Australia’s Cameron Smith Takes Out British Open Golf

Cameron Smith of Australia celebrates with The Claret Jug during Day Four of The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course in St Andrews, Scotland, on July 17, 2022. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Australia’s Cameron Smith claimed victory at the prestigious British Open golf at St Andrews Old Course on Sunday after he powered through the back nine to achieve an event record final round of eight under par.

The 28-year-old Queenslander also topped Tiger Woods’ record score of 19-under at the 2005 Open, going one shot better to achieve 20-under and the best winning score ever at the event, Golf Australia reported.

The victory at this 150th British Open saw Smith crowned Champion Golfer of the Year.

After a disappointing third round of 73, which saw him four shots behind leader Rory McIlroy, Smith stormed home on the back nine of the final round, pulling off five straight birdies from the 10th to the 14th and reeling in the Irishman to finish with a round of 64.

Australia's Cameron Smith lines up a putt on the 16th green during Day Four of The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course in St Andrews, Scotland, on July 17, 2022. Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

A Few Practice Putts on Saturday Night Made the Difference

Smith said what made the difference in the final round was that the putts were dropping.

“I spent a little bit of time on the green yesterday night, last night, and just really wanted to see a few putts go in. Yeah, it turned out it was a pretty good thing to do,” he said.

“I didn’t do anything wrong yesterday. So I shrugged it off pretty good, hit a few putts.  I didn’t think there was really anything wrong technically. I just wanted to see a few putts go in before I went to sleep, and that kind of put me at ease to know that it really wasn’t me; it was just kind of one of those days.”

The late-night practice paid off, and after sinking a putt of around 20 feet at the 11th on Sunday, Smith said he could see the hole getting bigger.

“I think maybe after my second or third birdie there on the back nine; I was starting to think that I could really win this thing. I think I was three back with nine holes to go, and I really needed to make something happen,” he said.

“But, yeah, I would say those first three holes on that back nine really came to me, and then from there, I was starting to get different emotions and really had to keep an eye on what I was thinking...”

Smith is the first Australian to win the Open in three decades, after two-time champion Greg Norman hoisted the Claret Jug in 1993, and becomes just the fifth Australian to win the event alongside Peter Thompson, Norman, Kel Nagle, and Ian Baker-Finch.