Cameron Smith wins $5m at The Players Championship

Cameron Smith had to play 26 holes in a day, but it proved well worth the effort in the biggest win of the Australian’s career.

Cameron Smith with the spoils from winning The Players Championship. Picture: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images/AFP

Cameron Smith will head to Augusta next month as world No.6, $5m richer and playing “the best that I’ve ever played” after a putting masterclass and a wild finish delivered a clutch win in The Players Championship.

The Queenslander needed to set a record for birdies in the final round at TPC Sawgrass in Florida, collecting 10 in a nerveless putting performance after some “horrendous” late drives rattled team Smith outside the ropes, including his mother, Sharon, and sister, Mel, who the 28-year had not seen for more than two years.

Emotional after securing the biggest winner’s cheque in PGA Tour history, Smith said his working-class roots, and Queensland’s State of Origin outfit, had instilled a “never-give-up” attitude that helped him get through 26 holes on a fifth day of the marathon tournament after constant rain interruptions demanded supreme mental toughness.

“I think both sides of my family, my mum and my dad’s side. Both have … just both mentally strong,” Smith said after his victory, which included a record low 101 putts, the least for any tournament champion.

“They’re working-class people who have had to work their whole life to live basically, and I guess that’s just kind of what I grew up in.

“I think it’s probably just never give up. I grew up watching rugby league and watching the Queenslanders come from behind, and even when it got gritty, they’d somehow manage to win.

“I think that‘s kind of instilled in all of us.”

He did THAT pic.twitter.com/4oUV25QZshhttps://t.co/rKOL9hHMXR

— THE PLAYERS (@THEPLAYERSChamp) March 14, 2022

The Queenslander, who now lives 10 minutes away from the famous course, outlasted Anirban Lahiri by just a single shot after the Indian failed to make a final-hole birdie that could have sent the pair to a playoff.

Smith, who started the final round with four birdies to storm into contention, looked to have sealed victory with a stunning shot to the island green on the famous par three 17th, where he tapped in for birdie and took his lead to three shots.

But memories of fellow Aussie Adam Scott’s near calamity on the 18th hole in 2004 flooded back when Smith, after an errant tee shot went right and into the trees, chipped out and had to watch as his ball raced across the fairway and into the water.

Cameron Smith on the 18th tee at TPC Sawgrass. Picture: David Cannon/Getty Images/AFP

Scott, who also went into the same water with his second shot nearly 20 years ago, recovered to win, and Smith followed suit with an epic fourth-shot wedge that allowed him to tap in for bogey.

“I thought the shot was actually going to come out quite soft because it was in amongst some pine straw, and it actually come out really nice,” Smith said

“I just thought it was going to come out tumbling and just roll out onto the fairway. It was unfortunate but held it together. And great up-and-down.”

10 one-putts thru 14 holes 🕳

Cameron Smith is steady. pic.twitter.com/6lVeZTke6b

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 14, 2022

Cam Smith's mom, sister and best friend are out today in support.

Smith had not seen his mom or sister for 2.5 years before this week. pic.twitter.com/WOwRtzPWIX

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 14, 2022

After the emotion-filled win, which included tears from his family, Smith said “a few beers” and sleep would be his celebration following a rollercoaster tournament that included the second round being washed out.

“I feel like I haven’t slept in five or six days,” he said.

“It‘s obviously been a long week. I’m sure there will be a few beers around the fire tonight, but I can’t wait for a good sleep.”

Smith became the fifth Australian to win The Players, joining Steve Elkington (twice), Greg Norman, Scott and Jason Day on the winners list.

Cameron Smith is looking forward to a good sleep. Picture: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Now he’ll head to the Masters in April, where he has two top-five finishes and is the only player in tournament history to shoot all four rounds in the 60s, trying to emulate Scott and add a green jacket to his trophy cabinet.

“I feel as though I’m playing the best that I’ve ever played,” Smith said.

“It’s kind of weird to think like that, probably the last three or four years being the guy that kind of goes from 20th to 40th in the world rankings, and then all of a sudden to be sixth is kind of weird.

“But I feel as though I’ve put in the work and I feel as though I’ve done a lot of work on my body and I’ve put in the time.

“I’ve never been one to expect much of myself. My expectations are I wake up, go to the gym, practise as hard as I can for a couple hours, and then go and have a good time. That’s it basically every day.

“My expectation is to prepare well and then kind of let everything fall into place from there.

“It’s nice to see all that stuff paying off.”

Originally published as Cameron Smith wins $5m at The Players Championship