Cam Smith smashes golf bag with club en route to bowing out of Australian PGA

LIV Golf's Cam Smith smashed a club against his golf bag en route to crashing out of his title defence at the Australian PGA Championship ahead of the weekend.

Smith, 30, fought back tears after shooting a dismal 7-over 78 in the second round at Royal Queensland.

It was a round that him finish 9-over par towards the very bottom of the scoreboard and 21 strokes off the 36-hole pace currently set by in-form compatriot Min Woo Lee on 12-under par. 

Smith, who moved to the Saudi-bankrolled LIV Golf League after etching his name on the famous Claret Jug at the 150th Open Championship, told reporters he had no excuses for such a lacklustre performance in front of his adoring home fans.

Cam Smith takes frustration out on golf bag en route to MC

"Yeah, no words, sh*t," a frustrated Smith told reporters after his round as he held back tears. 

"Australia has been so good to me, there's no reason to perform like that. Unacceptable.

"I've performed under pressure before and it's not acceptable, a bit upsetting actually.

"I know what I'm doing, it's just going out there and committing to something is another thing."

Smith was bidding to defend the Australian PGA for a second time in his career having performed the feat in 2018 at Royal Pines. 

The three-time LIV Golf winner was seen taking his anger out on his golf bag en route to making a bogey-six at the par-5 9th hole

Smith will now look to dust himself down and practice on his game over the coming days ahead of the Australian Open in Sydney.

He is also in need of playing well in order to pick up some much-needed OWGR points in his bid to secure a place in the Australian Olympics Golf Team in Paris next summer. 

"I hope I can get it together for next week and put on a better show than that," said Smith, who has slipped to 18th in the world rankings as a result of LIV Golf tournaments not receiving OWGR points.

Lee, who was playing with Smith for the first two rounds, said:  "It's golf, that happens and next week I'm sure he's going to bounce back, it's what good players do. With family and friends, in his hometown … a few drinks and loosen up for next week."

Australia's Lee (66) takes a one-stroke lead into the weekend over compatriot and former Masters champion Adam Scott (65).

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