Travis Smyth’s career changing day despite narrow loss
Travis Smyth in action this week – photo Paul Lakatos Asian Tour
Despite being unable to convert a one shot lead into victory at the International Series event near Newcastle in England, New South Wales golfer, Travis Smyth has secured, by some way, his biggest payday in golf and has opened the door for another windfall next week.
By finishing runner-up in the US$2 million Asian Tour event, Smyth earns a cheque for US$220,000 but as a result of his finish earning him a start at next week’s US$25 million Liv International he gets the chance to play for mind-boggling figures in London.
Smyth’s previous best cheque in four years on the Asian Tour was in September of 2018 when earning US$30,250 for finishing 7th at the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea, so to say the least this has been a career changing trip to England already with perhaps a lot more to come.
Smyth finished just one shot behind the winner, Scott Vincent who won for the second week in succession having defeated another Australian (Anthony Quayle) in a playoff in Japan last week.
Smyth bogeyed his final hole while Vincent holed a 7 foot par saving putt to take the US$360,000 first prize.
The winner, Vincent, could’ve been forgiven for thinking this wasn’t to be his week when he turned up at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort but his clubs didn’t.
Happily, the missing clubs materialised in time for the US$2million International Series England and worked to stunning effect as the popular Zimbabwean recorded a one-shot victory.
In the final round he fought out a pulsating back-nine birdie battle with overnight leader Travis Smyth before sealing success with a seven-foot par putt on the final green.
“It’s amazing,” said 30-year-old Vincent, reacting to his maiden Asian Tour triumph. “This is the tour I started on, so obviously it’s nice to get the first win out here. It has felt like a long time but my game is trending in a good direction.”
Absent clubs aside, Vincent came to the north-east of England with his game in great shape. He won the Mizuno Open on Sunday on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation and kept his fine form throughout the Asian Tour’s first-ever UK tournament.
The winner Scott Vincent – photo Paul Lakatos
