British Open Golf 2022: Cameron Smith joined by Ash Barty for practice round

Even the cool, calm and collected presence of retired tennis champ Ash Barty couldn’t hide Cameron Smith’s tension as he prepared for the 150th British Open golf tournament.

Australia’s Cameron Smith speaks to the media ahead of the 150th British Open Golf Championship on The Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland. Picture: AFP

Queensland golfer Cameron Smith says he is in the best form of his life but he has warned the windy conditions make this year’s Open at the famous St Andrew’s course “quite tough’’.

When asked which holes he feared, he said “all of them” – admitting it was exceptionally difficult to keep the ball on the fairway.

“It seems like you’re constantly hitting from that longer grass where you don’t have as much control,’’ Smith said overnight (AEST).

“And given the terrain and the humps and hollows in front of the green, you really are kind of guessing into the greens.”

Smith attracted much attention in his practice round on Wednesday, for which he was joined by some fellow Australians in Adam Scott, Marc Leishman – and retired Wimbledon champion Ash Barty.

A big fan of fellow Queenslander Smith, Barty was in Scotland having been invited to the celebrity invitational round on Monday to celebrate The Open’s 150th anniversary.

The Australian contingent was keenly following the State of Origin scoreline after the final practice.

Take 2! Marc Leishman, Cam Smith Adam Scott, and tennis icon Ash Barty on the Swilcan Bridge at St Andrews ahead of #TheOpen 150th. Huge entourage for an Aussie practice round today pic.twitter.com/l9LznpAQSN

— Evin Priest (@EvinPriest) July 13, 2022

Asked if 2022 was the year an Australian could win The Open after a 29-year-drought, Smith said: “Yeah, absolutely. I would say this golf course probably reminds us a little bit of home. It’s really firm and really fast, which I think the Aussies really enjoy.”

But he warned the firm conditions had seen a lot of balls running off into the rough.

“So we have just got to be kind of wary of that. But Leish (Marc Leishman) and Scotty (Adam Scott) were hitting it pretty good today as well. So it should be a good week.”

Smith said there were many different options around the greens because putts could be made from a distance.

“There’s so many options. I’ve been hitting every club, it seems like, in the bag, from 30, 40 yards in, and just really seeing what happens, getting used to the conditions. I think the wind plays a big factor even when you’re trying to hit along the ground here. So just getting used to the conditions and trying to be creative (has) been the … theory the last few days.”

Cameron Smith of Australia plays a shot during a practice round at St Andrews, Scotland. Picture: Getty Images

Smith said his trademark mullet hairstyle may stay in place, even if he wins the tournament.

“I’ve always said that if I won a tournament or did something good, I would cut it off. And I’ve done that a couple times this year, and it’s still on there. So I’d like to say I would cut it off, but it’s probably not going to happen. I feel like it’s almost a part of me now. Like you said, people recognise the hair and makes a few people laugh. Yeah, it’s good.”

Meanwhile Barty, who announced her shock retirement from tennis in March after winning the Australian Open, said she wasn’t planning to take up professional golf. She played

in a celebrity foursome alongside former English Test cricket player Kevin Pietersen against the lead singer of British pop band The Vamps Bradley Simpson and American actress Kathryn Newton.

Barty, 26, said she was just having fun with her golf – she plays off a handicap of four. Her immediate focus is to set up a tennis academy with her coach Craig Tyzzer and Jason Stoltenberg.