Hilarious photo of Cameron Smith emerges after Open triumph

Never let it be said that newly crowned British Open champion Cameron Smith isn't a man of the people.

Though he's in the middle of a big LIV Golf debate, the Australian star was much more focused on arguably the finest performance of his career at St Andrews.

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Smith's final score of 20-under par at the 150th anniversary of the famous tournament rocketed him to second in the world rankings, behind American star Scottie Scheffler.

The mulleted Australian has been a hit among golfing fans since his rise to prominence throughout 2021 and 2022, and the 28-year-old showed why when he was spotted boarding a flight following his victory.

Winning the famous Claret Jug would be a crowning achievement in the career of every golfer, but fans were more than amused to see how Smith handled the famous trophy.

Smith was spotted attempting to stow the Claret Jug, contained in a bulky protective case, in an overhead locker as he boarded a commercial flight.

Looking every bit like he was set to jet off for a holiday in Bali, fans were happy see a short break from the otherwise high-class world of golf, as Smith attempted to fit the clearly-too-big Claret Jug above his seat.

Wearing his traditional day-four maroon and lugging a Broncos backpack around the course, Smith's 64 was the lowest final round at St Andrews historic Old Course and featured five straight birdies in a back-nine of 30.

His win ensured the famous Claret Jug was back to Australian hands for the first time in 29 years.

And it continued a run of Australian hoodoo busters on the biggest sporting stages after Ash Barty, in Scotland to watch Smith this week, broke the country's 41-year women's Wimbledon drought last year.

Cam Smith wins historic 150th British Open for Australia

With a remarkable five successive birdies to start the back nine, Smith chased down home hope Rory McIlroy to become the first Australian to claim the famous Claret Jug since Greg Norman at Royal St George's in 1993.

"Ah, geez, what a week. I'm going to fall apart here, I know," Smith said, choking back tears after being handed the coveted trophy.

"All the names on there, every player that's been at the top of their game has won this championship.

"Yeah, it's pretty cool to be on there. It really hasn't sunk in yet. I don't think it will for a few weeks. Yeah, it's just unreal."

He won by a shot from American Cameron Young, who eagled the last for a 65 to force Smith to hole a clutch two-foot birdie putt to deny the American a four-hole playoff.

McIlroy finished a further stroke back at 18 under following a final-round 70.

"Disappointed obviously," McIlroy said.

"But, look, I got beaten by a better player this week - 20 under par for four rounds of golf around here is really, really impressive playing, especially to go out and shoot 64 today to get it done."

Indeed, Smith's four-round total of 20 under equalled Henrik Stenson's 72-hole Open scoring record and bettered Tiger Woods' record tally at St Andrews in 2000 by a stroke.

"I want to thank my team back there for all their hard work. All the hard work we've done the last couple of years has really started to pay off and this one definitely makes it worth it," Smith said.

"To the fans, I had a lot of support out there - especially the Aussie guys. It seemed like there were a lot out there.

"You guys really kept me going out there. You kept me plugging away - this one's for Oz!"

Smith is Australia's first men's major winner since Jason Day at the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

With AAP

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