Cameron Smith proves a point in Chicago


Cameron Smith holes the winning putt to win by three – photo LIV Golf Getty Images

Cameron Smith, in just his second appearance in the LIV Golf series, has defeated has defeated Peter Uilhein and Dustin Johnson by three shots to earn the US$4 million winner’s cheque at the event at Rich Harvest Farms outside of Chicago and, in addition, has helped his team of Marc Leishman, Matt Jones, Wade Ormsby and himself into a share of 3rd place.

Smith took a two shot lead over Johnson into the final round and although self admittedly not at his best, his round of 69 which included birdies at his last two holes saw him retain and extend his 36 hole lead.

Smith has now won just over US$5 million in individual earnings in the two events he has played plus a little extra for he and his team.

“I think it was quite frustrating at the start of the day,” said Smith of his early play in round tree. “My warmup wasn’t fantastic. I didn’t feel like I was striking the ball as well as I had the first couple of days.

“I just kind of stuck in there. There was a couple of really poor shots off the tee that led to a couple of really soft bogeys on quite easy holes, especially that start where you want to get off to a pretty hot start.

Yeah, so it was frustrating, but just stuck in there good.”

Smith suggested he felt he had a point to prove with the switch of tours. “I think probably that first event was the most pressure I’ve been under all year inside of an event.

“I feel as though I needed to prove to myself and probably more so to other people that just because I’ve changed tours doesn’t mean I’m a worse player for it. I’m still out here to win. That’s what we’re all here for. Hopefully we can keep this going.

Smith was also asked about the feel of wining an event such as this week’s compared to those in which he has played to date where established histories are involved.

“I think for sure there is a history aspect that is for certain missing, but it doesn’t mean that the tournament is a bad tournament because of it.

“There’s 48 of the best guys out here trying to compete and trying to win. In 10, 20 years’ time, these could be the biggest events in the world. We’re just not there yet.”

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Hannah Green finishes 3rd in Portland


Hannah Green – photo Steve Sykes LPGA / Getty Images

Hannah Green has recorded her second best finish of 2022 and her fourth top five of the season with a 3rd place finish at the AmazingCre Portland Classic in Oregon.

Green was chasing her second victory in this event having won in 2019 and she put up a fine attempt to do so, falling just one short of the playoff between Andrea Lee and Daniela Darquea, Lee going on to win her first LPGA Tour title.

Green stormed home with a back nine of 32 to all but catch the leaders but that one birdie over the final three holes proved elusive.

Green improves three places to 16th in the Race to the Globe standings in a season during which she has made the cut in all eighteen events in which she has competed.

Of the other Australians, Sarah Kemp was 36th and Karis Davidson 47th.

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Lucas Hebert records best finish of 2022 in Italy

Lucas Herbert – file photo

Victorian, Lucas Hebert, has finished in a share of 5th place at the Italian Open in Rome, his final round of 68 securing him his best finish of the year on either the European or PGA Tour and a cheque for €116,000.

Herbert finished three shots from the playoff between Robert McIntyre and Matthew Fitzpatrick, McIntyre winning his second European Tour title with a birdie at the first extra hole.

McIntyre’s final round of 64 included a stunning outward nine of 6 under 29, catching and then defeating the US Open Champion Fitzpatrick who was forced to chase and catch McIntyre with a homeward nine of 32 himself.

For Herbert, though, his solid finish moves him 24 places in the Race to Dubai standings to 45th which given he has played for so much of the year in the US is yet another impressive European Tour performance.

It also leaves Herbert well positioned to play the season ending event, the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in November in which the leading 50 players compete.

Maverick Antcliff and Jason Srivener tied for 55th and were the only other Australians to make the weekend.

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Adam Bland’s big improvement at ANA Open


Adam Bland – file photo

South Australian Adam Bland recorded his best Japan Golf Tour finish in five years when he tied for 8th at the ANA Open in Hokkaido this week.

The 40 year old, 16 year professional’s previous best result in Japan was when 7th at the 2017 Japan Open but he does own one victory in Japan, that coming when winning the Japan Professional Golf Championship in 2015.

