Hopes Alive for Lydia Ko in Houston

Ko escapes from a bunker today – photo Chris Keane USGA

An impressive third round of 1 over 72 over the increasingly demanding Crystal Creek layout at the Champions Golf Club in Houston has given New Zealand’s Lydia Ko a realistic chance of a first US Women’s Open title.

Ko’s round, which included one birdie and two bogeys was one of the better of the day and after starting the day in a share of 14th position and six shots from the lead of Hinako Shibuno, she finds herself just four behind and only four players ahead of her as she enters tomorrow’s final round.

Of the four players ahead of her, only Shibuno has previously won a major title so Ko’s chances may well be dependent on how Shibuno handles the pressure of winning the female game’s greatest title.

Ko is four shots behind the impressive front-runner but this is a golf course on which an accident is waiting to happen around every corner and the Japanese player’s narrow lead leaves her vulnerable tomorrow.

Two late bogeys cost the 2019 AIG Women’s Open Champion a substantial lead but she remains the player to beat tomorrow.

For Ko it is not only those ahead of her on the leaderboard she needs to consider, but also those in her rear vision mirror, as the likes of, Ariya Jutanugarn, Jin Young Ko and Sei Young Kim are just one (Jutanugarn) and two behind Ko and lurking as yet contenders for the title.

“It was pretty tough, especially at the start.” said Ko when asked how demanding the course played today.

“I think going into the day I knew that it was a different wind direction to the other days, so I knew that the holes would play quite differently. But with the first few holes being all into the wind and it raining last from yesterday afternoon overnight I think definitely made the course a lot softer, hence made it a lot longer.”

The issue of mud on the ball was a factor for all today and perhaps added an additional element of luck not normally the case in major championship golf.

“We had one shot on No. 2 and it’s like, Do I need to aim like on the next tee box for it to like move? Because it’s really hard. It’s not like there’s an exact science — or maybe there is, I just don’t know that I guess equation on how to factor mud balls.”

Ko was asked as to how she felt about her chances tomorrow.

“I think definitely coming from behind you’re playing with a little bit more of an aggressive strategy compared to somebody that’s probably trying to protect the lead or run off with the lead.

“But she (Shibuno) seems like she’s doing an incredible job and she’s also a major champion, so she’s been out there being out there like a smiling Cinderella.

“So I’m sure at points it’s going to feel like it’s going to be tough to catch her, but I just got to go out there, focus on my game and play the best golf I can and what happens outside of that is, I just got to accept what comes my way.”

Hannah Green is the leading Australian after her round of two over par 73 saw her improve several places from where she stood on the cutline through 36 holes. Green is at 5 over and tied for 33rd.

Hannah Green today – leads the Australians – photo USGA

Green was pleasantly surprised at the progress she made despite shooting over par today.

“It felt like I was more consistent than what the score showed, but it was pretty tough there,” said the Perth golfer.

“I was saying to my caddie, I don’t think I’ve ever hit so many hybrids into par-4s and par-3s before. The first three holes I had hybrid, so, yeah, it was tough. Looking at my score I was quite surprised that I’m in the position that I am. Even shooting over par I’ve gained some strokes on the field.”

Gabriela Ruffels is one shot behind Green at 6 over and in a share of 39th place, Minjee Lee is at 7 over and Su Oh at 10 over.

The round of the day and the equal best round of the week came from Ji Yeong Kim2 who, after starting the day ten shots from the lead, moved from the cutline to a share of third and just three from the lead. Her effort highlights just what might be possible with an under par round tomorrow.

Hinako Shibuno – her lead reduced to one – photo Simon Bruty USGA

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Lydia Ko Contending at US Women’s Open

Ko in full flight today – photo USGA Simon Bruty

Lydia Ko has taken over as the leading Australasian at the US Women’s Open at the Champions Golf Club in Houston and while six shots from the halfway leader, Hinako Shibuno, she is tied in 14th place and well enough positioned on a demanding layout on which her experience and improving game could yet pay significant dividends.

Ko added a second round of 70 over the Crystal Creek layout, one of two being used in the opening 36 holes of the event, a late bogey a disappointment after what had been solid progress to that point.

Ko is however only three shots from the second placed Linn Grant, a Swedish amateur, and two shots ahead of her are three players yet to win a major title so her chances of contending over the weekend appear good.

