BAY HILL, Florida – Cameron Smith says he has earned a couple of beers after overcoming a rinsed tee shot to post his best ever opening round at the Players Championship.
Smith climbed into contention with a three-under-par 69 during a weather-interrupted first day at TPC Sawgrass, during which only 69 of the the 144 players finished their rounds. There were 17 who did not even tee off.
It was Smith’s best opening score by two shots at TPC Sawgrass and his first time starting the Players with a round in the 60s.
World No.10 Smith managed to get in the clubhouse only three shots behind co-leaders Tommy Fleetwood and Tom Hoge (both 66), with a group of four players who finished at five under including Joaquin Niemann (67).
It was a hard fought 69 for Smith given he pulled a 3-wood left into the water for his tee shot on the 18th (Smith’s ninth hole) only moments before the siren sounded.
“I tried to hit the right shot but I got it a bit toey,” Smith told Australian Golf Digest with a laugh after the round. “Being my first nine holes of the day, I couldn’t let it get to me. I had to knuckle down especially when conditions are as soft as they were today.”
Storms forced play to be suspended for 4 hours and 14 minutes. Smith spent that time having lunch with mother and sister, who are over from Australia, and his girlfriend.
The 28-year-old returned to No.18 after the delay and made a gutsy, 12-foot putt for bogey before two birdies on the front nine (his back nine) ensured a solid start to golf’s unofficial fifth Major.
The Players Championship was suspended for four hours during the first round.
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