The left-handed Bland, produced a final round of 66 including birdies at the last three holes of the Sapporo Golf Club’s Wattsu course to finish in a share of 8th and five shots from the winner, Tomohara Otsuki.

“It was a good round today,” said Bland, who managed seven birdies to offset a bogey.

“I didn’t change anything and just stick to my game plan. I was able to hit it a little closer and holed a couple of putts.

“Hopefully I can play even better next week (Panasonic Open), I’m looking forward to it.”

Matthew Griffin was 17th, Anthony Quayle 28th and Andrew Evans 46th.

Quayle still leads the Australians on the 2022 money list, the Queenslander in 10th place.

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Cameron Smith leads Dustin Johnson by two in Chicago


Cameron Smith during today’s second round – photo LIV Golf / Getty Images

Playing in just his second LIV Golf event after joining the tour in Boston two weeks ago, Cameron Smith has taken a two shot lead over Dustin Johnson heading into tomorrow’s third and final round of the US$25 million 5th event of the LIV Golf series.

A round of 68 today to go with his opening 66 allowed Smith to catch and then pass Johnson who could do no better then 73 to be two back.

Smith was asked how he has been able to bring the form shown on the PGA Tour so immediately to the LIV Tour and had this to say; “Just keeping everything the same, to be honest. Still doing the work at home and trying to come out here and win golf tournaments. My mentality hasn’t changed one bit. I think that’s why I’ve played so well the last couple weeks.

“I think the music out on the golf course and on the range is something that I really enjoy. I think everyone out there really enjoys it, as well.

“I feel like the fans are closer to you and they’re probably a little bit louder on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, but yeah, I love it, mate. The atmosphere is perfect?

“It’s really cool. It’s something that I’ve got used to over the last couple of weeks, and I can’t wait to keep this going. It’s unreal out here. I love the energy. Like I said last week, I think the course has a heartbeat. Everyone is really engaged and everyone is really watching what you’re doing. Yeah, it’s awesome.”

Smith heads his team The Punches who trail the 4 Aces by just one shot with a team purse of US$3 million available to the winner of that event. The Punches team is Smith, Marc Leishman, Matt Jones and Wade Ormsby.

Matt Jones is tied for 9th in the individual and six shots from Smith’s lead.

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Harrison Endycott makes immediate statement on PGA Tour


Harrison Endycott – file photo NSW Golf

In his debut as a cardholder on the PGA Tour, Sydney’s Harrison Endycott is just three shots from the lead at the Fortinet Championship in Napa in California, a third round of 65 moving him 51 places from the cutline to contention in the US$8 million event.

Endycott earned the right to play the PGA Tour via the Korn Ferry Tour this season and irrespective of how tomorrow works out for the 26 year old, making the cut and contending in your first appearance on the big stage will be very encouraging for him.

“I mean, look, it’s still very new, you know,” said Endycott referring to the difference between playing the Korn Ferry or South American Tours as he has earlier in his career to now on the PGA Tour. You’ve got a little more atmosphere, more people, bigger grandstands, TV everywhere.

“Look, it’s funny, like I feel very, very comfortable out there when I’m within my own element, but when you do kind of smell the roses in between shots, you’re kind of like this is a different atmosphere. It might take a little time to get used to, but right now I’m enjoying it.”

“I played really nice out there today. Definitely helps when you’ve got a driver in the bag after yesterday’s shenanigans with the cracked driver face. This golf course is tough hitting 3-wood everywhere. So it was nice to get freed up, played some good golf today.

“Got the putter rolling. Had a bogey-free round on Thursday, didn’t make a birdie, so two bogey-free rounds, you know, means that I’m doing a lot of good things and just got to stay patient. And obviously first group in, there’s still a lot of golf, the rest of the guys out there, so hopefully we stay in contention and go get after it tomorrow.”

Monday qualifier, Aaron Baddeley, and Cameron Percy also made the cut but are well back.

