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Along with his extraordinary success within the recreation, it’s greater than somewhat apparent Cam Smith is sitting in a reasonably good place. Even earlier than he confirmed the sport’s worst saved secret by signing a large contract with LIV, his future and that of the following 4 generations of ‘little Cams’, was assured.
Regardless of all his achievements, fame and recognition, there stays a younger bloke with a persona completely eliminated of movie star or ego. I’ve listened to Cam reply questions from the media for years now and never as soon as has he strayed from that standard younger Aussie you would possibly end up paired with in a Wednesday four-ball wherever in Australia.
Whereas protecting the Aussie PGA Championship at Royal Queensland, I discovered one other layer of this ripper of a younger man’s character I hadn’t seen earlier than.
After his first spherical of 2-over 73, his put up spherical interview outdoors the scorer’s van was traditional Cam Smith.
“I used to be simply standing over the ball and I didn’t know the place it was going to go…. It was crap,” Smith stated.
As you’d anticipate, all of us simply laughed it off totally anticipating one thing within the mid 60’s on Friday, placing his identify again within the combine.
Sadly 24 hours later there was completely nothing to chortle about with Cams second spherical 77 leaving him in a tie for 146th place and leaving the followers, and the media, greater than somewhat shocked.
I used to be totally anticipating a annoyed Cam Smith to go away the scorer’s van and head straight to the locker room, the place it’s at all times simple to search out one thing to kick and with nobody to see it occur. It wasn’t like he’d simply blown the lead at a significant or missed the finals of the Fed Ex Cup by a shot. Proper?
No, to his credit score he stepped out of the van, got here straight over for his ultimate interview from a protracted listing he’d already given this week. I used to be standing to his fast proper and will see his face up shut and private.
But it surely wasn’t frustration or anger behind this thick black designer sunnies, it was tears.
We’re speaking about one of many grittiest high-profile gamers within the recreation who can take down the world’s finest within the largest arenas, however on today, one thing was way more essential to him than including to his personal listing of accomplishments.
When requested; “Did you’re feeling you set plenty of strain on your self this week?” He gathered himself for a number of seconds and replied.
“I’ve carried out below strain earlier than however… that’s simply unacceptable….undoubtedly been getting somewhat drained in the direction of the top of the yr however that’s golf, that’s probably not an excuse. Australia’s been so good to me…. even once I’ve been drained… there’s no purpose to actually carry out that manner.”
At that time, the mediator rightly moved in and ended the ache for Cam as he turned and went again into the scorer’s tent to gather himself.
He knew he was the face of the event and made it very clear he felt he had let the event and his nation down with two rounds of golf he described, as a lot as his feelings might permit, as unacceptable.
5 minutes later, nonetheless with thick sun shades on, he left the van once more and started signing youngsters caps, moved to a crew of followers all carrying matching Cam Smith t-shirts wanting selfies, extra signatures, and eventually into the arms of his girlfriend the place what was left, spilled out.
It wasn’t simple to observe this spectacular younger man attempting to cling onto his satisfaction and keep away from embarrassment, however I couldn’t assist however really feel moved and impressed by his devotion. That day a younger Aussie bloke, lower than half my age had grow to be one in every of my sporting hero’s.
As anticipated, there he was once more the following day, with out his golf equipment however doing his finest to apologise to his Australian followers by signing autographs, providing selfies, smiling and simply being Cam Smith.
As I’m scripting this, from the media centre on the Australian Open in Sydney precisely every week later, I’ve simply checked the leaderboard. Not the highest however the minimize line, and there’s Cam battling tooth and nail with a recreation clearly not at its finest, to no less than make it to the weekend and provides one thing again to his beloved nation.
I started scripting this column at 2pm on Friday and now realise I can’t end it till Cam’s 36-hole rating has been posted.
4.35 pm – Positive sufficient, this gutsy younger Aussie “dug deep” and shot a 3 below par 68 on a windy, powerful afternoon at The Australian to maintain his Open alive and his huge Australian fan membership glad.
Cam Smith is the quintessential, honest dinkum, ‘doesn’t take himself too severely’, Aussie however in the case of his self-imposed duty for giving again to his residence nation, out comes an additional layer and he takes that very severely.
Editor word: Smith confirmed glimpses of what we all know he’s able to with rounds of 68-69 on the weekend on the ISPS Handa Australian Open, for a 7-under par whole, in ending in a tie for seventeenth, offering loads of leisure for the large galleries in attendance.
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