Cameron Smith has fielded plenty of questions in his career. That happens when you win five times on the PGA Tour and rise to world No.6.
Attention from golf reporters both in the US and in Australia has ramped up since the mulleted crowd favourite won the elite Players Championship last month.
But one question during Smith’s pre-tournament press conference at the Masters on Monday clean bowled the 28-year-old.
It was long-winded and although Smith looked confused, he was politely nodding along.
“My question is different. Most golfers are very mature, just like you. Maybe you are more mature than you look?” the reporter asked.
Smith kept nodding.
“My question is … do you party a lot?”
Smith erupted in laughter. The reporter followed up with, “How much beer do you drink?”
Again, Smith kept laughing and finally composed himself to answer.
“I wouldn’t say I drink a whole lot,” he said. “I definitely love a beer with the boys on the weekend, but during the week I keep it pretty tidy. I’ll usually have a few beers on the boat on the weekend.”
Your correspondent followed up by asking what was Smith’s beer of choice, and the Queenslander predictably said it was XXXX Gold when in Australia. But in the US, his favourite is the Hawaiian beer Kona Brewing Co’s Longboard Lager. Again, predictable for a PGA Tour player who has won both tournaments in Hawaii.
The exchange was hilarious, but the rest of Smith’s press conference was all business. He talked about how hungry he is to win the Masters after three top-10s in his past four starts at Augusta National.
With two victories on the PGA Tour already this year – the Players Championship and the elite Tournament of Champions in Hawaii in January – Smith could be forgiven for taking the foot off the gas.
But that won’t be happening.
“I’m still pretty hungry mate pretty,” said Smith, who was tied 10th at Augusta last year and finish joint runner-up to Dustin Johnson at the 2020 November Masters.
“I’ve been working hard last couple weeks at home (in Florida). I can’t wait to get back out here. I had three weeks off and I feel ready to compete. It’s a good time of year to be playing good golf.”
Smith said winning the Players – which is considered golf’s unofficial fifth Major given it boasts the best field in golf and the biggest winner’s prize at $US3.6 million ($A5 million) – had given him added belief he could win his first Major this week at Augusta.
But he already knew that before winning at TPC Sawgrass.
“I’m more excited for the Masters, yeah,” he said. “I think my game was already there. The Players was nice to tick off but I feel I can compete against anyone, on any given week.”
He can certainly compete at Augusta National. During his runner-up to Johnson, Smith became the first ever player to shoot four rounds in the 60s during the Masters.
And it’s no secret why. Augusta National demands a lot of a golfer’s approach play, wedge play and putting. Smith ranks eighth on the PGA Tour for strokes gained in approach play, 21st around the greens and third in putting.
“I’ve also gathered some general knowledge at Augusta by picking Leish and Adam’s brains the past few years,” Smith said of Marc Leishman and 2013 Masters winner Adam Scott.
“But creativity (is my biggest weapon at Augusta); I’m not afraid to hit different shots here.”
Smith is among six Australians in the field at the Masters, alongside Scott, Leishman, Lucas Herbert, Cam Davis and Min Woo Lee.
