Cameron Smith made history at Augusta last year and is now a Greg Norman medallist

He was runner-up at last year’s Masters after setting a new record and now Cameron Smith has won Australia’s top award.

When golfing great Greg Norman suddenly appeared on a video call Cameron Smith thought he was having with the PGA, he knew something was up.

Two minutes later last year’s Masters runner-up was sitting with the Greg Norman Medal draped around his neck after the Aussie legend let him know his name was the latest addition to a star-studded list.

“That’s epic. I’m speechless, I had no idea this was going on,” Smith said as he sat in his house in Jacksonville, Florida.

“I wish I was at home, I wish I could give everyone a hug. I’ll definitely be hanging this one up.

“It’s something that has been on the goal list for a few years now. To tick that one off is really nice … it would be nice to get another four or five before I’m all said and done.”

Smith, 27, wasn’t “too hard a choice” for Norman after a stellar 2020 season capped by his record-setting performance at Augusta.

He became the first player ever to post four sub-70 rounds at the Masters, finishing runner-up to unstoppable world No. 1 Dustin Johnson.

Smith’s Augusta record came during a season in which he notched seven top-20 results and four top-10s after winning the Hawaiian Open, his first stand-alone PGA Tour win, in a dream start to the year last January.

“I’ve been a huge fan of yours for a long, long time and I watch just about every tournament you play in,” Norman told Smith.

“I love your tenacity on the golf course. The game of golf is more than just power and your consistency has been unbelievable.

“Your performance in the Masters was a big shining light for everyone. It wasn’t too hard a decision for me to give the nod to you.

“I’m proud of you to be the Greg Norman Medal winner and I hope you go on with it this year.”

Norman invited Smith to “give me a holler” whenever he’s in Florida, a continuing show of support for the Aussie who has jumped in to the world top 20 for the first time this year.

“I remember staying up through the night to watch that."

Ahead of this week's @QBEshootout, Cam Smith reflects on his memories of watching idol @SharkGregNorman growing up, and why he and @marcleish joined the field for the 'Shark Shootout' ⛳️

📰 https://t.co/XUSTvLdFb8pic.twitter.com/JLBt6vlx6y

— #NSWOpen (@PGAofAustralia) December 9, 2020

Smith added his Greg Norman Medal to his victory in the Greg Norman junior masters, which he won as a teenager in 2010, an early signal of his world-class talent.

He won the medal ahead of resurgent Adam Scott who, aged 40, won last year’s Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles to regain his place in the world‘s top 10.

Smith became the fifth first-time winner of the medal, joining two-time recipient Jason Day, Marc Leishman, Minjee Lee and 2019 medallist Hannah Green on the honour roll.

He will play in Texas this week at the World Match Play event as part of his preparation for the Masters, which begins on April 8.

Originally published as Cameron Smith made history at Augusta last year and is now a Greg Norman medallist