The news wasn’t as good for her fellow countrywoman, Amelia Garvey, who, after heading the Australasian contingent with an opening round of 70, fell victim to the closing stretch of holes on the Jackrabbit layout and has missed the cut by one.

Garvey was well placed in terms of making it into the weekend with just four holes to play but five dropped shots in three holes from the 15th, including a triple bogey at the 16th, saw a gut-wrenching demise for the 20-year-old.

“Just that I know I belong here, I guess,” said Garvey when asked what she might take from the week. “Obviously first major experience, first proper tour competition. So I know my game is there.”

Ko, however, now has the opportunity to advance her cause over the weekend, although she was hardly inspired by her play.

“I don’t think I hit the ball as well today, but I made a lot of good up-and-downs,” said Ko. “No, I feel like it was a case where it could have been better but it could have been worse. So yeah, another solid round. Hopefully take that kind of momentum going into the weekend.

“Hopefully, I’ll be able to hit it a little better. It’s not like it was bad, but just keep hitting it confidently out there and give myself good opportunities. I felt like my speed control with the putter was a lot better today, so kind of work on that a little bit and rest up for a good weekend.”

US-based Victorian amateur, Gabriela Ruffels, heads the Australians in 29th place after her round of 1 over 72 at the Jackrabbit course, leaving her eight shots from the lead but obly five shots out of second place.

Ruffel’s performance was made even more meritorious by the fact that she played with the leader, Shibuno and defending champion Jeong Eun Lee6.

Ruffels continues her exposure to the game’s best when she plays with world number one, Jin Young Ko and major champion, Danielle Kang, in round three.

Gabi Ruffels – photo USGA Robert Beck – heads the Australians thus far

When asked why there has been such an impressive showing of the amateurs to date this week, Ruffels responded: “It shows that women’s amateur golf is in pretty good form right now. I’ve known that since I started college.

“I’ve been playing against the top amateurs in college and have been super impressed and impressed with the they have been able to kind of put it against the best women in the world. So I’m actually not surprised at that.

“I feel like just playing with each other week in and week out. Even on my team we have I think four or five in the top 100 in the world. It’s always competitive. Week in week out we’re playing Stanford and all these really, really good teams and playing with each other every week, so I think it’s just if everyone is good it elevates everyone else.”

Su Oh, Minjee Lee and Hannah Green round out the Australasian contingent to make it into the weekend, the trio at 3 over and on the cutline and while ten shots from the lead they are only seven shots out of second place.

Su Oh – just makes the cut – Photo USGA

Sarah Jane Smith missed the cut by one along with Garvey while Katherine Kirk was a long way further back. Smith bogeyed her final hole to miss the chance of advancing her cause.

The leader Shibuno might not be all that familiar on the global stage but she has already won a major title when successful at the AIG Women’s Open Championship 16 months ago. She has also been a prolific winner of money and titles in her homeland of Japan.

Her standing three shots clear of the field, therefore, is not as surprising as it might appear.

The halfway leader Hinako Shibuno – photo USGA Robert Beck

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NZ’s Amelia Garvey Impresses at US Women’s Open

Amelia Garvey lines up a shot today – Photo USGA Jeff Haynes

New Zealand’s 20 year old amateur, Amelia Garvey, leads the Australasian contingent after the opening round of the US Women’s Open at the Champions Golf Club in Houston in Texas.

Garvey recorded an opening round of 1 under par 70 at the Crystal Creek layout, one of two courses being used in the opening 36 holes of the event in order to fit in with the reduced light at this time of year in the US.

UK born but Christchurch raised, Garvey, who is in her third year at the University of Southern California, had achieved significant success in the amateur ranks even before heading to California, but her game has blossomed under the US Collegiate system and coach, Justin Silverstein.

One of her teammates at the USC is Australian, Gabriela Ruffels, who won the US Amateur in 2019 and finished runner-up this year in the same event.

Interestingly, Ruffels recorded an opening round of even par today to be just one behind Garvey.

In 2019 Garvey finished runner-up at the Women’s Amateur Championship in Britain and earned her place in what is her first major championship courtesy of her ranking inside the top 25 in the women’s amateur rankings.

