‘Shootout’: Smith lays down challenge to Day
Cam Smith has welcomed suggestions of an Australian PGA “shootout” with Jason Day in what would be a dream Sunshine State scenario this week at Royal Queensland.
Smith, the 2022 British Open champion hoping to add a fourth Joe Kirkwood Cup to his collection this week, remains the tournament drawcard in his hometown of Brisbane.
However, the long-awaited return home of former world No.1 Day, who grew up down the road at Beaudesert, has given locals someone else to cheer for.
Loyalties at the very least be tested in the opening two rounds on Thursday and Friday, with 31-year-old Smith and 2015 US PGA champion Day part of a star-studded group that also includes Min Woo Lee.
However, a Sunday final-round group including Smith and Day – who hasn’t played in Australia since the 2017 Australian Open in Sydney – is what tournament organisers, and golf fans, would be dreaming of.
However, there is plenty of work ahead of both players for them to go head-to-head at the top of the leaderboard in the fourth round.
“That’d be good, but the last few weeks, everyone’s been talking about a shootout, and that hasn’t really happened,” Smith said.
“It just goes to show the quality of players really everywhere around the world, particularly here in Australia, so it’s going to be a hard thing to do, given the quality, but we’ll see what happens.”
Despite his switch to LIV Golf two years ago, Smith said he and 37-year-old Day remained “relatively close”.
“We talk a little bit, but it’s great that he’s back down at home. I know he hasn’t been down here for a while, and hopefully he can get down here a little bit more.” Smith said.
“As a competitor, you want to compete against, you know, some of the best in the world.
“Jason is obviously a Brissie boy as well. He’ll have a lot of people out there supporting him, and hopefully he goes well this week.”
Hoping to spoil Day’s homecoming is another friend of his, defending tournament champion Lee.
Day and Perth product Lee have a special bond after representing Australia together at this year’s Paris Olympics.
“I’ve learnt a lot from him,” Lee said.
“Hopefully he plays well, and I play better, but we’re going to have fun.
“I really love and appreciate that he’s down in Australia playing.”
As does another of this week’s contenders, Sydney’s Cam Davis, a winner this year on the PGA Tour.
“It’s great to see any Aussie that’s had success overseas to come back and play in Australia,” Davis said.
“That’s what we miss. I’ve been in the US for a long time now, but I remember in the 20 years that I spent here before I moved over to the US what it was like to see someone that you watched on TV or play well to finally come back to Australia.
“To see it in person, it made a big difference to me. I really enjoyed that experience, and I’m sure there are thousands of people out here that are really looking forward to seeing him (Day) in person as well.
“He’s held the Aussie flag pretty strong for us over the last 10 or 15 years now, so it’s always good to see him back.”
Australian PGA Round 1 (Thursday) feature groups (local times) -
Hole 10 - 6.10am - Min Woo Lee, Cam Smith, Jason Day
Hole 10 - 6.20am - Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Marc Leishman, Harry Higgs
Hole 1 - 11.10am - Victor Perez, Cam Davis, Lucas Herbert
Hole 1 - 11.20am - Yannick Paul, Brett Coletta, Geoff Ogilvy
