Smith Eager To Become Newest ‘Down Under’ Golfer To Finish Top In Hong Kong Open

2 years ago by Comments Off on Smith Eager To Become Newest ‘Down Under’ Golfer To Finish Top In Hong Kong Open

Cameron Smith has ended a nine-year tournament absence as he seeks to become the 15th Australian name to be added to the gleaming Hong Kong Open championship trophy.

Last year’s Open Champion, and still the highest world-ranked Aussie at World No. 20 and this despite being a member of LIV, last contested the event in 2014 in his then rookie season, and despite now 16 wins in stunning career, and also including two individual titles this year on the LIV Tour, Smith is yet to taste success in Asia.

This year is the 62nd hosting of the Hong Kong Open since the inaugural tournament in 1959 with the late, great Peter Thomson a year later in 1960 capturing the first of three Hong Kong Open trophies while this week fellow Aussie Wade Ormsby tees-up as defending champion, and with Ormsby winning a first of two Hong Kong titles in 2017.

Smith is no stranger to this week’s tremendous old fashioned and not needing to be a big hitter host Hong Kong Golf Club course in suburban Fanling having last played the event nine years ago when he finished T9th in 2014 behind fellow Aussie Scott Hend.

It was Smith’s rookie pro first full season and sounded what lay ahead in his career, as it was one of seven top-10s that resulted in him finishing fifth overall on the 2014 Asian Tour money list.

“I remember that week was a pressure week for me as I needed to play well to get into the CIMB Classic (co-sanctioned PGA Tour event in Kuala Lumpur), so to finish top-10 was just the result I was seeking,” Smith recalled.

“I managed to have an OK week, and I learned a lot about myself and my game that week, I had to grind, and that’s something it is good to go through as a young professional.

“It is good to be back in a place that I feel comfortable – it is a golf course I really love and we don’t get to play that style much anymore – it is a style of course I grew up with being Australian, so I can’t wait to get out there.

“We don’t get to play too many courses like this, it is more of a strategic course and playing courses like that is something I enjoy.

“I like to be creative and a course like this allows you to be that creative player and person, and I can’t wait to get out there and play the type of golf I really enjoy playing. The golf course is one of the best in Asia and everyone is excited to be here for sure.”

“It’s one of my favourite places here in Hong Kong – not only the city but the golf club as well. I have some pretty good memories here, it has been a while since I’ve been here so it will be interesting to see if there are any changes but I loved it last time and can’t wait to get out there and compete again against these boys this week.”

The now Ripper GC star is delighted to get some game time in on The International Series, the elevated events on the Asian Tour, with the LIV Golf League having finished for the year. He added: “It’s a busy off season, I have added a couple more tournaments in Australia, and I want to improve and make my game better for next year. It was a big reason why I came here, was to fill up a five-to-six-week gap.

“I feel I don’t play well coming off the big gaps and it is nice to come here to get the mojo back or keep the mojo going, I’m looking forward to it, and I’m looking forward to getting back home – I haven’t been since April and will be staying until January – that’s something I’m looking forward to.”

Smith also joins a host of his fellow LIV Golf stablemates including Masters champ Patrick Reed, Harold Varner III, Talor Gooch, Graeme McDowell and Thomas Pieters as well as Asian Tour stars including International Series Order of Merit leader Andy Ogletree and local hero Taichi Kho, the Asian Games gold medal winner.

 

 



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