Australian Smith setting out to make it six of the best

CAMERON SMITH is ready to live up to expectations as he aims to deliver a third straight success at the Australian PGA Championship.

The 26-year-old returns to strokeplay action following the Presidents Cup, where he defeated world No 4 Justin Thomas in the singles as the United States came back to beat the International team 16-14 in Melbourne.

Smith recorded a two-shot victory over Marc Leishman last year and is determined to deliver another strong showing at the RACV Royal Pines Resort.

“Last week was a big week on and off the golf course. I am still a little bit tired, but I’m sure tomorrow will hype me up and I will be ready to go,” said the Australian, out to become just the sixth player to win the same European Tour event three seasons in a row since 1972.

“I feel pretty confident in my game, it is probably the best I have felt with my iron play all year – to do it on such a challenging layout last week against some of the best players in the world was good. I can’t wait for this week and I am feeling good.

Smith continued: “I like the golf course, I play well around here.

“It is just such a good week for me off the golf course – lots of family and friends and the support is really good throughout the week.”

Former world No 1 Adam Scott, meanwhile, is chasing a first European Tour win since 2016.

“Obviously, Cam’s had a good run here, but that’s got to come to an end at some point,” said the Australian, who was Masters champion in 2013.

“My goal is to bring a similar kind of focus that I had going last week (at the Presidents Cup) to the golf course and try and get my name on that trophy again. I am really pleased with where my golf is from leaving Melbourne. If I can bring some of that out here this week then I think I have got a good chance of getting myself in for a chance to win.

“I would like to try and take some good momentum into next year.”

■ America’s Brooks Koepka leads the latest world rankings, ahead of Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy.

Twenty-five-year-old Spaniard Jon Rahm leads the chasing pack followed by United States quartet Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Tiger Woods and Patrick Cantlay.

The top-ranking English player is Justin Rose in eighth with Tommy Fleetwood 10th and Paul Casey 15th.

Sheffield pairing Matthew Fitzpatrick and Danny Willett are ranked 25th and 29th, respectively.