Cameron Smith has been hailed by golfing great Jack Nicklaus following his Open Championship victory, as the Australian joined an exclusive group of two alongside Nicklaus. Smith secured his maiden Open title after shooting an impressive eight-under-par 64 in the final round at St Andrews.
The victory is no doubt a historic one, having come at the Home of Golf and the Old Course in the 150th edition of golf’s oldest championship. The win is an extra special one though, after he joined the exclusive club of players to win the Players’ Championship and the Open in the same year with Nicklaus.
Prior to Smith’s heroics, the 82-year-old was the only man to win two of the sport’s biggest prizes in the same season, after completing the feat in 1978 - also winning at St Andrews.
Posting on social media, Nicklaus wrote: “Wow, what a back 9 of golf and putting at The Open by Cameron Smith! Just fantastic! That was fun to watch. My congratulations to the Champion Golfer of the Year, Cam Smith, on winning his first major and at no better place than the Home of Golf, the Old Course at St Andrews!”
Smith toppled overnight leaders Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland on Sunday, having been four shots back prior to the final round. The real turning point came during Smith’s back nine, as the 28-year-old carded five straight birdies between the 10th and 14th on the way to his first major title.
In an emotional victory speech, he told the St Andrews crowd: “Jeez what a week. I'm going to fall apart here I know! I want to thank the team for all the hard work we've done. The last couple of years it has really started to pay off and this one definitely makes it worth it.
“It was absolutely awesome out there, I thought the course was exactly how an Open Championship should be played; firm and fast, tough pins - it was just unreal." In the wake of his win though, Smith has found himself wrapped in the controversy of the LIV Golf saga, with reports suggesting he is set to join fellow Australian Greg Norman.
The Open champion was questioned on the matter moments after his victory, and the Australian star was less than impressed with the timing. In response to being asked whether he will join LIV, Smith said : “I just won the British Open and you’re asking about that? I think that's pretty not that good… I don't know, mate. My team around me worries about all that stuff. I'm here to win golf tournaments."
