Cameron Smith, who just recently defended his title at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship, had a rough go on the course this week. His second round 78 left him nine over for the week, a full nine strokes outside the cut line. His frustration was evident, expressing that he couldn’t remember a worse day on the course as a professional. This was a stark contrast from his recent success in the LIV Golf’s season-long individual standings, where he finished second.
Despite struggles in his most recent competition, Smith’s performance in the LIV Golf season showed a mix of strong showings and some less impressive results. Although he finished as a runner-up in the Asian Tour’s International Series Hong Kong Open, his missed cut in the Australian PGA could have implications on his ability to qualify for future events. This event is one of the few he plays that receives Official World Golf Ranking points, and with LIV Golf’s application to receive OWGR points being denied, future ranking opportunities are limited. Although Smith was able to play in this week’s Aussie PGA and next week’s Australian Open, chances for OWGR points are few and far between.
In light of his recent struggles, Smith’s chances of representing Australia in the Olympics may be diminishing. According to OWGR projections, Smith was expected to cede his position as Australia’s top-ranked player by June 2024. This could open up the opportunity for other Australian players, like Jason Day and Cameron Davis, to claim the country’s two Olympic spots.
Looking ahead, Smith has expressed his desire to compete in the Olympics, but with fierce competition from other Australian golfers, his chances are becoming slimmer. Despite these potential setbacks, Smith remains focused on his upcoming events and aims to maintain his ranking for future opportunities.
In conclusion, Cameron Smith’s recent challenges in the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship and his potential ranking drop could impact his chances of representing Australia in the upcoming Olympics. The road ahead may be tough, but Smith remains determined to continue competing at a high level and earn his place on the global stage.
Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as head coach. Jack also still *tries* to remain competitive in local amateurs. Before joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at [email protected].