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Hannah Green eyeing second Portland title

Hannah Green in action this week – photo LPGA Getty Images

Australian Hannah Green is well placed to add a second AmazingCre Portland Classic and a third LPGA Tour title to her name as she heads into tomorrow’s final round of the event at the Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland in Oregon.

Green won this title or its equivalent in 2019, two months after her breakthrough win at the KPMG PGA Championship and despite a bogey late in her round today costing her the chance to share the 54 hole lead, she begins tomorrow’s final round in a four way share of 4th place and just on behind the trio ahead of her.

Green is having an extremely consistent year having now made all 18 cuts to date while recording six top ten finishes, but the win has proven elusive. Back on a golf course which holds such fond memories, the 25 year old has opened the door for her consistency to be rewarded.

Of the other Australians, Sarah Kemp is 43rd and LPGA rookie, Karis Davidson, 49th.

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Lucas Herbert well placed in Italy

Lucas Herbert – file photo courtesy of PGA of Australia

Australia’s Lucas Herbert has bounced back from two missed cuts in his last three starts with a second round of 67 at the Italian Open in Rome and finds himself in a share of 5th place with just a few players to complete their second rounds tomorrow after a weather disruption.

Herbert, who now plays the PGA Tour on a regular basis, missed the cut at last week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, but despite a bogey at the last today after pulling his second into the water at the par 5, his seven birdies in round two have set up the possibility of a third DP World Tour title.

The 26 year old is currently ranked 53rd in the world after reaching a high of 40 late in 2021 and is perhaps unlucky not to have caught the attention of International Presidents Cup captain Trevor Immelman.

Herbert trails the in form leader, Rory McIlroy, by four shots and the current US Open Champion Matt Fitzpatrick by three so he has a big task to chase them an others down but he has made an encouraging start.

Jason Scrivener, tied for 27th and Maverick Antcliff 33rd, are the other Australians who will make the weekend while Scott Hend appears likely to miss by one shot, Min Woo Lee by two and Zach Murray further back again.

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Sam Jones knocked out of US Mid Amateur

Sam Jones – in trouble at his final hole the 16th in today’s round of 32 – photo Steve Gibbons USGA

New Zealand’s Sam Jones might well have shared the medallist honours at the US Mid-Amateur Championship at Erin Hills in Wisconsin, but the former New Zealand Amateur Champion was unable to advance past the round of 32 in the all important match play phase.

Following an emphatic round of 64 victory over American Christian Raynor Jones took on another American Scott Turner in the round of 32 match-up but although he led 2 up through six holes he lost five of the next eight holes and eventually went down 3&2.

Despite the loss it was an encouraging week for the Taranaki golfer in an event in which many of Americas leading amateurs beyond the age of 25 compete.

Australian Harry Bolt was the only other Australasian to qualify via the 36 hole stroke-play but lost his opening round match.

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Fortinet Championship begins PGA Tour’s new season


Just a few weeks ago – Harrison Endycott celebrates earning PGA Tour status with his dad – PGA Tour / Getty

And so it begins again. The PGA Tour’s 2022/2023 season gets underway at this week’s Fortinet Championship in Napa in California where six Australasians either recommence or, in the instance of one, Harrison Endycott, begin their PGA Tour careers.

Cam Davis, Jason Day, Aaron Baddeley, New Zealander Danny Lee, Cameron Percy and Endycott are in the field for the US$8 million event, Baddeley forcing his way into the field following an eagle in a playoff for one of two remaining spots via the qualifying spots on Monday.

Davis, Day and Lee are in the field after finishing inside the top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings while Baddeley lost his full playing rights at the completion of the last PGA Tour season and was unable to get them back via the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, so this event offers an opportunity for the two-time Australian Open Champion.

Percy gets into the field courtesy of a top ten at his last start at the Wyndham Championship and will be keen to take advantage in order to prolong his PGA Tour career.

Endycott earned his PGA Tour playing rights via the Korn Ferry Tour this past season and will get to play the PGA Tour as a card holder for the first time.

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