EVERY BIG DOG HAS HIS DAY
Scrappy Smith is off the leash now he’s one of golf’s elite stars says caddy Sam
CAMERON SMITH’S fight to be classed as a big dog held the key to his glorious Open triumph over the weekend.
The Australian finally moved his status to the next level with a breakthrough maiden Major success at the 150th Open at St Andrews.
Smith has long been recognised as one of the best in the business. But until Sunday at the Home of Golf, the 28-year-old was never really considered one of the elite.
Smith’s long-serving caddie Sam Pinfold says this was the motivation to stun the likes of Rory McIlroy and reduce his chicken-hearted dad Des to tears.
The Queenslander’s back-nine burst down the stretch on Open Sunday will go down as one of the great runs in the game’s history.
Smith’s effort of 30 matched Jack Nicklaus’ incredible six-under-par 30 at the 1986 Masters as he also became the first man since the Golden Bear to complete The Players Championship, golf ’s unofficial fifth Major, and Open double.
Pinfold feels that was driven by a sense of being overlooked as he said: “It just showed his massive belief and his confidence.
“It’s not cocky. It’s not arrogance. It’s a belief in his game. He’s such a competitor.
“That’s the Aussie Queenslander and he drew a lot from that. He’s never really been pinned as a favourite or as one of the big dogs and he loves to fight.
“Put him into a fight, say three
Put him into a fight, say three or four shots back and he’s going to step up and go for it SAM PINFOLD HAILS HIS HERO CHAMPION CAMERON
or four shots back, and he’s going to step up his game and go for it. “I’m just so proud of him because he deserves it.” Golf Australia chief James Sutherland tagged the final-round fireworks as one of the best ever. Celebrating for the nation, he said: “To come from four shots behind like Cam did and overtake Rory McIlroy, who the crowd was very much behind and just stay steely calm and cool all the way through was absolutely phenomenal.”
Smith’s only disappointment on the day was that his dad Des was not at St Andrews to share the moment with him.
The champion laughed afterwards that the old man simply couldn’t be bothered hiking across to Scotland for just one week.
The proud father started a three-year-old Cam out by cutting down some clubs and making a holder for them with PVC piping.
He said: “I was supposed to be there but I chickened out. I’m kicking myself. He was rubbing it in to me [on the phone] about not going. I’ll hear about that for a while. I just told him I was proud of him and what a great achievement it was for him.
“Then I broke down crying, so I couldn’t talk too much. We’ve been golfing buddies since he was about three.
“I didn’t hold up very good at all, I just told him it was an amazing achievement and that we were all proud of him.
“I probably couldn’t get many more words out than that.
“He said, ‘Don’t start crying or
you’re going to make me cry’. The only word to use would probably be proud of not only the golf but the person he is. How hard he works, he deserves every bit of it.”
Des was club champion at Wantima Golf Club but lost to his boy when he was just 12.
He said: “We used to play every afternoon after school, we probably played six days a week, just not on Sundays. He loves the game.
“When your son is a Major champion, just to see his dream come true was amazing.”
As well as his outstanding play, Smith has become a fans’ favourite due to his mullet hairdo. His dad laughed: “I don’t mind the haircut. It started out as a bit of fun for him during the Covid stuff. He just sort of stuck with it and, you couldn’t cut it off now.”
As well as a joyous success for most, it was a poignant one for others.
Five-time Open winner Peter Thomson, one of four Aussies to win the tournament before Smith, passed away four years ago.
His son Andrew waited for the 150th Open at the Home of Golf to scatter his dad’s ashes on the 18th green on the Sunday morning. Smith stood on that green just 12 hours later as the champ and fellow Australian Major champion, Adam Scott, echoed Pinfold’s statements about the desire and drive.
He said: “He’s tough and he’s owned his game. He‘s learned how to play well quickly and his mind is a big asset.”