ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – As Cameron Smith did the car wash of media duties after winning the Players Championship in March, former PGA Tour pro Aron Price, a fellow Aussie who has known Smith for years, looked on at his mate and delivered the best explanation yet of why Smith has turned into one of golf’s big-game hunters.
“You know how there are people who are outwardly confident, but are really insecure? Cam’s the opposite,” Price said. “He won’t say it but he’s convinced that head-to-head that he can beat anyone in the world.”
At the 2019 Presidents Cup, Smith hinted at the breakthrough that was to come with a convincing victory over Justin Thomas in his Sunday singles match. In Maui, at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January, he shot a staggering 34-under par to edge then-World No. 1 Jon Rahm and now he erased a four-stroke overnight deficit and spoiled Rory McIlroy’s return to major glory by stringing together five straight birdies on the back nine to shoot a final-round 8-under 64 at the Old Course and win the 150th British Open.
