Cameron Smith – file photo IGF
Cameron Smith recovered from a slow start to his second round at the Tour Championship, a final nine of 31 allowing the 28-year-old Queenslander to move into a share of 5th position and, although now eight shots from the lead held by Patrick Cantlay, he is well positioned to contend for some of leading prizes available in the event.
Smith’s recovery might well have been even more dramatic as he missed very makeable birdie opportunities at the 10th, 12th, 15th and 16th but after his outward nine of 37, he will be delighted to be back in the thick of things for the weekend.
If he was to finish 5th this week, he would be up for a prize of US$2,500,000 and even 10th place earns US$830,000 so there is a lot to play for even if Smith can’t get himself into winning contention where first prize is a massive US$15 million
Cantlay leads by one over Jon Rahm but there is a break of five shots back to the third placed Bryson DeChambeau and so Smith finds himself just two shots out of a possible cheque for US$4 million for the third placed finished this week.
Once again Smith showed his growing capacity to knuckle down even when things aren’t going well and fighting to finish as well as he can, and it will be that resolve that will stand him in good stead over the weekend.