Garvey birdied her opening hole of the day and made the turn in two under 33. She held things together on her closing nine and finds herself just three shots from the opening round leader, Amy Olson of the US and tied in 12th position.

“Unreal”, said Garvey when asked to describe her day.” “I just had so much fun out there, yeah. After eight months after, I thought I would be a bit more rusty, and nice to be 1-under, so really happy with where the game was at. Obviously, there was a few nerves, but just tried to stay present and one shot at a time.”

Garvey played with her fellow New Zealander, Ko, in a practice round earlier in the week and was boosted by Ko’s vote of confidence in her game.

“She was just raving on about she hasn’t seen me play for three years,” said Garvey. “The last time I sort of played with her was when I did the Lydia Ko scholarship before I went off to college, so she was just telling me how my game is there, I just need to back myself really.

“So that was really a good confidence booster going in to today. Obviously, I had a few nerves playing with her, as well, so it was a nice way to set up into the first round. But yeah, it was so much fun out there. It was just me and her, as well, so got to pick her brains a little bit, and just enjoy it out there with her.”

Lydia Ko – a round of 71 today – photo USGA Robert Beck

Ruffels is at even par 71 as is Garvey’s fellow New Zealander, Lydia Ko, who played the Jackrabbit layout today, her round highlighted by a holed approach for eagle at the 14th but brought undone to some extent by a double bogey at the 2nd (her 11th).

Minjee Lee a slow but not disastrous start – photo Chris Keane USGA

West Australian, Hannah Green, did little damage with her opening round of 72, Minjee Lee holed a lengthy birdie putt at the last for a round of 3 over 74, Katherine Kirk and Su Oh had 75 while Sarah Jane Smith opened with a round of 76.

The opening round leader Amy Olson – photo USGA – Jeff Haynes

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Australasians Face Last Major Challenge of 2020

Minjee Lee during practice in Houston on Monday – USGA Simon Bruty

Although few would have thought such would be the case when the 2020 golfing year began, it has taken until the second week of December for the final major championship of either gender to be decided.

That contest begins on Thursday when the US Women’s Open is played at the Champions Golf Club in Houston.

Three of the now traditional five major championships in the female game have been played in 2020, the fifth, the Evian Championship, the only victim of Covid 19 amongst the elite events in women’s golf.

This week’s US Women’s Open will, for the first occasion, be played over two courses, the move deemed necessary to ensure the full field of 156 will complete the opening 36 holes within the hours of light, those hours reduced due to the event being played in the first week of winter in the US.

The courses being used are both part of the Champions Golf Club in Houston, the Cypress Creek and Jackrabbit layouts utilised on the opening two days before the event reverts to the course originally selected to host the event before Covid 19 took its toll, Cypress Creek, to settle the outcome over the weekend.

The Cypress Creek course has previously held the Ryder Cup, the US Open, the US Amateur and five PGA Tour Championships amongst others, was opened in 1957 followed not too long after by the Jackrabbit layout.

Australia has won this event on two occasions, the first when Jan Stephenson won the first of her two major titles in 1983 and again in 2000 and 2001 when Karrie Webb won consecutive titles.

In 2020 Australia will field six competitors and they will be joined by two New Zealanders, one of the stronger representations from down under numerically for some time.

Perth’s, Minjee Lee, is a player good enough to win a major title but in six attempts at the US Open she has yet to record a top ten, her best coming when 11th in 2017.

Lee has been in solid if unspectacular form of late although a win in a Ladies European Tour event in Dubai a month ago provides a level of confidence to tackle this significantly stronger field.

Lee’s fellow West Australian, Hannah Green, is Australia’s only major winner in the field but she has yet to record a top ten in 2020 and on that basis it is hard to believe she could repeat the heroics of her win at the Women’s KPMG PGA Championship 18 months ago.

This will be just the second US Women’s Open for Green having finished tied for 34th last year.

Queensland’s, Katherine Kirk, will play her 16th US Women’s Open and as such is by far the most experienced Australian in the field. In all those starts however she has a best of 25th and although she has impressed with some good tournaments in the latter half of 2020, her chances of contending appear slim.

Victorian, Su Oh, plays her 6th US Women’s Open, 17th at Shoal Creek in 2018 her best finish. Oh has been in a horror run of form in 2020 but in recent starts things appear to be improving with an 11th place at the recent Volunteers event a significant improvement for the still only 24 year old.

