Cameron Smith’s last minute session to end major funk at British Open

Cameron Smith heads into the Open outside the world’s top 200 for the first time since 2016, having missed the cut at the last four majors. As the clock ticked past 8pm on Open eve he was still finetuning his game.

There is so much daylight in this part of the world at this time of year, a local lad took two lasses out on a public golf course after 9pm and wheeled his bag to the first tee.

Surely keen to impress, with a wind howling off the northern tip of Northern Ireland, he chunked his opening shot into ghastly scrub not more than 30 metres in front of him. Lesser men would have put the club in the bag and gone straight home.

But still with about 90 minutes before the sun finally set, he powered on, determined for the one shot which would make it all worthwhile.

It’s no surprise the professionals vying for The Open championship down the road are still grinding well after dinnertime, too.

On a windswept day and the clock ticking past 8pm, Cameron Smith is walking up the 18th fairway with his good buddy, Marc Leishman, capping a practice round in front of a handful of spectators.

Cameron Smith is finetuning his game ahead of the Open. Picture: Glyn Kirk/AFP

Most of their rivals for the week have long ghosted out of Royal Portrush.

“I’m trying my arse off, there’s no doubt about that,” Smith says. “It’s just been a really frustrating year.”

Regardless, Smith can walk through the gates every time at The Open and feel 10 foot tall. He’s already won the claret jug, and not just in any old circumstance: in the 150th edition, at St Andrews, running down Rory McIlroy with a back nine 30.

It was only three years ago, and a lifetime ago.

Largely due to his move to LIV Golf and its world rankings blackout so far, Smith starts the final major of the year outside the world’s top 200 for the first time since 2016.

More worryingly, he’s missed his last four cuts at the majors, a quasi referendum for the LIV stars who rarely battle with PGA Tour stalwarts like McIlroy and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

Has he still got it? Is there still an A-game to mix it with the world’s best?

Cameron Smith has been stuck in the funk in majors. Picture: Warren Little/Getty Images

“It’s not from lack of hard work, but a lack of commitment (to shots) out on the golf course,” Smith says of his recent struggles. “I can’t remember the last time I had an issue with that. It’s been a bit weird. The swing feels good, looks good, I just need to go out there and actually do it.

“The last couple of months it’s felt a lot better though.”

Links golf hasn’t always come easy to Smith, but something finally clicked when he played Royal Portrush in 2019. It was the first time he’d finished top 20 in The Open. Maybe he’s never needed a similar performance more in his life.

As part of the Smith’s all-Australian travelling Ripper GC troupe, Leishman knows Smith perhaps better than any of his peers.

While Leishman loves the LIV life, winning his first individual title in Miami this year and breaking his three-year majors absence by qualifying for the US Open, he’s watched Smith closely in recent months.

“He’s working hard and his game is coming around pretty good,” Leishman said.

“He has had a lot going on this year with the arrival of his little fella and getting used to the travel when you’ve got someone at home who depends on you and you want to be with. That’s been a bit of an adjustment for him.

“He’s still working hard and playing good golf. It wouldn’t surprise me if he had a good week coming up.”

Originally published as Cameron Smith’s last minute session to end major funk at British Open