Smith was decreased to tears after lacking the reduce on the Australian PGA and on Wednesday he fronted the media for the primary time since that bitter disappointment and spoke about rebuilding his confidence, competing once more and probably getting his palms on the Stonehaven Cup.
Smith had solely simply spent 5 hours enjoying the pro-am alongside All Blacks legend Richie McCaw, a person who knew a factor of two about successful. The hope is that a few of his magic mud discovered its method into Smith’s golf bag.
“It’s wonderful how athletes, actually strong athletes, can handle to play all totally different sorts of sports activities,” Smith stated of McCaw.
“I may see him enjoying cricket nicely, I may see him enjoying all the pieces nicely. Though he didn’t have the most effective motion, he nonetheless hit a variety of nice pictures, which I believe is a very good trait of a very good athlete.”
Smith has just a few of them himself, though they went AWOL per week in the past as his sport fell aside at Royal Queensland.
The strain of enjoying in entrance of household and associates took a toll after an extended yr and he arrived at The Australian Golf Membership this week intent on atoning for that aberration.
Smith is aware of higher than most that you just’re just one swing away from discovering your greatest kind.
“Yeah, it was a really irritating week,” he stated.
“The sport didn’t really feel good. It was fairly upsetting to play like that at residence, not solely in Australia however in my hometown.
“I had a lot of family and friends there that have been hoping for an additional good week but it surely wasn’t to be.
“I assume it’s simple to lose confidence with rounds like that however I’ve been enjoying fairly good golf the final seven or eight months and it’s simple to take a look at it as simply one other spherical, however on the similar time, it hurts the arrogance a bit bit.
“Like I stated, simply obtained to get again to what I do know and what I do know I can do. The previous saying of 1 swing can change a spherical.
“I believe over the weekend it’s modified how I felt about my sport. I’m trying ahead to it.”
His enjoying opponents haven’t been fooled. Adam Scott performed a observe spherical with Smith on Tuesday and his efficiency on the PGA didn’t charge a point out within the 4 hours they spent collectively.
“I performed with him yesterday however I didn’t actually converse with him about how he performed final week,” Scott stated.
“Little question there was disappointment however this occurs sadly in golf and his self-pride will make him flip it round.
“He’s too good a participant to simply accept that and little doubt he’ll be seeking to sort of redeem himself this week and I’d be stunned if he’s not contending come the weekend.
“I believe there’s nothing to learn into a few dangerous rounds of golf for Cam Smith at this level.”
Smith clearly agrees. He’ll play the primary two rounds of the Open alongside Min Woo Lee, beginning on Thursday at The Lakes – the event can even be performed at The Australian – and reckons his sport is in form to contend.
“I believe like I stated earlier than, I’ve performed the work now, over the past 4 or 5 days,” he stated.
“The sport’s feeling higher than it did final week. I simply have to go on the market tomorrow and actually decide to what I’m doing.
“It’s simple to interrupt again into these habits, so going on the market, committing and hitting just a few good pictures, I believe that confidence will construct because the week goes on.
“I wouldn’t say my confidence is at 100 per cent, however like I stated, there’s no purpose I can’t go on the market and be aggressive.
“It solely takes just a few good pictures and some good feels and hastily you’re taking a look at your self on the high of the leaderboard.”
Initially revealed as Australian Open: Cameron Smith is able to bounce again as he units his sights on the Stonehaven Cup