Cameron Smith Quietly Confident Of Masters Return.

Palm Harbor, Florida …. 

Aussie sensation Cameron Smith is quietly confident of finding his way into the Masters field despite being currently ranked No. 52 in the world.

Smith has three opportunities to pick-up the two spots that would see him qualify automatically for this year’s first Major commencing April 8th at Augusta National and those being a strong finish in the Valspar and then an equally strong showing in next week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational and the following week’s WGC- Dell Match-Play.

Of course, the 24-year old Queenslander and along with Sweden’s Jonas Blixt should be in the field courtesy of last April’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans ‘team’s success but then the Masters Committee ruled against awarding invitations to the winners of the innovative new PGA Tour event.

Smith made his Masters debut in 2016 finishing T55th.

“I’m really not too worried about not qualifying for Augusta as I’ve got three weeks to slip back inside the top-50,” he said after a round of 69 on day three at the Innisbrook resort.

Cameron Smith delighted to sign autographs after his round of 69 on day three of the Valspar Championship. (Photo @tourmiss)

“I’m very happy with my game, so quietly confident I will get back to Augusta.

“The thing is that I can’t be worrying about it and all I can do is keep on doing what I am doing well and that Masters door will open.

“I feel like I am playing the best golf of my life, so everything should take care of itself.”

Smith was commenting after also only his second sub-70 score in 11 rounds of the Copperhead course and while he remarked he struggled reading the greens, the young Aussie recorded just 25 putts on day three of the $6.5m event and this after 26 putts on day one and 28 on day two.

“It was a great start in eagling the first and a good finish with the birdie at the last and not too bad in between,” said Smith.

“My game actually felt a lot better than what my score was and while a couple under is good, it is a little disappointing I didn’t shoot lower.”

Aside from his great start in drivng the green at the first and holing a 10-footer for eagle, standing out like a dog’s hind leg on Smith’s card is a double bogey at the par-4 16th and the opening hole of the closing three-hole stretch known as ‘The Snake Pit’.

Smith was way left with his tee shot and then flew the green back right with his second shot before chipping to six-feet and two-puting for a bogey ‘5’.

However, he ended a very positive note in landing his second shot to eight-feet at the uphill 18th and rolling-in what was a fourth birdie of his round.

“This course is always tough and while it was very tough the first two days, it was a little easier today,” he added.

“It really doesn’t matter if there is no wind as it is still a hard test.   You have to put you ball in the right spots and if you don’t you get punished while I did struggle today reading the greens out there.

“So, it will be good now to post a low one tomorrow before heading over to Orlando for the Arnold Palmer.

 

 



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