[PHOTO: Getty images]
Winless in two years, Cameron Smith has returned to the site of his dramatic maiden major triumph in the hopes of recapturing the form that saw him hoist the Claret Jug at the 150th Open St Andrews’ Old Course in 2022.
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On Wednesday in Scotland, Smith played a practice round at the Old Course and the reunion was captured in joyful scenes by organisers of this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship – a DP World Tour event that features a celebrity-laden pro-am played across St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie.
The official Instagram account of The Open shared pics of Smith, who shot a final-round 64 that was underlined by a back nine of 30 to win the 150th Open, stepping foot on the ancient links for the first time in over three years.
He tees off at Carnoustie today at 6.44pm Australian time in round one of the Dunhill Links. He has been grouped with former US Open winner and recent Ryder Cup winner Matt Fitzpatrick for the first two days, the latter of which at Kingsbarns. Smith won’t play the Old Course until 10.28am local time Saturday for the third round, (Saturday 7.30pm AEST) grouped alongside the 2010r Open Championship winner at St Andrews, Louis Oosthuizen.
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Smith has struggled for form in 2025, becoming a father in March and losing his grandmother in June which required a last-minute dash home to Australia the week before the US Open. As he’s navigated significant life changes off the course, his results on the fairways have suffered. He missed the cut in all four majors and has not posted a win worldwide since the 2023 LIV Golf Bedminster event. He finished 18th on the individual standings for LIV Golf this year, behind Ripper GC teammates Marc Leishman, who won at LIV Miami, and Lucas Herbert.
Smith opened up about 2025 to your correspondent recently for Australian Golf Digest‘s September issue.
“I feel I’ve always had a good sense of perspective, but becoming a dad has definitely changed all that,” Smith said. “Really, all I want now is to have a happy, healthy son rather than making as many birdies as I can on the golf course. Of course, I still want to do that and to win often. I’m still fired up competitively once I’m inside the ropes, but bad rounds probably don’t ruin my day as much as they used to.”
He also said the Alfred Dunhill Links was a way to maintain competitive reps ahead of the Australian summer of golf starting next month.
“There’ll probably be one or two [international starts] before Australia to stay somewhat tournament ready before the summer of golf,” Smith said in August while enjoying his almost five-month offseason from LIV.
“Every year, it just keeps growing how much I want it [the Australian Open. I probably keep putting more pressure on myself, but if the game is in a good spot, there’s no reason I can’t win it. There’s no reason why I can’t finish the year strong.”
Before then, here’s hoping a return to the fabled Old Course this week can ignite the creative side of Smith’s competitive golf brain and he can lift another trophy at St Andrews.
In the past three years, Australians and New Zealanders have enjoyed enormous success at the Old Course. After Smith won the 2022 Open Championship there, Kiwi Ryan Fox claimed the Dunhill at St Andrews later that year while Fox’s fellow New Zealander Lydia Ko captured the 2024 AIG Women’s Open in dramatic scenes.
Aussies in the Alfred Dunhill Field (courtesy of Pat Taylor/Australian Golf Media)
DP World Tour
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
Old Course St. Andrews | Carnoustie Golf Links | Kingsbarns Golf Links, Scotland
Old Course St. Andrews:
6:22pm (AEST) Kazuma Kobori (NZ)
6:22pm* Jordan Doull
6:33pm Corey Lamb
6:44pm Elvis Smylie
6:44pm* David Micheluzzi
7:39pm* Kerry Mountcastle
Carnoustie Golf Links
6:00pm* James Conran
6:11pm* Daniel Hillier (NZ)
6:44pm Cameron Smith
7:39pm* Tyler Hodge (NZ)
Kingsbarns Golf Links
6:00pm* Anthony Quayle
6:33pm Jasper Stubbs
7:06pm Phoenix Campbell
7:17pm Harrison Crowe
8:01pm Matt Jones
Recent champion: Tyrrell Hatton
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prizemoney: €5,000,000
TV times: Thursday and Friday 9pm-2am Kayo and Fox Sports 505. Saturday 9pm-3am Kayo and Fox Sports 505. Sunday 9:30pm-3am Kayo and Fox Sports 503.
