Cameron Smith concedes his confidence is just not “100 per cent” after a irritating Australian PGA flop however says he could possibly be one good swing away from discovering the shape to quench a burning need so as to add a nationwide open to his trophy cupboard.
The best-ranked participant within the Australian Open discipline in Sydney this week, Smith, the world No.20, mentioned he spent final weekend hitting “lots of balls” to return to grips with a swing which let him down badly in his residence city of Brisbane.
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Reflecting on the missed reduce on the PGA, Smith, who got here residence because the defending champion and amid extra-high expectations from himself and the 1000’s of followers who walked the fairways with him at Royal Queensland, mentioned a technical flaw in his swing was the reason for his wayward play.
There will probably be nowhere to cover when he begins his Open marketing campaign at 7am on Thursday morning, enjoying alongside PGA champ Min Woo Lee, who he watched storm to victory final Sunday.
Smith mentioned he hopes the work he did can have a constructive impact on his psychological recreation as a lot as his swing in his quest for a maiden Australian Open win he desires so badly.
“It’s a foolish recreation typically, to be sincere,” Smith mentioned on Wednesday.
“A few weeks ago I used to be competing to win the Hong Kong Open and I believed I used to be enjoying fairly respectable golf and a few weeks later it was on the different finish of the spectrum.
“It’s fairly bizarre the way it can change that rapidly, however yeah, it’s a loopy recreation typically.
“Simply as you suppose you’ve bought it, you don’t after which typically if you suppose you don’t have it, you’re ending within the prime 5 or prime 10. So it’s a loopy recreation.
“I wouldn’t say my confidence is at 100 per cent, however like I mentioned, there’s no motive I can’t go on the market and be aggressive. It solely takes just a few good pictures and some good feels and abruptly you’re taking a look at your self on the prime of the leaderboard.”
Smith performed a apply spherical with Adam Scott on Tuesday, the place the same old aspect bets have been shelved and “we simply performed for satisfaction” earlier than extra apply in a pro-am group on Wednesday with All Blacks legend Richie McCaw.
He mentioned he was nonetheless coping with the frustration and disappointment of his poor displaying in Brisbane, but in addition is aware of his golf in 2023, which included two LIV wins and two prime 10 main championship finishes, was ok to really feel like his greatest may return in time to elevate the Stonehaven Cup.
“I assume it’s straightforward to lose confidence with rounds like that, however I’ve been enjoying fairly good golf the final 7 or 8 months and it’s straightforward to take a look at it as simply one other spherical,” he mentioned.
“However on the identical time, it hurts the boldness a bit of bit. Yeah, like I mentioned, simply bought to get again to what I do know and what I do know I can do.
“The outdated saying of 1 swing can change a spherical, I believe over the weekend it’s undoubtedly modified how I felt about my recreation. I’m trying ahead to it.”