Cameron Smith sets NEW PGA TOUR RECORD with Tournament of Champions victory
Cameron Smith holds off Jon Rahm to win the first PGA Tour event of 2022 in Hawaii.
Cameron Smith has set a new PGA Tour record for the lowest winning score of 34-under par at the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua.
Smith, 28, carded a superb final-round 65 to finish 34-under par and one shot clear of World No.1 Jon Rahm, who posted a 66.
Ernie Els had previously set the low PGA Tour record in this very tournament back in 2003 when shooting 31-under par. Dustin Johnson was 30-under par at the 2020 FedEx St Jude and Jordan Spieth also achieved that feat at the 2016 Tournament of Champions.
Smith's fourth PGA Tour career title also ends a consecutive 11-year streak of American winners in this tournament.
The Australian won the two-man Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2017 (with Jonas Blixt) and 2021 (with Marc Leishman), and he won the 2020 Sony Open in Hawaii.
"It was intense, Jonny and I played great down the stretch... very happy to just come away with the W," said Smith.
"I feel like I had a really good rest, didn't play much in the fall, did a lot of work on my swing and it paid off."
Smith's compatriot Matt Jones flew home at Kapalua with a stunning course-record 12-under 61 to finish solo third on 32-under par.
He also shot a 62 on Saturday meaning he was 23-under for the weekend, which set a new 36-hole scoring record in PGA Tour history.
FedEx Cup champion Patrick Cantlay finished fourth on 26-under par after closing with a 67.
Collin Morikawa also got hot in the final round posting a fantastic 62 to finish tied fifth on 25-under par alongside Justin Thomas, who rallied with a 65, and Daniel Berger, who was left to rue a cold putter in his round of 69.
TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS FINAL LEADERBOARD
-34 C Smith (Aus)
-33 J Rahm (Spa)
-32 M Jones (Aus)
-26 P Cantlay (US)
-25 C Morikawa, J Thomas, D Berger (US)
NEXT PAGE: KEVIN NA'S EARLY WALK-IN GOES HORRIBLY WRONG IN THE FINAL ROUND AT THE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
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