Smith on track for title
Norman’s faith in Aussie
Australian golf great and LIV tour boss Greg Norman says Cameron Smith is “trending in the right direction” to claim his first green jacket.
Smith, 30, who finished third at the Masters two years ago and second in 2020, heads a contingent of six Australians teeing it up at Augusta National on Thursday.
“Watching Cam Smith as closely as I have, I believe he is trending in the right direction with his game,” Norman said.
“His putting … few are better. His short game and feel around the greens, which is needed at Augusta, the same.
“Jason Day would be my second pick (of the Aussies).”
Norman, who finished in the top-five eight times at Augusta, said mother nature would have the biggest say on the outcome of the tournament.
“This is all weather dependent,” he said. “No rain – firm and fast opens the field up.
“Wet and cool with wind out of the northwest favours the longer hitters.”
Norman last month described as “laughable” the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) that have placed 2022 Open champion Smith at No.62.
LIV events are not recognised in the OWGR system because they are just 54 holes, have limited fields and no cuts.
Smith lost in a three-man playoff in last month’s LIV Hong Kong event and had to pull out with food poisoning from the Miami event on the weekend that Dean Burmester won in a playoff over Sergio Garcia.
Smith was back around his Ripper GC teammates on course in Miami yesterday and is on track for the Masters after pulling out of the LIV event with illness.
The British Open winner only lasted the opening round, struggling to a three-over 75, before withdrawing and interrupting what had been a solid build up to the first major of the year at Augusta.
Smith returned to the driving range before the final round of the event to say his goodbyes to his teammates as he opted to take advantage of the extra day and head to the Masters early.
He still looked less than 100 per cent as he said he was “getting there” to the wellwishers who aren’t among the 13 LIV players who earned a spot at Augusta.
Smith and Day will be joined at Augusta by 2013 winner Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee, Cameron Davis and Victorian rookie Jasper Stubbs, who punched his ticket with a win in last year’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne.
Day, 36, has worked his way back inside the world top 25 after a period in the wilderness and has a game suited to Augusta.
The Queenslander finished tied for second in 2011, was third in 2013 and 10th in 2016.
Day is now the highestranked Australian in the world at No.22.