fell away from a red hot runaway Talor Gooch who grabbed the 36-hole lead with a sensational second round.
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Smith started a wind-delayed second round on Saturday morning local time sharing the lead at two-par but struggled at the difficult Valderrama course with a two-over 73 to fall back to even-par, 7 shots behind 2023 LIV Golf Andalucia winner Gooch.
Gooch battled windy conditions to shoot a fine 66, while Dustin Johnson finished day two 4 shots behind.
Smith struggled early with three bogeys on the front nine and just two birdies. It wasn’t much better on the back nine for Smith, with a double-bogey at the 14th while another bogey and two birdies added up to a two-over round.
Oklahoma native Gooch is searching for his first world wide win, coincidentally since he triumphed at Valderrama during his three-win season in 2023.
“Yeah, I mean, just having won out here a few times, that experience, being in those moments, being in contention with DJ and Bryson and the Brookses and guys like that, it prepares you for these moments when they come up again,” Gooch said.
“Having done it here at this course already, it’s beneficial. It’s going to help me be a little bit more comfortable, a little bit more confident tomorrow.”
“Hopefully we can go get it done again tomorrow.”
Smith’s Ripper GC teammates were a mixed bag. Matt Jones carded a smooth one-under 70 to improve to two-over and he sat T-15, while Lucas Herbert shot 72 to drop one stroke to six-over. Mark Leishman struggled with a 79 sinking him to 11-over.
