Cameron Smith has bit again on the critics who consider the LIV convert doesn’t play sufficient “actual golf” to proceed his stellar report at Augusta and contend at subsequent week’s Masters.
Adam Scott, the one Australian to win a inexperienced jacket, was equally as dismissive of recommendations Smith’s probabilities have been hampered by his LIV transfer, declaring the Queenslander was “within the prime of his profession”.
Smith, the reigning British Open champion, is taking part in simply his fourth occasion of the 12 months at this week’s LIV occasion in Orlando, one other 54-hole, no-cut event on the Orange County Nationwide course.
It’s thought to be one of many easier layouts on the LIV circuit and Smith is coming off ending in a tie for twenty fourth on the earlier occasion in Tuscon.
Smith, who stays the world No.5, began 2023 with a missed lower in Saudi Arabia, then completed in a tie for fifth within the opening LIV occasion at Mayakoba, albeit 9 pictures off the winner.
He returns to Augusta because the Open champion having completed tied for third in final 12 months’s Masters, with three different top-10 finishes previously 4 years, together with being runner-up to Dustin Johnson in 2020.
Smith additionally performed within the remaining group final 12 months as Scottie Scheffler marched to victory.
Forward of the opening rounds in Orlando, the final tune-up for 18 LIV gamers heading to the Masters, Smith mentioned his new tourmates needed to “present individuals” they have been adequate to nonetheless cope with the world’s finest gamers.
He was adamant that the six former Masters champions at LIV have been all able to a “excessive customary of golf” and their presence can be felt at Augusta.
“Clearly at the start for me, I’m attempting to go there and play one of the best golf I can,“ Smith mentioned after taking part in within the pro-am
“(However) I believe it can be crucial for us to go there, actually present a excessive customary of golf which we all know we’re all able to.
“Most of us will get 4 cracks at it this 12 months (within the main championships), and hopefully we get perhaps a win out of it. Possibly we simply present a extremely hearty effort.
“There’s plenty of chatter going round about ‘these guys don’t play actual golf anymore’. And I believe it’s BS to be trustworthy. And we simply need to present those who.”
Smith is certainly one of 5 Australians taking part in this 12 months’s Masters a decade on from Scott’s well-known victory, and the 2013 winner noticed no purpose why his countryman couldn’t be within the end.
“He’s within the prime of his profession in the mean time … his confidence must be excessive,” Scott mentioned on Friday.
“He’s the reigning Open champion, coming off the 12 months he had final 12 months, even with, if you wish to name it restricted preparation, it takes much more than that for the boldness to fade.
“If he will get any type of good feeling subsequent week, then completely (he can win). And he has performed nice there the previous couple of years.
“He’s obtained an amazing quick recreation, it’s so useful there. When you possibly can pitch and putt like Cam Smith you’re by no means out of it.”
Smith spoke of that good feeling he had returning to Augusta, declaring a number of the finest golf he has ever performed has been on the Masters. .
That’s sufficient to go away the Queenslander assured that he can contend once more.
“I really feel like I’ve performed my finest golf I’ve ever performed round there,” he mentioned.
“I really feel like I’ve obtained a fairly good report round there.”
