Cameron Smith Shoots 65 to Take Two-Shot Lead at Honda Classic After Second Round

Cameron Smith fired a flawless 7-under-par 65 today at PGA National Resort to seize a two-shot lead after the second round of the Honda Classic, positioning himself perfectly for a weekend charge at his first PGA Tour victory since 2022. The 32-year-old Australian was in complete control of his game throughout the round, recording seven birdies without a single bogey on a course notorious for punishing even minor mistakes.

Smith's round was a masterclass in course management and precision iron play, as he consistently found fairways and attacked pins with confidence throughout the challenging Champion Course layout. His putting was particularly impressive, as he rolled in several crucial birdie putts from distances between 8-15 feet while never facing a putt longer than four feet for par. "I felt really comfortable with my reads on the greens today," Smith said after signing his scorecard. "When you're hitting it close and the putts are dropping, this game becomes a lot more fun."

The highlight of Smith's round came on the notorious par-3 15th hole, part of the infamous "Bear Trap" stretch that has destroyed many tournament hopes over the years. The Australian hit a perfect 7-iron to within six feet of the pin and calmly rolled in the birdie putt, drawing appreciative roars from the gallery that had gathered around one of golf's most challenging holes. His ability to navigate the Bear Trap without dropping a shot while actually gaining ground on the field demonstrated the kind of mental toughness required to win at PGA National.

Tiger Woods provided one of the day's most compelling storylines, shooting a solid 69 to move into a tie for third place at 8-under-par, just three shots behind Smith's lead. The 15-time major champion showed flashes of his vintage form, particularly with his iron play and short game around the greens. Woods managed to birdie three of the four par-5s while avoiding the big numbers that have plagued some of his recent rounds. "I felt like I played really solid golf today," Woods reflected. "Cameron is playing great golf right now, but there's still a lot of golf left to be played."

The leaderboard heading into the weekend features a mix of established stars and rising talent, with Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele both sitting at 9-under-par in a tie for second place. Scheffler bounced back from an opening-round 71 with a impressive 66 that featured six birdies and just one bogey, while Schauffele continued his consistent play with a second consecutive 68. The depth of talent near the top suggests an exciting weekend ahead, with multiple players capable of making a run at the title.

Smith enters the weekend as the clear favorite but knows he must maintain his excellent form against a field that includes several major champions and current top-10 players. The weather forecast calls for increased wind speeds over the weekend, which could make scoring more difficult and put a premium on course management and mental toughness. "The conditions are supposed to get tougher, which actually suits my game," Smith noted. "I've always enjoyed the challenge of playing in windy conditions, and I think experience will be important over the next two days."

The Honda Classic has historically been one of the PGA Tour's most challenging events, with PGA National's Champion Course providing a stern test that rewards precision and punishes mistakes. Smith's bogey-free round today was particularly impressive given the course's difficulty, and his ability to build on this performance over the weekend will determine whether he can claim his first PGA Tour victory in nearly four years. Saturday's third round will begin with ideal morning conditions before afternoon winds are expected to pick up, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting weekend of championship golf.