Cameron Smith revealed he was "a few too many beers deep" on Friday evening when he realised he would have to get up early for the third round of the Australian Open.

Smith thought he had missed the cut at Kingston Heath Golf Club on home soil after signing for a one-over second round of 73.

The Open champion made a trip to the pub for some post-round refreshments, thinking his participation in the DP World Tour event in Melbourne was over.

But with the competition cut to 60 players for Saturday and halved after the third round, the world number three discovered he did not have a full weekend off.

Smith returned to go round in 69 in what proved to be his third round.

The Brisbane native said: "I was pretty quick to the pub [after his round on Friday] and, yeah, was probably a few too many beers deep, and then I realised we had an early tee time, so I got back on the waters and was a good boy the rest of the night."

Smith, who won the PGA Championship last week, added: "I thought I had it in me today and hit lots of good golf shots, and just couldn't really capitalise. Just not my week."

Adam Scott holds a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Australian Open in his homeland.