Smith Strikes it Rich at The Players Championship

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, United States: Cameron Smith produced an astonishing birdie blitz en route to a thrilling victory at The Players Championship. In the process the Australian collected a cheque for US$3.6 million – the richest winner’s prize in PGA Tour history.

The two-time former Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) contender snared no fewer than 10 birdies at TPC Sawgrass as he closed with a six-under 66.

His 13-under aggregate of 275 was one ahead of Indian Anirban Lahiri and two clear of third-placed Englishman Paul Casey.

For 28-year-old Smith it was the fifth PGA Tour triumph of his career, and his second this year having also won the Sentry Tournament of Champions.

As well as rising from 10th to sixth in the Official World Golf Ranking, Smith soared to second in the FedEx Cup standings.

He’s the fifth Australian to win The Players, following in the footsteps of Jason Day (2016); Adam Scott (2004); Greg Norman (1994) and Steve Elkington (1991 and 1997).

Victory was especially poignant for Smith given that his mother Sharon, sister Melissa and best friend Jack Wilkosz, were in the gallery.

Smith said: “I haven't seen them in two years. It's really cool to have them here. My main priority really was just to hang out with them and golf was second for these few weeks. It's nice to see them and nice to get a win for them.”

Prior to turning pro, Smith excelled in the amateur game, twice coming close to winning the AAC. At the Singapore Island Country Club in 2011, Smith finished solo fourth, three strokes behind the victorious Hideki Matsuyama.

A year later he ended joint seventh at Thailand’s Amata Spring Country Club when China’s Guan Tianlang topped the leaderboard with Chinese Taipei’s CT Pan second.