‘God-like’: Cam Smith water shot miracle blows golf away at PGA Championship
Cameron Smith has regularly proven he’s not mortal when it comes to the golf course but his latest act was nearly a miracle.
Aussie golf champion Cameron Smith has left fans’ jaws on the floor after saving par despite landing his ball in the water on the par-five seventh at the PGA Championship.
The Aussie finished day one six shots off the lead in a tie for 18th, shooting a three-under 68, after world No. 3 Xander Schauffele raced to the front with a course-record nine-under 62.
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But while Smith is a little off the pace, the Aussie set tongues wagging after his near-miracle second shot on the seventh.
While it was Smith’s 16th hole of the day as he started on the back-nine, the seventh at Valhalla Golf Club is tricky, offering players a longer route down the right hand side or a risky shot at a small island fairway to the left.
Unfortunately for Smith, he landed in the middle, requiring him to ditch his shoes and socks as his ball landed in a shallow creek between the fairways that leads into a lake.
As the ball was only half submerged, Smith decided to go for it rather than taking a drop.
Even for pros it’s a tricky shot but Smith made no mistake, knocking the ball onto the middle of the fairway.
Watch the shot in the video player above.
While Smith looked like it was a regular day at the office, the golf world was blown away by the freakish save from Smith.
No Laying Up’s Neil Schuster said on the ESPN2 alternate stream that Smith looked comfortable in the water.
“I would say that water’s above the equator on that golf ball,” Schuster said.
“It feels like a pretty comfy spot for Cam — noted fisherman likes to kinda be in the water with his shoes and socks off. He looks right at home to me.”
Chris Solomon added “holy c**p” when Smith hit the ball, with Schuster summing it up: “Didn’t think about it. Didn’t take any waggles. That’s great execution.”
Golf commentator Luke Elvy tweeted: “It’s not the first time Cam Smith’s short game has been labelled ‘god-like’. After the month he’s had, you’d think Cam can literally walk on water.”
The Tour Pro account posted: “Cam Smith playing one from the water is way too relatable.”
The Drunk By The Turn account added: “Cam Smith just made par from here. This man’s short game is the best in the world.”
It was a good day for Smith, hitting four birdies but dropping a shot on the fifth, his 14th hole of the day.
The Queenslander said it had been a good day but he’d started to tire on the latter holes.
“I actually hit the ball quite well for probably the first 12 or 13 holes there,” he said.
“Kind of let go of it a little bit at the end, but everything felt really good. I managed to get a few good par saves and keep the momentum going for tomorrow.
“It’s going be a long week. I think you know that at the start of the week anyway – it’s a major week. It’s always more demanding.
“Plenty of rest this afternoon, maybe hit a few balls, clean some stuff up and get a good sleep tonight.”
Smith also said that Schauffle isn’t too far ahead and that patience and getting the ball on the fairway are keys to chasing the American down.
“You just have to hit the fairway,” Smith said.
“It’s definitely long but there’s still a good mix of holes where you still get a lot of wedges, a lot of short irons and, even for myself, I feel like I’m able to make some birdies out there.
“So it would help to hit it another 20 or 30 yards, but I don’t think you have to hit it too far.”
Smith is the top Aussie after day one.
Fellow Aussie LIV player Lucas Herbert was one shot back from Smith at two-under.
Playing in the marquee group with Tiger Woods, Adam Scott failed to make a single birdie in a one-over round of 72 that left him well off the pace.
Jason Day birdied his final hole to close out an even-par opening round while Min Woo Lee mirrored Scott, while Cam Davis had a horror start with five bogeys and a double in his opening round of seven-over 78.
With NCA Newswire
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