Cam Smith is adamant his golf is in a “actually great spot” forward of the 2 Australian “majors” after ending in a tie for third on the Queensland PGA Championship at Nudgee.
The LIV star shot a final-round 70 to complete the occasion three strokes behind winner Phoenix Campbell, who efficiently defended his title by edging out Jak Carter on the second playoff gap after each gamers have been locked at 11-under after 72 holes.
Smith began the day three pictures adrift of Campbell, and back-to-back birdies on the primary two holes had many believing the match drawcard and 2022 British Open champion was set for a scorching Sunday.
Nonetheless, he then dropped three pictures over the following two holes, together with a double-bogey seven on the par-five, 525m fourth.
Smith rebounded to birdie one other three holes on the entrance 9, however the hole between him and front-runners Campbell and Carter proved a bridge too far.
“In all probability one dangerous swing and a foul putt there, on the fourth, simply sort of killed the momentum,” he admitted.
“It was simply sort of a grind from there. I stored making birdies all through that entrance 9 and stored hitting very nice pictures on the again 9 as properly, and simply couldn’t make the most of them … only a ton of missed putts.”
“I positively thought I had an opportunity at this time, particularly with that little bit of a scorching begin.
“It’s simply irritating. I simply couldn’t capitalise on these putts on the again 9.”
Smith’s subsequent occasion is the NSW Open, which begins on Thursday week. That will likely be adopted by the Australian PGA (Royal Queensland Golf Membership, November 21-24) and the Australian Open (Kingston Heath and Victoria golf golf equipment, November 28-December 1).
“All the pieces’s feeling very nice. It’s good to play 4 rounds of competitors and really feel the juices circulate once more. I’ll take a bit from that,” the previous world No.2 stated after his first occasion since late September.
“I really feel like my sport’s in a extremely great spot. I simply must maintain doing what I’m doing.”
Victorian Campbell, whose playoff win after his final-round 70 resulted in him turning into the primary participant to win back-to-back Queensland PGA titles since Lucas Parsons in 1997 and 1998, stated Smith’s presence within the area “modified the occasion”.
“The final two days particularly, with folks and the crowds, simply managing that, it was completely different to what you’d usually see within the ultimate group with so many individuals (watching) the group in entrance,” stated 23-year-old Campbell, who was an newbie when he gained the occasion on the identical course final 12 months
“Defending (the title) is unquestionably more durable. Final 12 months I got here from the clouds. I can’t evaluate myself to final 12 months nevertheless it reveals how far I’ve come within the final 12 months, and that I’m heading in the right direction.”
In the meantime, Smith stated he was unaware of studies of an imminent peace deal between LIV and the PGA Tour.
“I haven’t received a name from anybody. I haven’t heard of something, so I don’t know,” he stated.
“They will actually do what they need. I really feel like LIV Golf is in a extremely stable spot, and we’re going from energy to energy, and that’s my predominant focus. All the pieces’s wanting good.”
Queensland PGA Ultimate Spherical Leaderboard
-11: Phoenix Campbell (VIC), Jak Carter (SA) (Campbell gained on second playoff gap)
-8: Cam Smith (QLD), Blake Proverbs (QLD)
-7: Elvis Smylie (QLD)
-6: Tyler Wooden (NZL), Jack Buchanan (SA)