Cam Smith on track for third Australian PGA Championship
Cameron Smith – enjoying massive crowd support – photo PGA of Australia
Cameron Smith heads into the final round of the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane with a three shot lead after his third round of 69 has him ahead of Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura and China’s Yan Wei Liu.
Another shot further back are 36 hole leader, Jason Scrivener and Min Woo Lee, both of West Australia and Queenslanders Jake McLeod and Brad Kennedy.
It would appear a third Australian PGA Championship title is now Smith’s to win or lose, a bogey at this final hole in round three perhaps keeping the door open for his chasers although given Smith’s class and current form should make him a very hard man to chase down especially given the disparity in world ranking between he and those closest to him on the leaderboard.
Kawamura is currently ranked 288th in the world and Liu 908th compared to the 3rd place ranking of Smith and while world rankings at present are under the microscope for their authenticity, it highlights the difference between the leading players on the leaderboard.
Smith had mixed emotions about his round given the contrast between the manner in which he started and finished the day.
“I think it was a little bit frustrating there on that back nine, but in these conditions I would have taken 2-under at the start of the day, so it’s kind of the case that beggars can’t be choosers,” he said “But yeah, it was really hot obviously on that front nine. I felt really good and it’s just frustrating to end like that.
“I’d like to be six or seven ahead, to be honest, but it’s a good spot to be in. I can’t complain. Everything’s feeling really good, so feeling really confident and really looking forward to tomorrow.”
Smith was asked what a third Australian PGA Championship title would mean to him and he was quick to acknowledge the importance of winning again and that it would set up a title which would mean even more to him, the Australian Open next week.
“Yeah, it would be nice. Like I said at the start of the week, I wouldn’t complain with another one of these. My big thing down here was to have a really big crack at the Aussie Open. I haven’t won one of those yet and I think that would be a really good end to a really good year. Yeah, I’ll be trying my best tomorrow still.”
That Smith is a local and a former member of Royal Queensland and that he has developed into one of the best players in the game in 2022 has ensured massive crowds at the event to observe and support him.
“I think the crowds have been awesome all week to me. I’ve really ridden it all week, to be honest. It seems like every tee there’s a “C’mon Smitty” or a pat on the bum or something like that. I’ve had a few kind of awkward ones this week, so I just keep looking forward. No, it’s been awesome. The reception’s been incredible.”
Golf works in funny ways and the possibility exists for him to be run down on day four but that is a possibility at this stage rather than a probability.
The final stages of the 2022 Australian PGA Championship may well result in the large crowds sure to flock to at Royal Queensland tomorrow acknowledging not only Smith’s standing in the game but him joining some of Australia’s greats as a three time winner of one of Australian golf’s most iconic titles.
