The pressure of a major championship is unlike anything else in golf, and for Cameron Smith, that pressure has mounted into a significant hurdle. The Australian star's early exit from The Masters marks his sixth consecutive missed cut in a major, a startling statistic for a player of his caliber.

This trend is particularly surprising given Smith's historic success at Augusta National. He has five top-10 finishes there, more than his combined top-10s in the other three majors, proving he has the game to conquer its challenges. This year, however, he finished his second round at seven over par, ending his tournament prematurely.

The slump extends beyond Augusta. Smith was the only player to miss the cut in all four majors in 2025, a far cry from the form that saw him lift the Claret Jug at St. Andrews in 2022 and reach world number two. Fellow Australian and former world number one Jason Day offered his perspective on his countryman's struggles.

"Cammy, he’s such a good golfer," Day said. "The guy won the British Open, won The Players... He’s an unreal golfer. He has a tremendous short game and really good wedge game. So it’s unfortunate this golf course actually should suit him really well just of how good his game is."

Day acknowledged the mental toll of such a run, especially under the unique spotlight faced by LIV Golf players at majors. "I think he might be going through a bit of a tough run right now, especially during the majors, because that’s hard to miss all of last year’s majors," he noted, referencing the narrative that LIV's schedule may not fully prepare players for golf's toughest tests.

Despite the current challenges, Day remains confident in Smith's ability to rebound. His advice was simple yet profound: "He could win the next major and we’re not thinking about it again." For a competitor like Smith, known for his gritty short game and unflappable putting, one breakthrough performance could instantly rewrite the narrative and silence the doubters. The talent is undeniable; it's now about rediscovering that major championship mentality.