For a person of few pretensions, gauging the deserves of Cameron Smith’s claims within the 2024 Masters is a activity akin to perfecting the learn on the infamous tenth inexperienced on the Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership.
The Queenslander is taken into account the main hope of the six Australians within the discipline however his preparation for the Masters has been as undulating because the fairways of the famed course.
Smith and his father Des loved a highway journey to Georgia in February as a part of his reconnaissance for a serious he’s determined to win, decided to do his due diligence.
Watch each spherical of the PGA Tour LIVE & Unique on Fox Sports activities, out there on Kayo. New to Kayo? Begin Your Free Trial At present >
Simply 4 months in the past he obtained a harsh reminder to put an emphasis on preparation when lacking the reduce in his Australian PGA defence on the Royal Queensland Golf Membership.
However then he was waylaid by meals poisoning in Miami throughout his closing lead-in occasion final weekend, with the bug leaving the 30-year-old bedridden after he had performed only one spherical.
“(I had a) little bit of meals poisoning initially of final week and possibly simply tried to perform a little bit an excessive amount of and (my) physique simply form of shut down on me,” Smith stated in Augusta on Tuesday.
“I spent the weekend in mattress, which wasn’t the best preparation, however I used to be simply saying that right now might be the primary day the place I really feel like I’ve bought a bit of little bit of power. I’m positive I’ll be fairly cooked tonight (however) not less than I might get round and really feel okay.”
BURNING QUESTIONS: ‘You sh**ting me?’: Irony in golf farce; cracks present as $900m lie uncovered – Burning Qs
TEE TIMES: Day in blockbuster Woods group; ‘troll job of the century’ revealed
Smith on the mend after meals poisoning | 01:18
View the ability set of Smith by the lens of a glass half-full and it’s clear his masterful placing is completely suited given predictions the greens will quicken for the weekend.
However the 2022 British Open winner has endured some points together with his accuracy from the tee and the breezy situations for the primary two days in Augusta are tipped to be tough to tame.
His finest performances on the Masters, the place he has three prime 5 finishes, adopted prolonged lead-ins on the PGA tour. However the nature of LIV Golf has restricted the variety of occasions he can play in previous to the Masters, although there have been extra alternatives this season.
The ‘Shark’ Greg Norman believes Smith’s sport is trending in the precise course. His coach Grant Discipline additionally feels his pupil is “in a fairly good place”. And regardless of his current sickness, the six-time PGA Tour winner stated his sport is in good order.
Smith additionally has the power to shine when it issues most, as 2006 US Open winner Geoff Ogilvy famous when saying there are few higher “large meet” performers than the Australian.
However the oddsmakers share the uncertainty surrounding a star who appeared destined to win a swag of majors after his breakthrough efficiency at St Andrews within the one hundred and fiftieth Open.
Smith was on the fifth line of betting heading into The Masters final 12 months behind Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, eventual champion John Rahm and Jordan Spieth.
The oddsmakers have that quartet in entrance of the Australian once more, however have added one other seven names, a sign there’s much less
conviction surrounding the state of Smith’s sport.
THE FORM LINE
LIV supremo Greg Norman, a three-time runner-up at Augusta, is aware of greater than most what it’s wish to be consumed by successful the Masters.
However he’s additionally well-placed to evaluate the possibilities of the 13 contenders who’ve been enjoying on the LIV Tour and believes Smith, a three-time winner on the renegade tour, “is trending in the precise course together with his sport”.
“His placing … few are higher. His brief sport and really feel across the greens, which is required at Augusta, is similar,” Norman instructed Code Sports activities.
After successful his third LIV Tour occasion in Bedminster in August final 12 months, Smith endured a dip in kind.
He failed to complete within the prime 20 within the closing three occasions on that tour and performed what was described as his worst spherical {of professional} golf at Royal Queensland in November earlier than ending the 2023 in a tie for seventeenth on the Australian Open at The Lakes in Sydney.
Smith’s kind had been combined on the LIV Tour this 12 months, with the mullet-sporting right-hander reserving his first prime 10 end in six months in Mexico in February previous to down-field performances in Las Vegas and Jeddah.
The Queenslander is sitting in 51st place of the 55 golfers on the LIV Tour when it comes to fairways hit within the present version, having managed the feat 46.15 p.c thus far.
Not surprisingly, he’s solely marginally higher positioned in terms of making the inexperienced in regulation, rating forty sixth on the LIV Tour this 12 months.
However his major weapon is working splendidly effectively.
No-one is placing higher on the profitable LIV circuit, which means that if he can discover his sport from tee to inexperienced, he can be able to problem.
Rahm assured LIV & PGA can coexist | 00:53
The Australian, who completed within the prime 10 within the US Open and US PGA final 12 months and returned to kind in Hong Kong final month when overwhelmed in a playoff by Abraham Ancer, stated his current efficiency in Asia was a reward for perseverance.
“(There have been) most likely a couple of weeks there initially of the 12 months (the place I used to be) making an attempt to handle some stuff within the swing,” he stated.
“(It) simply felt a bit of bit uncomfortable and simply arduous to commit on some actually powerful driving programs, to be trustworthy. It was good to play good in Hong Kong and know that it’s nonetheless there.”
