Cam Smith did not hold back when discussing the course conditions at this week’s Australian Open, having been left ‘disappointed’ by the speed of the fairways and greens.
Smith is back on the DP World Tour for a third successive week, having made a comeback to his home country of Australia. This week sees him compete in his home Open on the back of an impressive showing at the Australian PGA Championship, where he finished second.
The event is taking place at two of Australia’s most prestigious golf courses, Kingston Heath and Victoria Golf Club, but Smith is unimpressed with how the land is lying going into tournament week.
- Exclusive: Anthony Kim to sign new LIV Golf deal as details emerge on ex-PGA Tour star’s future
- LIV Golf stars offered rare spot into majors after being hit hard by world ranking woes
Heavy rain in the area has seen both tracks become much softer than usual, but the LIV Golf star is not buying that excuse. “It seems there’s been a lot of water and it’s not exactly what I was expecting,” he said. “The course(s) are in great condition but playing so much different to how they’re designed and how they’re meant to be played, which is pretty disappointing…
“The weather down here the last couple of weeks has been pretty good, I know they got some rain over the weekend and again this morning, but I’ve played down here in rain before and it’s still been like that the next day. So, I think that’s a bull —- excuse, to be honest.
“I think it’s been prepared like this for a reason and it’s now how these golf courses are meant to be played.” Smith was hoping the Aussie courses would play something similar to how they have done in the past, firm and fast, allowing players to take a different approach to the tracks they usually play week in, week out.
Follow us on Xfor the best and latest in sports news
Cam Smith is back in Australia (
Getty Images)
I had been keeping an eye on the weather here and I was really excited last week,” he continued. “To play a really firm and fast Sandbelt. It’s something that my [Ripper GC] teammates and I spoke about this year. We love coming down here and playing these events because the golf courses [are firm and fast] and it’s just not going to play like that.
“It’s going to play more like an American golf course, kind of target golf.” Despite his grievances Smith will no doubt fancy his chances this week, with the Ripper captain heading into the event as one of the tournament favorites. He does however face to tough competition, with defending champion Joaquin Niemann in the field, as well as Australia’s hottest new prospect on the PGA Tour, Min Woo Lee.
Elsewhere two of his Ripper teammates in Lucas Herbert and Marc Leishman are also in the field, the latter finishing just behind Smith in third at the Australian PGA last week. Smith will begin his tournament in Thursday’s opening round alongside last week’s winner Elvis Smylie and Frenchman Victor Perez.
Leave a Reply