Cameron Smith doubles down on his stance against the behaviour of US star Patrick Reed
Cameron Smith was outspoken when asked about Patrick Reed’s antics last week, declaring the American ‘cheated the rules’. The hard-line stance has cost the two their friendship ahead of a fiery Presidents Cup.
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Australian Presidents Cup rookie Cameron Smith has doubled-down on his stance against the behaviour of American opponent Patrick Reed declaring the criticism had cost him their friendship.
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Smith was outspoken last weekend after Reed pleaded ignorance when given a two-shot penalty in the Bahamas for clearing sand behind his ball in a waste area.
The Queenslander said Reed’s justification for the action was “bulls**t” and accused him of “cheating the rules”.
Smith, who was left out of day one action at Royal Melbourne by International captain Ernie Els, said he was “sure” Reed didn’t like his criticism.
But he also said he wouldn’t be going out of his way to talk to Reed, who had already ignored him at the course this week.
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“I think there is a little bit of tension there. I’ve looked at Patrick a couple of times but he hasn’t looked back. I’m looking forward to the weekend,” Smith said.
“I definitely won’t go out of my way. I think our friendship, I guess, is not quite there anymore.”
Smith also said he wouldn’t back down from his comments, which were echoed around the world by Reed’s fellow pros and golf commentators, many of whom were happy to label the American a cheat.
“I think it’s a case of what’s right and what’s wrong,” he said.
“I think there’s, you know, I think there’s something to be said about that.”
While he missed out on a day one match-up, Smith said he would be more than happy to take on Reed or even Tiger Woods in the Sunday singles, if it was what Els wanted.
“Who wouldn’t want to take on Tiger? Greatest of all time, it would be a great one-on-one battle,” he said.
“Like I said, whatever Ernie thinks is best is all okay by us.”
WE MUST START FAST: SCOTT
MICHAEL WARNER
Aussie Adam Scott says a fast start by his unfancied Internationals can turn the blowtorch onto Tiger Woods’ star-studded US team.
“If we can hang with them for a long time this week, I think there’s a lot of pressure that goes back to them to finish this off,” Scott declared of today’s opening four-ball session.
“A good start. That’s all we’re looking for. It’s my big focus. Whoever is out there (Thursday), it’s the most important match of the week for them.
“Our team doesn’t need to be chasing its tail out here.
“We don’t need to be mounting a huge comeback.
“I certainly have spent the last four or five weeks since I played in China thinking about how I’m going to be ready to play on Thursday. I think it’s very important for us.”
The Internationals have led after day one just three times in the history of the event.
Scott, 39, made his Presidents Cup debut in South Africa in 2003, a tournament that was tied, and has tasted defeat seven straight times since.
But the four-ball, which will open the Presidents Cup, is the better match-up for the Internationals who trail the USA by just one point in that format through the 12 previous encounters.
It compares favourably to foursomes, or alternate shot, where the USA hold a commanding 78 points to 46 record.
Scott said he sensed a different “vibe” this year under captain Ernie Els.
“I’m very optimistic. I’ve had a good feeling for the last couple (of) months about the way our team shaped up,” he said.
“I feel a very, very strong energy, which certainly over some of the past Cups we’ve been lacking. It’s not a lot of fun getting beaten all the time.”
The 2013 US Masters champion and world No. 18 said a win this weekend would “rank very highly” when he looked back on his career.
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“I see this event carrying on into the future, and it will be incredibly disappointing if I played all these and never won a Presidents Cup. I feel I’d be missing something,” he said.
As for the powerful American team, Scott said: “I heard something good, like the names are on the paper, but we play on the grass.
“This is a great opportunity for us, and certainly for me. Ernie has done a lot of the prep work for us and kind of laid the foundations. Hopefully we can get it all happening this week, but I like the way it’s going.”