Australian PGA 2024: At home, Cameron Smith is in his happy place – Australian Golf Digest

by Admin
November 19, 2024

[PHOTO: Getty Images]

Major winner Cameron Smith says playing two humble state-level events has him in the right frame of mind to chase a fourth Australian PGA Championship title in his backyard of Brisbane this week. So much so that the LIV Golf star hasn’t ruled out doing it again.

Determined to make up for a devastating missed cut at last year’s PGA, which Smith put down to a lack of tournaments leading into the Australian summer, the Florida-based star made his annual trip back to Australia earlier than ever.

Since October, the 31-year-old has played two state tournaments. First up was the recent $250,000 Queensland PGA at Nudgee Golf Club in Brisbane, where he finished T-3, and last week’s $800,000 New South Wales Open on the Murray River. At Murray Downs, Smith made two closing bogeys and finished T-2 to Ripper GC teammate, Lucas Herbert.

Smith and caddie Sam Pinfold at last week’s NSW Open. [Photo: Golf NSW]

Playing two state events where fans walked in the fairways, as well as exposure to competition that is different to major championships or LIV’s $US25 million tournaments, has worked a treat on Smith’s frame of mind leading into the Australia PGA and next week’s Open at Kingston Heath and Victoria Golf Club.

“I think mentally, it’s as good as I’ve been all year,” Smith said today at Royal Queensland. “When you play so much golf in a short period of time, your head does get a little bit cloudy, and it was nice to have those couple of weeks off for sure before getting back into it.”

Smith left the door open to compile a similar Australian schedule in future summer of golf editions.

“It has been really enjoyable the past couple of weeks,” he said. “With the crowds being able to walk the course, it’s a different experience. I’ve loved my time doing that, and it’s something that I’ll think about doing in the future, for sure.”

The mullet-wearing Brisbanite is determined to secure a first individual victory of 2024. He posted three runner-up results on LIV Golf this year and helped Ripper GC (Smith, Herbert, Marc Leishman and Matt Jones) to a season-long teams title. He was also T-6 at the Masters at Augusta National.

Still, victory eludes him. Worldwide, Smith has won at least one tournament each year since 2020. He only has the PGA and Open in Australia, as well as the Asian Tour’s Saudi International in early December, remaining on his 2024 schedule.

“Absolutely; I’d love for my first win [of 2024] to come here,” said Smith, who is a Royal Queensland member. “I would have loved for it to come a little bit earlier. I feel a little added pressure, with some tournaments kind of running out.”

In addition to top-three results at the Queensland PGA and NSW Open, Smith said his record at the Australian PGA offered a confidence boost. He won the 2017 and 2018 Australian PGA at Royal Pines as well as the 2022 edition at Royal Queensland.

He laughed when asked if punters would be wise to bet against him. Smith and defending champion Min Woo Lee are the equal-betting favourites.

“I don’t know; that’s a hard question,” he said. “I feel like this is a course that I really love, and I really enjoy playing, and I’ve played it a lot of times. I think it’s going to play a little bit different than it has in the past, given the weather, but no, I feel like my game is in really good stead, and I’m feeling really confident.”