Cameron Smith's game is 'on the up'

One day Cameron Smith might be as well-known as some of the other 25-year-olds in the highly acclaimed pro golfer class of 2011.

Smith, an Australian who tied for fifth in the 2018 Masters in just his second start, beat all of his more famous “classmates” with the exception of Jordan Spieth, who finished third.

Also in the class of 2011 are Justin Thomas, 2017 Tour Championship winner Xander Schauffele, Michael Kim and Daniel Berger. All except Berger are in this year’s Masters.

They’ve all won PGA Tour events, even if in Smith’s case it came in a team event with Jonas Blixt.

“My career has been pretty steady, on the up I would say the last few years,” Smith said.

“Hopefully sometime soon I can catch up to some or all of the achievements of the other guys my age,” said Smith, the only non-American among the group.

Smith made a name for himself in the final round a year ago, shooting 6-under-par 66. He fired 6-under-par 30 on the back nine with birdies on Nos. 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17.

He needed a birdie on the 18th hole to tie the tournament record for low round on the back nine with 29. It was set by Mark Calcavecchia in 1992 and matched by David Toms in 1998.

“I had a pretty good shot (at it), actually,” Smith said of his birdie try. “It was about 6 feet down the hill. I hit a really good putt; it just didn’t go in. It kind of lipped out. It was one of those slow lip-outs. It’s not one of those greens where you can be too aggressive.”

Smith tied for 55th in his Masters debut in 2016 and brought a lot of knowledge back with him two years later.

“I’ve learned a lot about the course,” he said. “The first time I was kind of nervous. I think the second year I came back and felt a lot more comfortable with the place. I knew a lot about the golf course. I’d seen it on TV, I had a lot of practice rounds that first year.”

He’s a fan of the quick and firm greens at Augusta National Golf Club, which bodes well for his future there.

“Growing up in Australia, we typically like fast and firm greens. I love putting around there. I love to see the ball kind of dive into the hole,” he said.

Though Smith’s PGA Tour victory at the Zurich Classic in 2017 was shared with Blixt, he ended 2018 with an individual victory at the Australian PGA Championship.

“Some people were questioning my win at Zurich, as it was with a teammate, but to win alone, at home, was very special,” Smith said.

It will also be special to Smith if he qualifies for the International team in the 2019 Presidents Cup, which will be held in his homeland. It is scheduled for early December at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

“That’s been on my mind since the rankings came out in the playoffs last year,” Smith said. “I definitely want to be there.”

He was ranked No. 2 in the standings in mid-March. Twelve players make the team.

“I’m not really watching the standings,” Smith said. “I’m just trying to do the best I can do out on the course and let the rankings take care of themselves.”