Cameron Smith was once near the top of the professional golf world, but the 2022 Open Championship winner found only pain and recent disappointment in relationships.
The former World No. 2 entered this week’s Australian BMW PGA Championship, a home event, hoping to snap a losing streak spanning all four majors this season. Smith missed the cut at the Saudi International last week and would have missed the cut at Dunhill Links had it not been shortened due to the weather.
The 32-year-old opened with a two-under 69 and put himself in line to make the cut at Royal Queensland before things fell apart during Friday’s second round.
Smith bogeyed No. 2 to get within three, but then bogeyed four, 11, 13 and 14 to dip below the cut line. With four holes remaining, the Ripper GC singer needed to make a frantic charge to play the weekend, but he played the last four holes in a par to return home for the weekend.
After the second round, Smith described the shock he felt at another missed cut.
“Yes, it was st,” said Smith, via Australian Evin Priest Golf Digest. “If you had told me this morning when I was warming up, I would have told you differently. I don’t know, I just don’t know. I’m so confused. I felt good, really safe and I just couldn’t do anything. It was weird. I was in between clubs a lot today. Hitting some good shots again. The hard lies killed me today … and then I couldn’t get up and down.
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Cam Smith is known for his laid-back personality, but it’s clear that the golf trail he’s on has taken its toll.
“Obviously it can get in your head, I think it does in mine; It’s just frustrating,” Smith said. “It’s been my story of the year, I feel like I’ve worked hard all year and I haven’t gotten anything out of it. I know what the answer is, it’s just keep working hard and try to be patient. I’ve tried to do all the right things, for whatever reason it’s not coming together on the course.”
Smith’s quest to rediscover his game will continue at next week’s Australian Open at Royal Melbourne’s Composite Course. It is a search that fellow Australian Adam Scott believes there could be a swift end. In golf, a swing can cause a run.
“When you’re as good as he is, of course he can, and it’s a swing, a chip, a putt here or there, and the momentum changes and confidence can grow quickly in a hole or two, you know?” Smith said, through the Priest. “It’s just putting four good swings and two strikes together in a row and sometimes it’s really hard to do that, but that’s how it comes back and I have no doubt he can.”
