Cameron Smith nearly in TEARS as he dedicates Aussie PGA win to special person
Cameron Smith held his nerve to claim his third Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland in front of a boisterous home crowd.
Cameron Smith dedicated his third Australian PGA Championship victory to his grandmother Carol after admitting he didn't believe he "had it in him" to win this week.
Smith held back tears after the final round at Royal Queensland. His victory was his fifth individual title in 2022, the highlight of course coming at the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews where he ensured Rory McIlroy's major drought continued.
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A visibly exhausted Smith held back tears greenside as he admitted that he wasn't sure if he was going to have enough energy to get the job done. He was playing in front of a boisterous home crowd that was urging him on over every single shot.
In the end the champion golfer of the year carded a 3-under par 68, enough to win by three strokes over fellow Aussie Jason Scrivener.
Smith had opened his week with a respectable 68 on Thursday but separated himself from the field on Friday with a 6-under 65. After carding a 69 on Saturday he was a tad frustrated his lead wasn't big enough.
But he had enough in the tank on Sunday. After making birdie at No. 2 a spell of eight consecutive pars followed. A bogey at No. 11 ensured there was some nerves for Smith to battle as Scrivener made birdie on the same hole to tie for the lead.
But Smith believed it was the strength of his grandmother Carol who helped him get over the finishing line.
Smith told the media in the immediate aftermath of victory that his grandmother had just completed her second round of chemotherapy.
Carol walked all 72 holes beside Smith this week.
Smith said of Carol:
Smith was also referring to his father Des, whose was celebrating his birthday on Sunday.
Of the home support, Smith added:
Smith has been one of the most talked about professional golfers on the planet this year.
His calendar year began by setting a PGA Tour record at the Sentry Tournament of Champions when he reached a 72-hole score of 34-under par.
A sensational victory at The Players Championship followed where he flirted with the water at the iconic par-3 17th hole in the final round.
He produced one of the most memorable up-and-downs in recent memory at the 72nd hole at TPC Sawgrass to win.
Undoubtedly, his two-putt at St. Andrews' Road Hole on that Sunday in July was even better.
Cameron Smith reflects on his third #AusPGA title pic.twitter.com/5FnRhXAKgu
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 27, 2022
Then Smith joined the LIV Golf League for a reported $140m.
Smith captured his first Australian PGA Championship in 2017 with a playoff victory over Australia's Jordan Zunic.
He saw off Marc Leishman - who has been in the news this week for these comments - a year later with a two-stroke victory.
This one will undoubtedly feel sweeter for Cameron Smith.
Next page: Cameron Smith, WITB?
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