Su Hyun Oh – practising on Monday – photo USGA Robert Beck 

Queensland’s Sarah Jane Smith has struggled since her return from the birth of her first child although her two most recent tournaments have shown improvement.  This will be the 36 year old’s 8th US Open, perhaps boxing above her weight when 5th in 2018.

Smith is no doubt being back playing the game she loves after the early stages of motherhood but it is hard to see her reaching the heights of two years ago.

Australia’s final entrant is the outstanding Gabi Ruffels who has yet to turn professional and is a attending the University of Southern California. Ruffels gained her start courtesy of her runner-up finish at this year’s US Women’s Amateur when defending her 2019 victory in the same event.

The 20 year old Ruffels played with distinction at the recent ANA Inspiration when 15th against a field not a lot weaker then this and she is considered by many to be a future star of the game.

above – Gabi Julius on course on Monday – photo USGA

Two New Zealanders take their place in the field, headed of course by the amazing Lydia Ko who gets to play her 9th US Women’s Open.

Surprisingly for a player of her standing and record, a 3rd place finish in 2016 is her only top ten result in those eight previous attempts. Ko is, however, playing well at present with top tens in her last three starts and is slowly returning to somewhere near the sort of form which saw her dominate the game three years ago and there is every reason to believe she can be in contention come Sunday.

Christchurch golfer, Amelia Garvey, gets her chance to play in a major for the first occasion, her world ranking in the amateur ranks securing her place in the field.

Garvey attends the University of Southern California where she has performed with distinction, her record in the amateur ranks including a runner-up finish at the British Amateur in 2019

Garvey was the runner-up to Emily Toy in that Women’s Amateur Championship, conducted by The R&A, at Royal Country Down. She also represented New Zealand in the 2018 Women’s World Amateur Team Championship.

Understandably Minjee Lee and Lydia Ko are the standouts as far as the Australasian challenge is concerned although they will be hard pressed to handle the likes of inform world number one, Jin Young Ko, and her fellow Koreans, Inbee Park and Sei Young Kim, Kim winning her last two events.

World Number One Jin Young Ko – photo USGA Simon Bruty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Rise and Rise of Stephanie Kyriacou

Kyriacou – photo Ladies European Tour

2020 has been a tough one for professional golfers generally, and Australian golfers in particular, because of the tyranny of distance they have faced in trying to ply their trade.

There have been some notable examples of those who have emerged with considerable success despite those difficulties however and one such golfer is New South Wales’ Stephanie Kyriacou.

Kyriacou, who turned 20 this past weekend, has recorded a win and six top tens in tens starts in her rookie season on the Ladies European Tour, has accumulated close to €100,000 in earnings and will comfortably be named rookie of the year when the season draws to a close in Spain this weekend.

Kyriacou turned professional following her victory in the Geoff King Motors Australian Ladies Classic as an amateur in February which earned her the right to play the LET in 2020 and she has taken full advantage.

The Sydney golfer finished runner-up at this week’s LET event in Saudi Arabia, with a stunning final round of 63 which included two eagles including a hole out at the last to follow her 4th place also in Saudi Arabia a week earlier.

She now plays the Andalucia Open de Spain to finish off what has been a remarkable season in so many respects.

Footnote – Kyriacou has made the decision to head home to Sydney ahead of the final event as having booked her return flight home earlier in the season before qualifying for the end of season event, there was not another option until February.

Kyriacou with her trophy in Bonville earlier this year – Tristan Jones LET

 

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Parallels Between Kanaya and Matsuyama Continue

Kanaya during his successful amateur career – photo Asia Pacific Amateur

Japan’s Takumi Kanaya looks set to follow in the footsteps of his fellow Japanese star, Hideki Matsuyama, following his victory in this week’s Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in Miyazaki in Japan, the 22 year old surviving a playoff to win one of the more significant events on the Japan Tour.

Kanaya, who turned professional only last month, has finished 7th, 5th and now 1st in his three events in the paid ranks, transitioning almost seamlessly from an outstanding amateur career.

Kanaya, who finished tied for 3rd as an amateur at last year’s Australian Open, had already won on the Japan Tour when successful at the Visa Taiheiyo Championship 12 months ago but had been the world number one amateur for a total of 55 weeks prior to turning professional.

