Tag: 2022 Fortinet Australian PGA Championship

World No. 3 Cameron Smith wins third Australian PGA Championship to cap massive year

Smith previously won the Australian PGA Championship in consecutive years in 2017 and 2018.

Three was the theme of the day for Cameron Smith on Sunday.

Playing in the Australian PGA Championship for the first time in three years, the World No. 3 entered the final round with a three-shot lead at Royal Queensland in his native Brisbane. The Aussie went on to shoot a final-round 3-under 68 to win the event for a third time, holding off Ryo Hisatsune and Jason Scrivener, who finished T-2 at 11 under, three shots back. Smith, 29, previously won the Australian PGA Championship in consecutive years in 2017 and 2018.

Smith started the year with a win at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January via a playoff with Jon Rahm. He then went on to win the Players Championship in March and the Open Championship in July before joining LIV Golf in August. On the upstart circuit led by Greg Norman and backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Smith made $7,378,500 over five events, including a win in his second start.

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Cameron Smith leads Fortinet Australian PGA Championship by three shots heading into Sunday

Smith is in position to add to a career year.

Cameron Smith’s last worldwide win came at the LIV Golf Series stop in Chicago, his second Saudi-circuit start. Before that, it was the 150th Open at St. Andrews.

Now, he’s in position to add to a career year.

Smith leads the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship by three shots with 18 holes to play at Royal Queensland GC in Brisbane, Australia. After using a Friday 65 to vault up the leaderboard, the Aussie fired a Saturday 2-under 69 to separate from the field.

It was an up-and-down day for world No. 3, cashing in six birdies while also adding four squares to the card.

If he wins Sunday, it’ll be his fourth DP World Tour victory.

Read: ‘He definitely wanted me to stay’: Cam Smith recounts phone call with Rory McIlroy after their battle at St. Andrews

His closest chasers are Yan Wei Liu and Masahiro Kawamura who both sit at 8 under, three back. A group of four players, including Min Woo Lee, are 7 under, four back.

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Cameron Smith chasing Jason Scrivener at 2022 Fortinet Australian PGA Championship

Cameron Smith is showing out in his return home.

Cameron Smith is making the most of his return to Australia for the first time in three years.

The third-ranked golfer in the world fired a second-round 6-under 65 on Friday at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club in Brisbane, moving into solo second at 9 under through 36 holes at one of the biggest golf events Down Under. Smith trails leader Jason Scrivener by one shot heading to the third round.

Scrivener, who was tied for the first-round lead, shot 67 on Friday to take control of the lead.

“Yesterday it was pretty stress-free and I hit the ball tee to green really well,” Scrivener said. “Today it was a little scrappier, got away with a few things and scrambled well. All in all, pretty happy with it.”

Masahiro Kawamura and Cameron John are tied for third at 8 under.

Adam Scott, who shot 5 under in the opening round, shot 1 over on Friday, his lone highlight coming with a long birdie putt on the 17th hole. Min Woo Lee, who shared the first-round lead with Scrivener, shot 2 over in the second round and is at 4 under for the tournament with Scott.

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