Cam Smith faced disappointment upon his return to Australia to defend his Fortinet Australian PGA Championship.
Despite being a three-time winner, the LIV Golf star missed the cut by nine shots in the opening 36 holes. Smith, who has established himself as Australia’s top golfer, failed to showcase his prowess at Royal Queensland.
The former world No. 2, and former Open champion, started the week with a frustrating two-over-par 73, hoping for improvement in the subsequent rounds. However, things took a turn for the worse when he posted an uncharacteristic seven-over 78, concluding the week with only two birdies.
Expressing his frustration in a post-round interview, Smith deemed his performance “unacceptable” and admitted to feeling upset about his subpar showing on home turf. He acknowledged the need to commit to his game despite knowing what to do under pressure.
Adding to Smith’s challenges was the pressure associated with LIV Golf’s ongoing quest for Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) recognition. With LIV Golf events set to lack ranking points in 2024, Smith and his peers are likely to face a decline in their rankings.
Looking ahead, ranking points become crucial for Smith, especially in his bid to represent Australia at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Prior to the tournament, he emphasized targeting events like the co-sanctioned DP World Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia, along with the majors in 2024, to secure an Olympic spot.
Despite the setback in Queensland, Smith remains hopeful for redemption at the upcoming Australian Open. Expressing frustration with his performance, he aims to bounce back at The Lakes Golf Club in Adelaide, aspiring to deliver a better showing in the following week.
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