Matsuyama had also won the Visa Taiheiyo Championship as an amateur in 2011 and has also won the Dunlop Phoenix as a professional.

Amongst Kanaya’s victories in the amateur ranks was the 2018 Asia Pacific Amateur Championship, an event won on two occasions by Matsuyama and while very different in style as golfers, Kanaya appears as if a professional career as successful as that of Matsuyama’s is ahead of him.

Kanaya had also finished runner-up at the 2017 Japan Open and so for some time now has been on the cusp of success in the professional ranks.

Kanaya is finishing his senior year at university in Japan, the same university that Matsuyama attended in his college days.

Adelaide based coach, Gareth Jones, has played a significant role in the development of Kanaya having been the Japan Team coach for several years now and assisting Kanaya in the transition to the professional ranks.

Already ranked inside the top 200 in the world, this week’s victory will move Kanaya close to the top 125.

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Jason Day Bounces Back After Horror Masters

Jason Day – file photo Henry Peters

Jason Day has bounced back from a horror second round at last week’s Masters Tournament, adding a second round of 67 at the RSM Classic at Sea Island Resort in Sea island in Georgia and although eight shots  from overnight leader, Robert Streb, it was a significant turnaround his second round of 78 at Augusta National.

Appearing free from any of the ongoing back ailment that caused grief at the Masters, Day produced four birdies and an eagle to go with one bogey to improve 27 positions following his opening 69 at the Seaside Course yesterday as he negotiated his way round the second of two venues for the event, the Plantation Course.

The highlight of Day’s round was his eagle at the 18th hole (his 9th of the day) when his second shot approach finished 6 feet from the hole.

Day finds himself in 22nd place but importantly it gets his form heading back in the right direction after a disappointing week at the Masters.

Other Australians this week are Aaron Baddeley who is one shot behind Day and Matt Jones in 42nd place and two behind Day.

Cameron Percy and Cameron Davis missed the cut by one shot and Rhein Gibson, who gained a late start in the event after another player had contracted Covid 19, missed by two.

The leader, Streb, has won only one event on the PGA Tour, that coming when successful at this very venue six years ago.

“It’s just really nice to come back here,” said Streb. “It did a lot for me. Obviously had a really good season that year, basically kind of made sure I would get to my pension with the Tour with five years. Yeah, it carried me to where I was going to at least get my five years out here and all that. Obviously got me into a lot of big tournaments, too.”

The story of the week however is the return to form of Camilo Villegas who is overcoming personal setbacks to have himself back on track to return to the sort of form which saw him win two Fed Ex Cup playoff events and reach Number 7 in the world several years ago.

The Colombian has overcome a major shoulder injury and more importantly the death this year of his two year old daughter, Mia, from cancer and his effort this week provides one of the more heart warming stories of 2020 on the PGA Tour.

He is excited about his play but not getting too far ahead of himself.

“Hey, we’ve only played 36 holes. I’m not going to say the confidence is coming back from these two past days, but I think having the shoulder good and all the work that I’ve put in the last few months made me feel better. It’s not a two-day thing, it’s a process. The swing feels good, the speed is better than it was and I’m pain free, so that’s good.”

When asked about the thoughts of his daughter entering his mind when in the middle of a good round he added; “You know what, I just did a little bit when I mentioned her name. When I’m out there, I’m so focused, there’s so much going on, especially under these conditions.

“I’m there with my brother (caddie Manny) and you just follow a process. So to answer your question, you’re so focused on what you’re doing that it doesn’t really — I’m not going to say it doesn’t distract me, but like I said, when I got on the range and I saw a rainbow, hey, listen, here it is.

“She loved colors and rainbows and my wife was all about it. And it was cool. It was a nice way to start the day.”

Villegas with his caddie and brother Manny in action this week. – Getty Images

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Cameron Smith Joint Runner-up to Johnson at Masters

Smith file photo- a brilliant week

In one of the more clinical golfing displays in recent times, 36-year-old Dustin Johnson has won the 2020 Masters, producing a tournament record winning score of 20 under in the process.

Johnson won by five over joint second placegetters Cameron Smith of Australia and Korean Sungjae Im and while a five shot victory might sound like a walk in the park for the world number one the early stages of the round gave him reason to be wary of his chasers.

