Cam Smith moves within one at Australian PGA Championship
Cameron Smith – photo PGA of Australia
Jason Scrivener’s two shot lead on the field when he finished his morning round on day two of the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship was reduced to just one by a brilliant afternoon round of 65 by pre-tournament favourite, Cameron Smith, setting up the prospect of a dream weekend for tournament organisers at Royal Queensland.
Playing in the more demanding afternoon conditions when the breeze strengthened across the riverside layout in Brisbane’s eastern suburbs, Smith recorded eight birdies and two bogeys in his round on a golf course where he is a member and moved within one of Scrivener and one ahead of the morning finishers Cameron John and Masahiro Kawamura.
Smith was a little more ready for his round today then was the case at 6.00am yesterday morning when his first round got underway.
“I definitely felt a little bit more alert out there today, I think,” said the current Open Champion and Brisbane local. “Yeah, just got off to a really good start I think. Had a really good warm up. I think the sleep-in definitely helped a little bit. Yeah, it was just a good day.
“I only had a couple of bogeys, both on par 3s, which isn’t really a good sign most of the time, but I felt as though I hit my driver as best as I’ve hit it for a very long time, so it was nice to do that. It gives me a little bit of confidence going into the weekend.”
Smith played in front of huge crowds drawn to Royal Queensland by the presence in the field of not only Smith but another Queensland golfing icon, Adam Scott, and enjoyed the opportunity to do so.
“It seems like last time I was home, obviously a lot’s changed in three years, that really wasn’t the case. It’s a little bit different, but the crowd was great today. It seemed like they were three or four deep down either side of the fairway all day. My old boy was whinging actually at me yesterday saying that he didn’t get to watch me play golf. I don’t know what he’s whinging about (laughing)
“Lots of my mates actually that I went to school with were out here today and they were yelling at me on 17 so that’s why I was having a little bit of a chuckle to myself. I’m sure they were giving me shit about missing that second putt as well. Yeah, it was really good energy out there. Golf should be more like that I think. That’s what we need.”
Smith will play with Scrivener and although he played with him in amateur days it was not so much the case in recent times.
“I’ve played with him a fair bit in kind of amateur, junior days. I haven’t played with him a lot recently, him being over in Europe and obviously me in the US. I’ve played a couple of practice rounds with him at one of the Majors this year, I’m not sure. He’s a good player.”
After a slow start Adam Scott fought back to finish with a round of 72 to be at 4 under and six shots from the lead.
“I didn’t come home like a house on fire, but any shot anywhere is important,” said Scott referring to the late birdie he made in front of a huge crowd on the par 3 17th.
“Just to get one and start out tomorrow one better is a good feeling. I’m going to have to really shoot the lights out on the weekend and play good, which I know I can. Just yesterday I played good.”
“It was nice something went in and it salvaged one shot for the round. It was a tough day. I had nothing out there good, nothing felt good today and I managed to get it in the clubhouse. I’m a good weekend away from being in the hunt at the end; so, it’s all good.”
