Australian golfer Cameron Smith has had an excellent year on the PGA Tour which has helped him shoot up the world golf rankings. The 28-year-old now has five tournament successes across the PGA and European tours.
Smith’s most recent victory came in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He teamed up with fellow Australian compatriot Marc Leishman to prevail in the pairs event in a play-off, beating Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel on the first extra hole.
The year would have been even better for the Australian had he won his play-off at the Northern Trust back in August. On that occasion, he lost out to Tony Finau. Both men finished the 72 regulation holes on -20. However, it was the American who held his nerve to capture the trophy on the Monday in what was a rain-delayed tournament.
Smith ended the season in a tie for 14th in the FedEx Cup standings. Patrick Cantlay prevailed in the play-offs. The American won the Tour Championship to secure the points he needed the guarantee the top spot in the rankings.
Good Form at Augusta
Given how well he has fared at Augusta over the last couple of years, Smith will be looking forward to his return to the US Masters in 2022. He has yet to win a Major Championship in the sport but that is likely to be his number one aim next year. Smith is 33/1 in the golf betting for the US Masters in April. It will be his sixth appearance in the opening Major Championship of the year. He goes into the event with three top-10 finishes in the tournament in Georgia.
The closest Smith has come to the Green Jacket was in 2020. He finished the weekend in a tie for second place behind Dustin Johnson. It was a record-breaking week for the man from Queensland as he became the only golfer in history to shoot four rounds in the 60s in the US Masters. Smith followed up his runner-up finish with another strong display at Augusta back in April. He hit a round of 68 in the second round before finishing in a tie for 10th place in the tournament which was won by Hideki Matsuyama.
Six Years Now Since an Australian Won a Major Championship
It has now been six years since an Australian last won a Major Championship. Jason Day was successful in the 2015 US PGA Championship. Smith will be hoping he can end that wait with a victory in one the four big tournaments. The last Australian to prevail in the US Masters was Adam Scott in 2013. He won a play-off to break his maiden in the Majors.
Smith is now the highest ranked golfer from Australia in the world rankings. He is proving to be one of the most consistent performers on the PGA Tour. If he can come out on top in April, it may be the first of many Major wins as he has the class to win multiple big events.