Olympic golfer Cam Smith explains why he had ‘Aus’ shaved in to the side of his head for Tokyo

The best mullet in golf got even better for the Tokyo Olympics, and of course there just had to be a golden Australian reason behind it.

Cameron Smith’s glorious mullet had an ever-growing fan club even before the Australian Olympic golfer took it up a significant notch en route to Tokyo.

The ultra-patriotic world number 28 left no-one in any doubt about his allegiance when he had “AUS” shaved in to the side of his head as he prepared for his first Games.

Having put representing Australia in Tokyo on his radar to “play for something bigger than yourself”, Smith said there was a good reason for going the extra mile with his hair.

“Yeah, I mean, it’ the Olympics. It doesn’t happen too often. I thought I would give Australia a shoutout on the side of the melon,” the Queenslander said in Tokyo on Tuesday before Thursday’s opening round.

“I mean, I thought about it for a few weeks beforehand and then I just said stuff it, I’m going to do it, and I think it’s been received pretty good.

“My mum called me up. She was laughing. She was like, oh, you were just on the news. Called me all sorts of names, but she loved it and she loves that it brings a lot of, I guess, joy to, it puts a smile on people’s faces, I think, she enjoys the most, so, yeah.”

Cameron Smith and his now famous mullet. Source: Twitter

Olympic teammate, and great mate, Marc Leishman said he “didn’t have the head” to copy Smith but left no-one in any doubt how much it meant to represent his country.

Leishman, a multiple winner on the US PGA Tour, said it was “really special” to play in green and gold.

“I mean, this is only once every four years. As a golfer, I think we didn’t grow up thinking we would have a chance to win a medal, so I think as time goes on, this is going to get bigger and bigger and bigger,” he said.

“I think as Australians playing on the PGA Tour, in a way we do represent our country every week. That‘s the way I feel.

“Just this week where we’re wearing the green and gold and we have got Australia on our hats and shirts, which is an, I think adds a bit more to the prestige, I think.

“And I’m certainly very proud to call myself an Olympian now and I know Cam is as well.”

Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman practice in Tokyo. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The pair are teammates, but the golf in Tokyo is played as an individual event at the Kasumigaseki Country Club, meaning both could win medals.

It’s an opportunity not lost on Smith who, like Leishman, knows it’s a rare opportunity to truly play for their country.

“The green and gold, the coat of arms on the chest just hits a little bit different,” Smith said.

“I mean, it’s always nice to play for something bigger than just yourself every week and yeah, it should be good.”

Cameron Smith’s Team Australia's bag (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Originally published as Olympic golfer Cam Smith explains why he had ‘Aus’ shaved in to the side of his head for Tokyo