Talent demands a price, and great golfers know that sooner or later they have to pay for their gifts with a dip in performance that drags them back towards the field, where lesser mortals toil. Cameron Smith found himself in that Gethsemane on Saturday, but was determined not to suffer there on Sunday. And so it came to pass. Redemption and acclamation at last.
What a magnificent win it was, fashioned from solid, long drives in mostly still air, astute selection of landing spots with his laser-like irons and some quite spectacular putting, his sword and shield, for an eight‑under-par 64 to go with 67, 64 and 73 for a four-round total of 268. Five birdies in a row on the back nine (among eight on the day) first caught then consumed Rory McIlroy, who had led alone from the 4th to the 12th before the Australian slipped past him. It left the gallery stunned, the Northern Irishman bereft. Surely the Mullet King can afford a haircut and shave now. Maybe he won’t bother. He is very much his own man.
