Cam Smith began his Australian Open marketing campaign full of fireplace and brimstone, however ran out of puff effectively earlier than the end line as his marathon house marketing campaign proved too laborious a activity.
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Earlier than placing a ball in anger he lashed officers for the conditioning of the 2 programs getting used, declaring he was talking for loads of his friends when he known as them out for being set-up too smooth to cater to the dual-gender nature of the occasion.
It was agenda-setting stuff from arguably the most important title in Australian golf proper now, who calls himself a “truthsayer”, unwilling to bend to sort, as evidenced by his daring, big-money to LIV Golf in 2023.
After bashing out a gap spherical of six-under on Thursday, then an eagle and birdie to begin his second spherical on Friday, it appeared the Queenslander was able to carrying the mantle of each on and of-course chief.
Till he wasn’t.
Smith fell aside on the back-nine on Friday, declaring he was “rushed” by being placed on the clock, and vented his frustration post-round by calling out one-time protege Elvis Smylie’s sluggish play as the rationale.
Whether or not it was frustration or extra chilly laborious fact, Smith’s robust place advised a mentality a lot completely different from the person who landed in Australia some six weeks in the past hellbent on capturing his first Australian open title.
He made it clear how a lot he needed it, declaring the nationwide Open second solely to the Masters as his must-win occasions.
By way of his opening 24 holes, Smith scorecard listed 11 birdies and an eagle, and every thing appeared on monitor.
However his subsequent 24 holes couldn’t have been extra completely different
Not solely was there not a single birdie, there was as an alternative seven bogeys and a double as his match fell aside.
He had been second early on Friday.
He was forty eighth and falling earlier than lastly he broke the drought, a birdie on his 14th gap of his third spherical, however discovered one other bogey on his option to the clubhouse, signing for a four-over 76, leaving him 12-shots off the lead.
Smith is taking part in his fourth occasion in a row, and fourth week in 5 weeks, having tried to prime himself to complete his monster month at house with the Stonehaven Cup.
However it’s a stretch he’s not used to.
The LIV star will get prolonged breaks between occasions, generally as much as three weeks, and 4 on the trot now looks like too large a departure from what has grow to be his regular.
His nice mate, and LIV teammate, Marc Leishman, stated going again to again to again wasn’t a problem, however profitable, anyplace, was “laborious”.
“We play in opposition to nice fields each week on LIV, that is no completely different,” he stated.
“Despite the fact that won’t be numerous title gamers, there’s numerous actually, actually good gamers. So I believe they definitely get that respect from me, for positive. And I do know Cam is aware of how good all of the younger Aussie guys are and the internationals which are right here.
“So, yeah, it’s laborious to win. I do know he desires it so dangerous and that at all times makes all of it that a lot harder as effectively.”