6 Big Names And Notable Players To Miss The Australian PGA Championship Cut

Cameron Smith and Joaquin Niemann were two of the surprise names to miss the cut at Royal Queensland Golf Club

Cameron Smith and Joaquin Niemann hold their finish on iron shots
(Image credit: Getty Images)

It's a big week on the DP World Tour with the start of the 2026 season getting underway at the Australian PGA Championship.

The strong field is headlined by the likes of Adam Scott, Cameron Smith and Min Woo Lee - but there have been some high-profile casualties after two rounds, with three-time champion Smith missing the 36-hole cut.

Andrew 'Beef' Johnston: -1 (74-67)

Andrew Johnston hits an iron shot during the 2024 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It has been a torrid couple of years for the popular Andrew 'Beef' Johnston, who has struggled with injuries.

He recently made his first start in over a year at the Genesis Championship in Korea and he is now fully fit for the 2026 campaign. He will not be earning a paycheck this week, however, after rounds of 74 and 67 for a one-under-par total, which agonizingly was one stroke shy of the cut mark.

The damage was done on Thursday when he carded two double-bogeys in a three-over-par 74. He followed it up with a brilliant bogey-free 67 in round two but it ultimately was not quite enough.

Joaquin Niemann: E (71-71)

Joaquin Niemann holds his finish on an iron shot

(Image credit: Getty Images)

LIV Golf star Joaquin Niemann was one of the biggest names in the field to start the week and he has surprisingly missed the cut after back-to-back rounds of level-par.

Niemann also missed the cut at last week's Saudi International, so he'll be hoping to re-find some form ahead of next week's Australian Open at Royal Melbourne - which he won in 2023.

The Chilean made ten birdies in his opening 36 holes but surprisingly matched them with ten bogeys.

Matt Jones: +1 (71-72)

Matt Jones holds his finish on a fairway wood shot

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Another LIV Golfer to be going home early is two-time Australian Open champion Matt Jones.

The former two-time PGA Tour winner and Ripper GC player made six birdies, five bogeys and a costly double-bogey in his one-over-par two-round total.

Jones was recently T6th at the Hong Kong Open but has now missed back-to-back cuts after also going home early last week in Saudi Arabia.

Cameron Smith: +2 (69-75)

Cameron Smith holds his finish on an iron shot

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Smith got off to a strong start on Thursday with a two-under-par round of 69 but had a surprisingly bad Friday to miss the weekend.

The Brisbane native, who won his third Australian PGA Championship at this venue in 2022 and was runner-up last year, made four bogeys and a double in his second-round 75.

Remarkably, from the seven non-LIV Golf events he has played in 2025, he has missed all seven cuts. This clearly is not the Cameron Smith of 2022.

He'll be hoping to forget about Friday and take the positives of round one to Royal Melbourne next week.

Cameron Adam: +3 (75-70)

Cameron Adam holds his finish on a wedge shot

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Walker Cup player Cameron Adam was making his professional debut this week after earning full DP World Tour status via the Global Amateur Pathway Ranking.

The Scottish player attended Northwestern University, the same as Luke Donald and Matt Fitzpatrick, and won the 2023 Scottish Amateur Championship.

He'll have to wait for his first paycheck as a pro after a poor opening 75, which featured a front nine of 41 (+5).

Adam bounced back with a one-under-par 70 on Friday but still fell well short of the cut mark.

Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen: +5 (75-73)

Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen holds his finish on a drive

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Dane has been one of the standout players in Europe this year during his rookie season on the DP World Tour.

He recently earned his 2026 PGA Tour card via the 10 Cards Initiative so it is surprising to see him outside of the top 140 at the halfway stage.

Neergaard-Petersen recently finished T3rd at the DP World Tour Championship in a year that included two runners-up finishes, six other top-10s and a T12 at the US Open.

He'll certainly be one to watch in the US next year.

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, X and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 and 2025 Masters from Augusta National and was there by the 18th green to watch Rory McIlroy complete the career grand slam. He has also covered five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.