Norman acknowledged his fellow Queenslander had endured a tough trot however that it might effectively show the precursor to him regaining his spot on the pinnacle of the game.
“Each golf participant – I don’t care in the event you’re male or feminine, the very best on this planet or the worst on this planet – you’re going to undergo your powerful durations,” he instructed At present final week.
“It’s a given. It’s a powerful sport. It’s going to give and it’s going to take from you. Cam is younger sufficient and he’s bought quite a lot of delight about him.
“He desires to come back again. He desires to provide what he is aware of he can produce (when) successful the British Open. All of the elements are there for him to begin stepping again and getting the arrogance stage he wants.”
RING RUST?
Brooks Koepka successfully put paid to strategies those that defected to the 54-hole format of LIV Golf would battle to compete in majors with a shocking 2023.
The American completed tied for 2nd behind Jon Rahm at Augusta 12 months in the past after which turned the primary LIV golfer to win a serious when profitable within the US PGA on the Oak Hill Nation Membership. As talked about, Smith additionally recorded two prime 10 finishes at main stage in 2023.
Whether or not he has performed sufficient to shake off any ring-rust will grow to be clear over the subsequent 4 days, with the world No. 68 acknowledging he was underdone a 12 months in the past.
He performed solely 9 rounds of LIV Golf main into the 2023 Masters when taking pictures 4-over to complete in a tie for thirty fourth, which was his worst lead to a serious final 12 months.
For the reason that debacle on the Royal Queensland Golf Membership, he has performed 17 rounds, which is a busier preparation for this 12 months’s match, the sickness final weekend apart.
However when ending tied for third in 2022, he performed 26 rounds from late October on the PGA Tour, successful twice together with an impressive success in The Gamers Championship.
And even within the Covid-19 riddled 2020-21 season, he performed six tournaments within the first three months main right into a prime 10 end at Augusta. However he issues enjoying 4 occasions this week previous to Miami is a passable preparation.
“We are able to zone in on (it) and make these little tweaks we expect we have to make. It’s positively a greater competitors set-up this 12 months (on the LIV Tour) and higher timing (for Augusta),” he stated not too long ago.
THE PURSUIT FOR THE GREEN JACKET … AND AN OLYMPICS SPOT
Smith’s hopes of representing Australia on the Paris Olympics after a top-10 end in Tokyo in 2021 had been dealt a serious blow when he failed to provide his finest at residence late final 12 months.
With gamers unable to earn rating factors on the LIV Tour, the previous world No.2 is now the fifth-highest ranked Australian and faces a substantial problem to qualify for Paris.
Jason Day (21), Min Woo Lee (32), Adam Scott (53) and Cam Davis (62) are ranked above him, although Scott instructed foxsports.com.au final November he was not notably fussed concerning the Olympics.
The cut-off for a spot is June 17, with Australia prone to have two representatives, which suggests Smith might want to fireplace at Augusta to have any likelihood.
His coach Grant Discipline stated this week Smith is decided to put on the inexperienced and gold.
“There aren’t too many extra passionate Queenslanders or Australian gamers than Cameron. If there is a chance to play for his nation, he’ll put his hand up,” he instructed SENQ.
“If it doesn’t occur, then it doesn’t occur, however he positively desires to be there. He simply must play effectively.
“After the (robust) efficiency within the PGA (final) 12 months, he’s decided to win majors. He’s not trying on the rankings, simply specializing in enjoying.”
Can Day make a mark on the 2024 Masters? | 01:13
WHICH WAY WILL THE WIND BLOW?
The climate forecast suggests the primary two days on the Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership can be a problem, as American Will Zalatoris famous earlier within the week.
“(We’re) going to have some fascinating climate. A bit little bit of rain (is predicted) on Thursday (with) wind, Friday can be tremendous windy and Saturday and Sunday look unbelievable,” he stated.
His prediction is that contenders might want to play the course defensively earlier than scoring alternatives open up on the weekend.
“It’s swirling in every single place on a regular basis and also you simply must be affected person with it,” Zalatoris stated.
It’s an ominous forecast for somebody fighting their radar off the tee, although Augusta is a course the place the fairways are considerably extra forgiving than elsewhere.
The secret is being exact sufficient when approaching the inexperienced to allow aggression when placing, which is the place Smith excels.
Australia’s prime hope, who tees off alongside American Wyndham Clark and Norwegian Viktor Hovland at 10.54am (AST12.54am Friday), stated a very good begin is crucial to contending.
“You attempt to play effectively each spherical, clearly, however I believe right here greater than most locations, in the event you get behind the 8-ball, you’re fairly screwed fairly early,” he stated.
“I believe the golf course goes to get arduous and more durable because the week goes on and also you positively need to be up on the prime of the leaderboard when it begins to get agency and quick.”
Relaxation assured, Smith can be aiming for a wise begin as he seeks a dream consequence.
“It’d be unreal. The Open at St Andrews is fairly particular. To double it up with a inexperienced jacket can be superior,” he stated.
“I desperately need to get it and it might be superior if I did.”
Smith feeling the strain of poor rank | 02:47