Cameron Smith's brutal confession after Scottie Scheffler's historic triumph at Masters
Smith had to settle for yet another top-10 finish as Scheffler secured a second Masters triumph in three years.
Cameron Smith fears the clock is ticking for him to win the Masters after his fifth top-10 finish. The Aussie golfer fell victim to an untimely episode of food poisoning before the tournament but wouldn't blame the piece of bad luck for why he failed to chase down the pacesetters on the final day.
Smith threatened to produce a final-round charge with a spectacular hole-out eagle on the par-5 second on Sunday. But for the second day in a row, it was his short game that ultimately let him down. The Aussie didn't manage a single birdie in the final round and after recording his lone bogey on the fifth, Smith finished a run of 13 pars in a row, with multiple birdie putts not converted.
He finished with a 71 on Sunday and tied for sixth overall at two-under. It is yet another top-10 finish for the Aussie, who finished runner-up in 2020. Following his final round display, Smith felt like he may have missed an opportunity. "I made a few ups and downs today to keep the momentum but just couldn't get anything going," Smith said.
"I'm 30 years old now. I know that sounds crazy but there's going to be a point in my career where things start to go the other way," Smith admitted.
"I'd like to think I am still on the up and can still compete with the best golfers in the world. But time ticks on and there's only one of these a year - so you've got to make the most of it."
Smith only managed 18 practice holes pre-tournament after being bedridden for two days with stomach issues but he refused to blame that bit of bad fortune. "The adrenalin kept me going out on the golf course," he said.
"The start of the week was definitely a struggle and I didn't prep the way that I wanted to, but I hit the ball really good, did everything good. It just didn't quite all go to plan."
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Scottie Scheffler makes history with second Masters win
Scottie Scheffler's dominance over the golfing world was on full display again with a second Masters triumph in three years. He finished with an 11-under 277, fending off all challengers with a four-under-par 68 on Sunday to secure a dominant four-stroke victory over young Swede Ludvig Aberg.
The World No.1's third victory of the year placed him in rarefied company, becoming the first player since Tiger Woods 23 years ago to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Players Championship and the Masters in the same season. The win also sees Scheffler join Woods as the only player to win the US junior amateur championship and multiple Masters titles, while also becoming the fourth youngest man - behind Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Seve Ballesteros - to win at least two green jackets.
Scheffler's Masters win was never a sure thing throughout the final round, with the World No.1 promising before heading out on Sunday that if he got the call that his heavily pregnant wife Meredith had gone into labour he would leave the course immediately. And after wrapping up his second Masters win, Scheffler quickly jetted off to be by his wife's side. "I'm coming home. I'll be coming home as quick as I can. I'm about to cry here in Butler Cabin," an emotional Scheffler said after his second Masters win.
"I wish I could soak this in a little bit more but all I can think about is getting home. It's a very, very special time for both of us. I can't put into words what it means to win this tournament again and really can't put into words what it's going to be like to be a father for the first time.
"I definitely will enjoy the birth of my first child, and my priorities will change very soon, so golf will be fourth in line. But I still love competing. I don't plan on taking my eye off the ball any time soon."