Another great major finish for Cam Smith
Wyndham Clark – US Open Champion – photo USGA
Cameron Smith has produced a homeward nine of 32 to finish with a final round of 67 at the US Open in Los Angeles and finished alone in 4th place and just four shots from the winner, Wyndham Clark, who, in turn, finished one shot ahead of Rory McIlroy.
For Clark it was just his second PGA Tour victory coming on top of his win at the Wells Fargo Championship earlier this year and in just his 7th major championship attempt not only was it his first victory, he bettered his previous best major championship finish which was 75th.
Smith began the final day seven shots of the lead held by Clark and but his chances of a top five finish appeared to have disappeared when he turned in even par 35 over the more forgiving front nine before birdies at the 11th, 12th and 15th saw him finish with his three under par final round.
Cam Smith – Another one slides by in today’s final round – photo USGA
For Smith the performance bettered his previous best finish at a US Open which came in 2015 at Chambers Bay when he finished in a share of 4th. This time he was 4th alone.
“I don’t think I found anything,” said Smith when asked what prompted the strong finishing nine. “I think it was probably just less mistakes. There was a couple of really good scrambling holes in there, as well. Definitely left a few shots out there, especially on that front nine.
“Got a bit unlucky there on 14, the par-5. A little bit annoying but all in all, if you had given me 3-under at the start of the day, I think I would have taken it.
“Like I said at the start of the week, the U.S. Open typically hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for me. Probably due to lack of driver accuracy, especially the first couple of days. Really hit that driver in the fairway and give myself a lot of opportunities.
“I feel like if I had to reflect, those first two days for me is where the putts just didn’t quite drop, and definitely should have been a little bit further up the leaderboard.”
Smith was asked just what he would do between now and the Open Championship defence in a month’s time.
“Yeah, we have a week off now before we get to Spain (a LIV Golf event), so I’ll probably just hang out, really not do much practice. It’s going to be kind of a busy part of the year here for us the next kind of seven or eight weeks. Just lay low and get to Spain and just focus on that driver again.
“I think for me, that’s the difference to winning the golf tournaments and not winning. Just keep that driver on a string.”
Min Woo Lee did extremely well to hold on for a top five finish which he shared with Rickie Fowler and Tommy Fleetwood after Fleetwood produced the round of the day 63 to race up the leaderboard.
For Lee it was his best finish on the PGA Tour and his best in a major after his bogey free round of 67 and he was delighted with how he had played.
“Yesterday I just put too much pressure on myself and was actually pretty nervous in a way,” said the 24 year old from Perth. “My practice was so good that I kind of put a little bit of pressure on myself, and today it was a little different.
“The pre-round was a little sketchy and not the best, and then you just go out there with a good mindset. Played amazing today, bogey-free. I don’t have many bogey-free rounds ever so it’s nice to do it at a major.
“Lots of grit on that last round, but lots of good stuff, too. Played really good, and I’m really happy.
“Although people think this course wasn’t that tough, I think it was pretty tough. I played my ass off for the last four days, and I’m only 5-under. The winners are slowly coming back and are around 10-under. They definitely tricked it up on the weekend, and I’m happy to get done and happy with the way I performed today.”
But the day and the week belonged to Clark who, despite two late bogeys in his day long battle with McIlroy, was able to hold on the win an American golfer’s most coveted prize.
“You know, this is now my second win on the PGA TOUR and first one was surreal and this one is surreal, said the champion. “It hasn’t quite hit me yet. Walking up 18 was pretty emotional, and then finishing.
“But yeah, it’s been a whirlwind of the last five, six weeks. It’s been — just so blessed and humbled to be here.
“Yeah, I mean, I started off great, and I felt really good and confident about my game. Unfortunately I bogeyed the second hole but I felt like I rebounded well in birdieing the fourth, and got a little unlucky on hole 8, but I just felt like I bounced back and kept my emotions about me.
“I hit some great shots coming down at the end, and although I made a couple bogeys and it seemed like maybe the rails were coming off, I was inside pretty calm. I’m really pleased with myself with how I performed.”
Clark’s mother passed away during his formative years and he was quick to acknowledge the additional meaning such a significant win meant to him in that regard.
“I know my mom is proud of me. She’s always been proud of me, regardless of how I’m doing or what I’m doing. I just wish she could be here and we could enjoy this.
“It’s been a pretty amazing week because my mom lived in LA for a few years and I’ve had some people come up to me and show pictures of my mom when they knew her back in her 20s and early 30s when she was living here.
“That just happened this week, so it was kind of a special vibe all week being here in LA. My parents got married at Riviera Country Club. I have some roots a little bit in this area.
“All I really wish is that my mom could be here and I could just hug her and we could celebrate together. But I know she’s proud of me.”
