[Photo: R&A]
Former winner Cameron Smith says a vicious talking to after a tournament-threatening front nine helped salvage his Open Championship hopes on day one and how he’s ready to “strap in” for brutal conditions at Royal Portrush.
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Smith teed off bright and early for the first round of the 153rd Open, before the afternoon wave was exposed to heavier winds and rain. Smith started poorly, with a bogey on the opening and fourth holes before a settling birdie at the seventh. But he was seething after a double-bogey 6 at the ninth that left him at three-over-par (39) and furious.
The 2022 winner at St Andrews was able to turn his hopes around after that verbal self-spray with a two-under back nine that rescued his score from three-over through nine to one-over 72. Smith sat just five shots behind the clubhouse leader Jacob Skov Olesen (67, four-under) midway through Thursday in Northern Ireland.
“I gave myself a serious talking to,” Smith said with a laugh after his round. Asked what he said, Smith answered, “I can’t repeat it.
“I think being a little bit uncomfortable out there, it just slipped my mind a few times and hit a few bad shots and got myself into a bit of trouble when I really shouldn’t have. I’ve been swinging the club really nicely [on LIV Golf and in practice rounds]. I just need to go out there and commit to some swings. I was able to do that on the back nine and give myself a lot of looks, which was nice.”
With the weather forecast showing rain on Friday and Sunday, the testing Dunluce links at Portrush will demand extreme patience.
“I think that’s every major; you see the guys that are playing well, and generally the guys at the top of the leaderboard at the end of the week are the guys that are grinding it out and really putting 100 per cent into every shot,” Smith said. “Looks like we’re going to get a bit of Open weather here the next few days. Yeah, kind of need to strap in.”
After Smith, former world No.1 Jason Day was next best of the Australians out in the morning wave at Portrush and he carded a two-over 73. Lucas Herbert was three-over after a 75 while West Australian Ryan Peake shot a six-over 77.
The other Australians – Marc Leishman, Adam Scott, Lucas Herbert, Elvis Smylie, Min Woo Lee and Curtis Luck – were either out on course or yet to tee off at the time of writing (12.30pm local/9.30pm AEST).
Open Championship 2025: Ryan Peake receives dream group at Portrush, Aussie tee-times AEST
More to come…
Adam Scott played a practice round with fellow Queenslander Elvis Smylie on Wednesday. Picture: Getty
AUSSIE TEE-TIMES FOR ROUND ONE IN AEST
Player AEST Tee-Times (Thursday / Friday) Group Partners
Ryan Peake 4:19pm Thurs / 9:20pm Fri Phil Mickelson, Daniel Van Tonder
Marc Leishman 8:26pm Thurs / 3:35pm Fri Stewart Cink, Matteo Manassero
Adam Scott 9:09pm Thurs / 4:08pm Fri Rickie Fowler, Ethan Fang (A)
Cameron Smith 3:57pm Thurs / 8:58pm Fri Marco Penge, Justin Hastings (A)
Min Woo Lee 11:37pm Thurs / 6:36pm Fri Tyrrell Hatton, Russell Henley
Lucas Herbert 4:52pm Thurs / 9:53pm Fri Darren Clarke, Davis Riley
Jason Day 4:08pm Thurs / 9:09pm Fri Taylor Pendrith, Jacob Skov Olesen
Curtis Luck 8:04pm Thurs / 1:59am Sat Daniel Young, Curtis Knipes
Elvis Smylie 9:20pm Thurs / 4:19pm Fri Laurie Canter, Sergio Garcia