Beginning the day with a four shots lead over Im, Smith and Mexican Abraham Ancer, it was Smith who quickly closed the gap with birdies at his second and third holes and when Johnson struggled to par the near obligatory birdie hole, the second, it was game on.

Johnson would though hole a 14-footer at the 3rd and it was a case of normal transmission resumed for the moment at least.

Smith or Im were not about to go away however and as Ancer struggled with the occasion and dropped off, the chasing pair took advantage of bogeys at the 4th and 5th by the leader, Smith recovering from a bogey at the 5th himself to make the  turn in 33 and was at that point just two behind.

Im, who was playing in the final group with Johnson and Ancer, was four behind Johnson at the turn and was struggling to make any ground on the leader and when Smith missed a par saving putt from 10 feet at the 11th he too was battling to keep pace.

Smith was unable to birdie the 13th and when Johnson put together three consecutive birdies from the 13th he had moved to 20 under and had the luxury of a five shot lead with three to play. He was not about to let any of that disappear and played the last three holes in superb fashion, especially for one with such a lead.

His five shot margin remained intact and it was left to Im and Smith to fight out second place. Im, playing in his very first Masters Tournament, birdied the 13th and 15th to get to 15 under and was able to hold on to share the runner-up place with Smith.

For Johnson, however, it continues a stunning run of form of late during which he has been inside the top three finishers in six of his last seven starts this season and finished 6th in the other. The win will further cement his place atop the world ranking taking him nearly three points clear of Jon Rahm.

Johnson set an all-time scoring record of 20 under par for the event, bettering the previous set by Tiger Woods (1997) and  Jordan Spieth (2015).

Smith further highlighted his capacity to match it with the best of players. He indicated during the week that when he plays his best he knows in his own mind that he can contend with anyone. It is doing that more often that is now his goal.

His four rounds in the 60’s was the first time any player in the history of the event has achieved such a feat, further highlighting the impressive nature of his week.

“That’s really cool,” said Smith referring to establishing that milestone. “I had no idea starting today that I needed to do that. I honestly can’t believe it but I have just got to put it down to my scrambling and digging deep.”

Smith will improve in the revised world rankings to 27th and earns a cheque for US$1,242,00 or close to A$1.7 million but very importantly he gains the self-belief necessary to again contend in major championships in the years ahead. At the age of just 27 there would appear to be a lot more opportunities to come.

“I wouldn’t say I brought my best stuff,” added Smith. “I struggled with my driving and long stuff this week but obviously my scrambling, my chipping and putting was unreal, probably the best its ever been. So a lot of good stuff but also a lot of stuff to work on.

“I love this place I badly want to win the event and feel like it brings the best out in my game.”

Smith and caddy Matt Tritton today

22 year old, Im, moves inside the top 20 to 18th, the highest standing he has had in the game and he continues to impress on the PGA Tour after being named rookie of the Year in 2019 and Player of the Year during his Korn Ferry Tour career prior.

The joints runners-up finished three shots clear of 4th placed Justin Thomas with another shot back to South African Dylan Frittelli and Rory McIlroy.

Of the other Australians to make the cut, Marc Leishman reversed some of his recent indifferent form when his last round of 68 moved him to a share of 13th place while Adam Scott was 34th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.masters.com/en_US/scores/index.html

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Cameron Smith’s Gutsy Finish Keeps Hopes Alive

Cameron Smith – file photo

Queensland’s Cameron Smith heads into tomorrow’s final round of the 2020 Masters in a share of second position and although four shots behind the world number one, Dustin Johnson, the 27 year old is not yet without his chances of winning a first major championship.

After beginning the third round tied for the lead with Johnson, Abraham Ancer, Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm, Smith was treading water for much of his round with 12 consecutive pars until a stretch of three birdies on the hop in the middle of his back nine swept him into final round contention.

The first of those came when holing from 10 feet at the par 5 13th after being forced to lay up from the trees, then came a 12 footer a beautifully played approach at the 14th and then came an up and down birdie from just off the back of the green at the 15th.

While the birdies were important for Smith’s chances tomorrow, perhaps equally as important were his brilliant par saves at the last three holes to keep him in touch.

