Cameron Smith – file photo USGA
Cameron Smith is on the verge of becoming the world number one, tomorrow’s final round at the FedEx St Jude Championship in Memphis to decide if he is to become Australia’s fourth golfer to reach the ranking pinnacle of the game.
Smith starts the final round of the opening event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs just two shots behind the lead held by J.J. Spaun and in a share of 3rd place in the US$15 million event where not only is a first prize of US$2.7 million available to Smith should be win but the world ranking points available will see him move past the incumbent Scottie Scheffler who has missed the cut this week and can do no more.
“Yeah, that would mean a lot,” said Smith when asked what such elevation would mean to him. “I mean, that’s what we’re all here to do. That’s been one of my goals probably since the start of the year is to try to get to that top spot and (inaudible) and try and chase it down.”
Smith began 2022 in 21st place but wins at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, the Players Championship and last month’s Open Championship along with three other top tesn in 2022 have jumped him to number two and if he can get across the line tomorrow then the coveted spot at the top of the world ranking is his.
Smith would join Greg Norman, Adam Scott and Jason Day as former Australian world number ones and although a world ranking for women came after the height of Karrie Webb’s career she too could well have been number one in earlier times.
Minjee Lee is currently the world number two in the female rankings.
