Aussies book 2019 spot
Young gun Smith and never- say- die Leishman secure a Masters return
A DUAL top- 10 finish was enough to guarantee two Aussie returns to Augusta next year and after Cameron Smith’s sizzling Sunday it can’t come soon enough.
The 24- year- old from Queensland earned his second top- 10 finish in just eight major starts with six back nine birdies and a par save on the 16th hole which showed the unflappable youngster has green jacket winning ways.
He wouldn’t say finishing tied for fifth was his career highlight, pointing to his Australian PGA breakthrough last summer, a victory in front of family and friends, as his favourite. But, having laid the platform all week for being ultra- chilled and taking everything in his stride, a 30- shot back nine at Augusta on Masters Sunday finally moved his needle and further thrust the baby- face star’s name up in lights.
“That was pretty exciting for me,” Smith conceded after collecting $ 503,000 for his excellent effort. “My win down in Australia was the most satisfying for me, because I had the family there. But yeah, top 10 at the masters is pretty cool.
“I finished fourth at the US Open ( in 2015), so I have had a couple of good finishes there. But Masters is the hyped one, so to finish up there is awesome.
“I’m getting used to the course, learning the little tricks around here, is nice. I can’t wait to get back.”
Smith didn’t shoot a single round over par in four full- on days at the most hyped Masters in years, and even outplayed world number one Dustin Johnson in the final round, beating his playing partner by three shots.
He went pin hunting as he headed towards the clubhouse, with four straight birdies on holes 12 to 16, and eagle putts which shaved the cup on the 13th and 15th,
His chip from near the water on the 16th green nearly holed out after curling back from above the flag, and he could have birdied the 18th too.
It was a performance signalling to the golfing world this kid was a full- on member of the Generation Next group of stars set to dominate the landscape for some time to come.
“I just stuck to my guns, I stayed aggressive and kept kind of pulling it off. To do that, last on Sunday, was pretty cool,” he said. “I’d like to think either way I would have been back here next year anyway, but yeah, to secure a spot for next year is a big bonus.”
Marc Leishman, who out- played Tiger Woods for the opening two days to find himself in contention on Saturday, shot the final round he wanted the day before.
The world number 16 closed with a two- under 70, after a 73 in the third round sent him tumbling down the leaderboard. But his late rally, which included five back nine birdies, propelled him in to the top 10 and also booked him a return berth in 2019.
Jason Day was next best, but one round in the 60s, and an opening 75, ensured he was never in the hunt. He finished tied for 20th. Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters champ, finished tied for 32nd.