Cameron Smith and Jonas Blixt sign up for Australian Open and PGA

Fresh off a standout season in the US, Cameron Smith will round off his year by playing the Australian Open and PGA.

Cameron Smith in action at the CIMB Classic at TPC Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

They joined forces to win the Zurich Classic on the PGA Tour but young Queenslander Cameron Smith and Sweden’s Jones Blixt will be shooting for individual glory when the pair head to Australia later this year for the Open and PGA.

Smith, in brilliant touch after shooting an opening 64 at the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, is regarded as one of the sport’s rising stars, a mantle he confirmed when he combined with Blixt to win his first event on the PGA Tour earlier this year.

The pair beat Americans Scott Brown and Kevin Kisner in a Monday playoff to secure the win. While it was Smith’s maiden win on the world’s biggest stage, it heralded the third time Blixt had savoured victory on the PGA Tour.

It was the highlight of a year in which 24-year-old Smith established himself in the US, winning more than $US2 million ($2.5m) in prize money as he added to his win at the Zurich with three top-10 finishes.

Quiet and unassuming, Smith is slowly emerging from the shadows of his more omnipresent compatriots. The likes of Jason Day, Adam Scott and Marc Leishman have tended to attract the headlines but Smith is closing fast off the back of his best year yet.

His presence, along with that of Blixt, will strengthen the impressive fields at the major events on Australian soil over the summer — the Open has already announced Jason Day and Jordan Spieth while the PGA has secured Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott.

“Winning on the PGA Tour was a dream come true for me,” Smith said.

“I am excited to come home this year as a PGA Tour winner and play in the Emirates Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship. It is great that Jonas (Blixt) is coming, too. I am sure that he is going to enjoy playing in front of the Australian crowds.”

Blixt has never played the Open or the PGA — his last visit to Australia was when he played the World Cup four years ago.

“I am really thrilled to have the opportunity to play this year’s Emirates Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship,” Blixt said.

“Cameron and I won this year’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, so hopefully that Aussie connection will translate into more success.”

Aside from his win in the Zurich, Smith also finished in a share of seventh at the Wyndham Championship and a share of sixth at the Valero Texas Open. The only disappointment was his inability to make his presence felt at the majors — he missed the cut at the Open Championship and the PGA Championship.

However, he showed his intent with his opening round in Malaysia this week. For the first time in 64 starts on the PGA Tour, Smith walked off the course in possession of the first-round lead.

He will return to Sydney with a point to prove after going perilously close to winning the Stonehaven Cup last year at Royal Sydney where he finished in a playoff with American Jordan Spieth and compatriot Ashley Hall.

Ultimately, it was Spieth who prevailed. Smith will get his chance to exact revenge when the pair meet again in Sydney next month.

“We watched last year when Cameron came so close to toppling Jordan in the playoff at Royal Sydney and I’m sure there are a lot of Aussie golf fans who’d love to see him go one better at The Australian,” Golf Australia chief executive Stephen Pitt said.

After vying for the Open title, Smith and Blixt will then make their way to Queensland as they attempt to secure the Joe Kirkwood Cup.