At the 16th Smith missed the par 3 in what seemed and impossible position and initially it appeared a par would be a good result. He holed a nice 12 footer for par after a very good chip from a downhill lie in the rough but at the next it appeared his bogey free round was again under threat.

His wild drive at the 17th meant he would do well just to get himself back in play but he chose to hit a high hook over the trees from alongside the adjacent fairway, finished 80 yards or so from the flag, pitched to 14 feet and again made the par saving putt.

At the last and after a superb drive, Smith lost his approach into the right hand greenside bunker but once again his impressive short game came to the rescue. He blasted to four feet and converted to finish four shots behind the rampant Dustin Johnson whose play to date suggests a second major is just 18 holes away for the world number one.

Cameron Smith saving par from the bunker at the last – Getty Images

Smith has often shown a capacity to play big events well. Not only has he finished 5th in this event previously but it was at the 2015 US Open at Chambers Bay where he perhaps boxed event further above his weight when hitting a second shot to the par 5 last to 3 feet to secure an eagle which would eventually play a key role in him securing a PGA Tour card.

We saw another shot like that from Smith on Friday when his 7 wood approach at the par 5 15th finished 2 feet from the hole, the resultant eagle setting off a run of three birdies to finish and sweeping him into the lead before darkness stopped play that day.

Smith shares second place with Sungjae Im and Abraham Ancer but while all three will be interested in the prospect of chasing down the game’s dominant player at present, Johnson, so too must they be aware of those behind as nine additional players are within four shots of second place.

“It’s what we dream about,” said Smith. “I can’t wait for tomorrow. I’ll obviously need a hot start and the back nine has been kind to me all week so hopefully it can be kind to me for one more day.”

Whatever happens tomorrow, for Smith this week is a further example of the relatively young PGA Tour player continuing to make his name at the highest level. He is very much a no fuss player who just gets on with the job and taking advantage of a game that is built around imagination and fine short game skills. Tomorrow he will need all of those and more.

Dustin  Johnson in action today – playing almost faultless golf – Getty Images

The leader, Johnson, has been in outstanding form of late and having finished inside the top ten in his last four starts including when runner-up last year, his chances appeared strong heading into the week and are now looking significantly stronger.

He has recorded just two bogeys in 54 holes to go with two eagles and 14 birdies and has looked very measured and calm in the manner in which he is going about his business.

Given Johnson’s domination of the first 54 holes it is hard to imagine he is going to make the sort of mistakes he will need to if his chasers have any chance of catching him.

This is, though, the Masters and there have been several examples, even in the modern era, of leads the equal of and greater than Johnson’s been lost over the closing 18 holes on a golf course that gives with one hand and takes with the other.

“I feel my game is very consistent now,” said Johnson today. “I have a lot of control of what I am doing in terms of distance, flight and shape of shots.”

“You have to hit it the right distance – it’s the biggest key around here especially on the par 3’s and I think I have done a pretty good job of that.

“It is easier to do with the conditions being soft but you have to be aggressive and attack the flags as long as you feel confident as to how far you are going to fly it.

“Going into tomorrow I have a good game plan and I am not going to change it. I am going to have to go out and play well. There are a lot of good players around me so I am going to have to play well if I want to win it.”

“There’s still a long way to go but to win it would mean a lot,” added Johnson when asked that very question. “I mean it’s the Masters, it’s a major, I grew up down the road so this one would be very special to me

“I’ve put myself in this situation a lot of times, I know what it takes and how I respond and I am very comfortable with the lead.”

 

 

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The 2020 Masters – Different Date, Same Anticipation

Adam Scott – perhaps underdone but still a chance

It might be seven months later than originally scheduled and it might be an event very much devoid of the on-course patronage it typically receives, but the 2020 Masters will be played with the same level of intrigue and anticipation that has become part of its folklore and it might be that there is even more.

It is a new look Masters in so many respects but perhaps Phil Mickelson summed it up best in his pre-event media conference on Tuesday when asked what he will miss most about the look and feel of an April Masters.

“Nothing,” said the three time champion. “In the sense that this is the Masters and it doesn’t matter if it rains or if it shines we gotta compete for a Green Jacket and as a player that is all we care about. I am just thankful we have the chance this year as it has been very challenging and a lot of extra work just to put the event on.”

