Thursday, March 28, 2024

Cameron Smith wins third Australian PGA Championship

Cameron Smith is a three-time Australian PGA Champion, taking out the 2022 event by three shots on Sunday.

The 29-year-old, who will headline the first LIV Golf event in Australia next April, finished ahead of fellow Aussie Jason Scrivener and Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune at the conclusion of the event.

Rain threatened to derail the final day of play at Royal Queensland, which would have seen the tournament’s final stages pushed to Monday, but it held off long enough for a result after multiple delays.

Smith finished 14 under for the event, but had a few nervous moments in the final round after an 11th-hole bogey that sent him back to level scores with Scrivener and Hisatsune.

But in true champion style, Smith regrouped and hit successive birdies in the next two holes to regain the lead, and would hold on from there in the final five holes.

Speaking after the tournament, Smith admitted he was unsure if he had what it took to find victory and said the rain delays hampered his momentum.

“It’s awesome…I really didn’t think I had it in me to be honest,” he said.

“You kind’ve get the mojo and for it to be stopped not once but twice is a little bit frustrating.

“But I held on to it and played solid on these last 8 holes.”

Smith will take home a cool $2 million following his victory, capping off a fantastic year for the Queenslander, and added to his Australian PGA tally after victories in 2017 and 2018.

Min Woo Lee was the next best of the Aussie contingent, finishing with nine-under for the tournament.

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