Australian Open: Cam Smith’s atonement quest begins alongside Marc Leishman, Adam Scott and Matt Jones

After the worst week of Cam Smith’s professional career at the PGA, a fellow Aussie star has backed Smith to redeem himself fully at the Australian Open.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 28: Cameron Smith plays a practise round ahead of the ISPS HANDA Australian Open at The Lakes on November 28, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Cameron Smith’s quest for redemption began just after 7am on Tuesday morning under gloomy skies. Smith, still stinging after his missed cut at the Australian PGA, dusted off his clubs and spent five hours finetuning his preparations for the Open alongside the cream of Australian golf – Marc Leishman, Adam Scott and Matt Jones.

He even found time for a young fan who approached him as he walked up the 17th fairway at The Lakes, one of two host courses for this year’s tournament. Smith signed the young fella’s cap and urged him to “keep it going”.

They were wise words that Smith would do well to heed himself given the difficulties he endured at Royal Queensland last week. One of the worst performances of Smith’s professional career reduced him to tears as he stared down the ignominy of a weekend without golf and there is a sense that he will be hellbent on atoning for that performance this week.

Smith bowed out of the Aussie PGA in disappointing fashion. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Good mate Leishman certainly insisted on Tuesday that Smith wasn’t carrying any divots as he warned it would be folly to write off Smith in the lead-up to the Australian Open.

Leishman speaks from experience. He vividly recalls missing the cut at the Open eight years ago and then rebounding from that disappointment with one of the greatest wins of his career – a six-shot victory at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.

Now it is Smith’s turn to put a sub-par display in the rear vision mirror as he looks to pick up the pieces in the national championship.

“He is good,” Leishman said.

“I think he knows that golf can be like that. Obviously he was very disappointed as were the tournament organisers and everyone.

“Everyone wanted him to play well. But he is a big boy and he can handle adversity like that. I wouldn’t even call it a setback – just a disappointment.

“Sometimes, something like that and snap you into gear. I remember a few years ago I missed the cut at the Australian Open when it was at the The Australian and I went and won the Nedbank the next week. “It can happen. Sometimes that little reset can be actually good for you.”

Smith looked at ease as he laughed and joked his way through a practice round with Leishman, Scott and two-time Open winner Jones. The quartet couldn’t be separated through 18 holes after throwing their balls in the air and splitting into teams – Leishman played with Jones against the Queensland tandem of Smith and Scott.

Smith didn’t appear to be a man carrying any baggage from last week’s devastation. The bookies haven’t been fooled either – Smith is on the second line of betting behind PGA champion Min Woo Lee.

Smith played with Adam Scott and a host of Australia’s best golfers. Pic: Andrew Redington/Getty Images/AFP

“On Tuesday it is still a pretty relaxed day” Leishman said.

“You are just trying to get your game in order. We had a good match the four of us. We had a lot of fun out there, a lot of laughs. I expect he will play really well this week.

“It was a good match …. we had so much fun. It is nice having a few putts you need to make. I am expecting him to play really well this week.

“After a week like last week – where you are in the hunt – it is nice to come out and get a quality practice round in where you don’t burn any energy.

“Have it relaxed but have it productive. We have all missed cuts. He knows how the game is. It’s not as big a deal.

“Obviously there is disappointment but if anything it will snap him back into working hard this week and concentrating on this week.

“I think if he had a month off after last week he would be pretty disappointed but he has this tournament to redeem himself and I am sure he will.”

While Smith missed the cut last week, Leishman was in the mix over the weekend and will carry those good vibes into the Open.

“Feeling good,” Leishman said. “Last week was nice – good finish to the tournament. Hopefully I can carry that form over from Saturday and Sunday to this week and it would be nice to contend again.

“Been playing good, the putter feels good, everything feels good. The signs are there and it is nice getting back here any the end of the year feeling fresh.”