Amongst the several who addressed the media early in the week, that sentiment was a common theme. World number one Dustin Johnson, who recorded his best finish in nine starts at the Masters when runner-up to Tiger Woods last year, would also describe his delight at just being able to play the event given the relative uncertainty of the year thus far and despite the enforced move to a November date.

“I’m happy to be here,” said the current FedEx Cup Champion. “I am happy we are playing the Masters – we are really fortunate and are very happy with you guys (Augusta National) for putting it on this late in the year.”

Five-time champion Tiger Woods has now held the Green Jacket for 19 months and while that has been a bonus of sorts it is not quite as he would have liked it.

“It’s been incredible to have around the house and to share with people but to have it this long its not the way I want to have it and wanted to try and earn it back in April.

“Having said that we have an opportunity to play this week whereas earlier in the year we didn’t think we would have this opportunity.

“This whole day (his last before handing the jacket back) was very special as I might never get the opportunity to take the jacket off property again.

“This whole year has been very different for all of us and for us to have the ability to play this year when earlier in the year we weren’t looking like having this is great and that we are having to play off two tees for the first time (a darkness factor) is irrelevant.”

Defending champion – Tiger Woods this week.

Adam Scott is one of five Australians in the field and the only Australian to have won the event. He returned to tournament golf last week with an encouraging week in Houston but acknowledged that this year’s absence of crowds will make a significant difference to the event.

“We’ll be missing one element but it is a huge element to the experience of playing the Masters.” said the 2013 champion. “I’ve played two major championships since returning from the Covid 19 schedule break and it couldn’t be more different playing major championship golf without the spectators and the crowds and the atmosphere.

“The thing that will be the same however is that it (the event) still means the same to us all.”

While acknowledging that he had yet to venture onto the golf course, Scott was aware that the different time of the year resulted in the different type of shots that might be required around the greens especially because of the different stages of the transition between bermuda and rye grasses.

“I haven’t been on the course yet. I’ve just been on the range. I can see just a little bit, the grass is, in some ways, a little more forgiving potentially. It’s a very fine grass, just pure overseed in April, and at times on particular shots when it’s quite thin and fine like that, it demands a lot of precision.

“But you know, I’ve also heard guys say that it is quite different on the course with a little bit of the bermuda still staying around, because it is quite warm, that you have to play some shots around the greens in a different fashion.

“I’ve got lots to learn in the next three days if that’s the case.”

Scott might be underdone as far as preparation is concerned given it is just his second event back after a lengthy break from an enforced quarantine due to a positive result for a Covid 19 test but there is little doubting his record at the Masters over the past few years.

He has not missed a cut in his last ten appearances, been runner-up once and of course the winner in 2013. His lack of play compared to those considered his main dangers will likely work against him but he is still a chance to at least contend.

Jason Day, too, has an excellent record at Augusta National. In nine appearances (he was forced to withdraw in another) he has not yet missed a cut and been inside the top five on three occasions and once 10th. His warm-up event when 7th at last week’s Houston Open was encouraging and provided there are no injury issues he can be expected to do well.

Cameron Smith, returns from a two week tournament break to recharge the batteries after finishing 4th at his last start in Las Vegas and 11th in his previous start in California.

Smith finished a very impressive 5th behind Patrick Reed at The Masters two years ago and has made the cut in his two other appearances. In his still relatively short PGA Tour career, the Queenslander is proving to be a big event player and so his performance this week will be of much interest to Australians.

Marc Leishman has done well at Augusta National previously but his current form is close to an all time low in his PGA Tour career and so it is hard to see him contending.

Australia’s other entrant is the Victorian amateur, Lukas Michel, who has jumped all sorts of hurdles to take his well-earned place this year. He won the US Mid-Amateur Championship in Colorado in 2019 and for him just to even be in the field is a herculean performance.

It is hard to go past the current world number one, Dustin Johnson, as the likely winner, however. Johnson has been inside the top ten in each of his last four starts at Augusta National including when runner-up last year and his current form is exemplary.

Whatever the outcome, by the time Sunday comes around at this year’s Masters there will be little talk of a missed April date but, rather, on the outcome of one of the world’s truly great sporting events.

Three of Australia’s five participants, Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith and Adam Scott in practice today 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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