Smith pumped for title defence
QUEENSLANDER Cameron Smith is excited by his first chance to defend a title on the US PGA Tour at this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
The 24-year-old secured his maiden US tour victory at the two-man teams event last year playing with Sweden’s Jonas Blixt, defeating Americans Scott Brown and Kevin Kisner in a playoff.
Smith has since added a maiden win on home soil at the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast in December and recently secured a first top-five result at the US Masters, where he rose to a career-high world ranking of No.39.
Now, the US-based Brisbane golfer is back in New Orleans alongside teammate
Blixt and keen to go back to back at TPC Louisiana.
“Last year was huge for me; winning my first PGA Tour title at the Zurich Classic and my first professional trophy in Australia,” said world No.40 Smith, who won $1 million for his victory last year.
“A title defence on the PGA Tour would be a great next step. Hopefully Jonas and I can get it done this week.”
The event’s format has four-ball played in the first and third rounds, with alternate shot on the second and fourth.
An intriguing new partnership between Australia’s former world No.1 Jason Day and countryman Ryan Ruffels will pique interest from Australian golf fans.
Day, who won his 11th US Tour title in January, says he is eager to tee up with 19-yearold Victorian Ruffels – the world No.677 who plies his trade on the US Tour’s thirdtier South American circuit.
“I’m excited to play with ‘Ruff’ this week; he’s a talented young Aussie with a bright future and I think we will make a good team,” Day said.
“He hits it long and, with my short game, I feel we can make a strong combination.”
The top 35 teams and ties make the cut in the event, while the winners earn 400 FedEx Cup points and twoyear US Tour exemptions.
But, they will not receive US Masters invitations or world ranking points for the win.