The Australian Open will be the last time Smith (+1) pegs it up in 2022 after a whirlwind year in which he won five times, including a first major at St Andrews and a maiden LIV Golf success in Chicago following a reported $140 million switch to Greg Norman’s Saudi-backed league.

Huge crowds were out early on Saturday for his third round tee time, but Smith couldn’t mount any sort of momentum to make a charge up the leaderboard after winning the Australian PGA for a third time last week in his hometown Brisbane.

Smith will resume competition in the Saudi International in the first week of February.

Herbert (-3) needs a strong finish on the final day to push his world ranking into the top 50 and earn an invite to The Masters in April.

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But after playing his third round which clocked almost five-and-a-half hours, the PGA Tour winner tried his best to bite his tongue over the teething problems of a dual gender event.

He said he felt like his group, including Australian PGA runner-up Jason Scrivener (-4), was jammed up on “most” holes.

“It did feel very slow out there,” Herbert said.

Pressed further on whether he had views on how it could be massaged, he said: “I don’t think they’re going to be very well received in an interview. It is what it is.

“I think 77 girls made the cut, amateurs being included.

“That made things tough doing the draw. It’s not an easy golf course out there. I felt like it was a tough golf course and I’m one of the best players in the field. For the girls who are not playing the game full-time that have maybe just snuck in through the cut and struggling with their game a little bit, it’s a brutal test out there.”

Australian Open officials limited the women’s field to 108 compared to 156 men.

Watch the Australian Open on the 9Network and 9Now from December 1-4.