Golf: Cameron Smith has found his best form just two weeks out from the Masters at Augusta
Cameron Smith produced his best finish since he won in January to boost his confidence ahead of the Masters in two weeks.
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Three tournaments in three weeks has helped Aussie Cameron Smith find his best just in time for the Masters, but it has taken a toll.
The Queenslander produced his best effort in 17 events to finish tied for fourth at the ZOZO Championship in California, coming off finishing 11th the previous week at the CJ CUP.
It was his first top-five finish since Smith’s breakthrough victory at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January.
Patrick Cantlay won the ZOZO Championship after Jon Rahm missed a final-hole birdie putt which would have forced a playoff.
Smith’s results have been on an upward trend in his past three events, but now the 27-year-old will take a breather before he heads to Augusta with memories of his fifth-placed finish in 2018 stirring thoughts of a positive result.
“Well, I‘ve got two weeks off to freshen up. I feel like I’ve played a lot of golf the last probably two or three months, so it will be nice to have a couple weeks off and get ready for the Masters and maybe one more after that,” Smith said after his closing round of five-under 67.
“I’m pretty spent, to be honest.”
Smith has been playing without his regular caddie but said a decision to play “smarter” had paid dividends at the Sherwood Country Club.
“Over the weekend, just played probably a little bit smarter and hitting the right shots rather than trying to go at everything, which is hard to do when the course is playing pretty easy,” he said.
“It was really solid and the putts went in over the weekend, which is nice.”
A dime at the perfect time. 🎯 @JonRahmPGA gets within 1 of the lead.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/hf8uxHCBpK
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 25, 2020
Jason Day played at the ZOZO event a week after withdrawing in two holes in to the final round of the CJ Cup with a neck injury, completing all four rounds to finish in a tie for 60th.
He said he wasn’t “100 per cent” but would keep getting treatment which was helping him play as he too gets ready for the Masters where he finished tied for fifth last year.
“I mean, it‘s fine. Just obviously not 100 per cent, but I’ve got to just keep pushing through it,” Day said.
“I understand kind of what I need to do, so I’ve got to just keep getting treatment and keep moving on.”
Adam Scott remains in isolation after testing positive to COVID-19 last week and won’t be out of quarantine until November 1, with the Masters to start on November 12.
The 2013 Masters champ will then play the Houston Open as his final warm-up before Augusta.
Originally published as Golf: Cameron Smith has found his best form just two weeks out from the Masters at Augusta