Australian PGA: Watch Johnathan Thurston skol beer out of Cam Smith’s claret jug

Cameron Smith, John Daly and ... Johnathan Thurston. The Maroons legend joined an elite club after commandeering golf’s most famous trophy. WATCH THE VIDEO

Johnathan Thurston knows a lot about winning. Now he knows what it tastes like.

While the NRL premiership trophy, State of Origin shield and rugby league World Cup might be the pinnacle in his sport, and he’s hoisted them all, it was another sporting chalice that had him giddy and jumping out of his skin.

Thurston joined some of Queensland’s biggest sports stars at Royal Queensland for the Australian PGA this week and all had their eyes on one man and one prize only: Cameron Smith and his famous claret jug.

So much so that cheeky Thurston managed to get his hands on the trophy, whisk it away to somewhere private and put in the call to Smith to seek permission to skol a pot of beer out of the world’s most famous trophy.

Smith was only too happy to oblige and Thurston enjoyed the sweet flavour of success drinking from a jug that’s been all around the world with some of the finest golfers of all time.

“Tasted outstanding,” Thurston said after necking the entire beer in one breathless mouthful.

“Tasted like a winner. Something Cam and I have in common. Hahahaha.”

Maroons greats with Cam Smith and his cut out.

It’s been that sort of week for sports stars at Royal Queensland, with NRL and AFL superstars demoted to mega-fans as part of the sideshow as Smith takes centre stage.

The Wednesday Pro-AM featured a who’s who of Queensland sport, with stars like Lions AFL player Hugh McCluggage jumping at a last-minute opportunity to join the field.

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Meanwhile Luke Hodge, Daniel Rich and Broncos winger Corey Oates headlined a $2m hole-in-one competition on Saturday, each with a chance to win $1m for their favourite charity if they could sink it off the tee on the 160m par three fourth.

Oates has played Origins for Queensland and a grand final for the Broncos, but nothing could prepare him for the pressure moment standing on the tee with a gallery of fans focussed only on his one shot at glory.

“It’s nerve-racking, lucky I hit one of my better shots,” Oates said.

Smith, JT and the claret jug.

“That was nervous just because I’ve never done it before, first time doing it in front of people. That is the hardest part. Anything in front of a crowd where you’re just being watched by a thousand or so people. It’s intense.

“Even at Origin, it’s pumps you up and it’s exciting and you get nervous. You don’t get as nervous as you used to, but golf, man I was shaking when I had my head over the ball I tell you.”

For the record Oates just missed the green, but he always knew a career stalking the fairways as a golfer rather than the tryline as a winger was a long shot.

“I was nervous trying to hit the ball off the tee. I can’t imagine what it’s like doing a two-foot putt for a million dollars,” he said.

“There could be a career change, you never know how the next few years ago and if my golf improves.

“I think my body has gone through too much wear and tear, I don’t know it would hold up now doing this day in day out.”

But could you blame any of the footballers if they got a touch of envy around Smith this week.

After all, the golfer’s reported $150m sign on fee to join LIV Golf plus prizemoney this year puts his annual earnings beyond the entire NRL salary cap that pays all 480 players at the 16 clubs.

“I might try to get on his fishing boat first, I want to go fishing with him,” Oates said.

“JT is one of the best halfbacks to play the game (he gets to drink out of the jug), I’m just a winger.”

Originally published as Australian PGA: Watch Johnathan Thurston skol beer out of Cam Smith’s claret jug