Cam Smith is grinding for some all-important world ranking points at this week’s PGA Championship as the LIV Golf star aims to qualify for this summer’s Olympics.
Cam Smith was observed rolling up his pants and striking from a water hazard during the current PGA Championship, as he persists in his pursuit to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris this summer.
Smith, who was once the second-best player in the world, has seen his ranking decline after joining LIV Golf in 2022. As a result, his opportunity to represent Australia in this year’s Olympics is now uncertain, as only the top two players from each country in the world rankings qualify.
LIV is still awaiting recognition from the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), so his best opportunity to improve his chances for the Olympics lies in the four majors. This week, he is once again competing in the PGA Championship.
In his quest to make an impact in the first round, Smith went to great lengths by immersing himself in the water at Valhalla Golf Club on Thursday. The Australian golfer managed to compile an impressive three-under-par 68 to commence his week, despite encountering a potential disaster when his tee shot at the par-five seventh (his 16th hole of the day) landed in the hazard.
With his focus on scoring, Smith decided to take a gamble by removing his shoes and socks before attempting to play his ball from the hazard, which was far away from the fairway. Astonishingly, the former Open champion successfully maneuvered his ball back into play, resulting in an unlikely par.
He planned to add two more shots to his game plan, setting himself up nicely for the second round on Friday. Reflecting on his performance on Thursday, Smith mentioned, “I was hitting the ball really well for the first 12 or 13 holes. Towards the end, I lost a bit of focus, but overall, everything felt solid. I was able to make some key par saves and maintain the momentum for tomorrow.”
He will also have his sights set on earning world ranking points during his time in Kentucky, in addition to his pursuit of a second major title. The captain of Ripper GC has expressed his aspirations of rejoining the Olympic team on multiple occasions.
In April, during an interview with the Guardian, he emphasized the importance of performing at his best in order to secure an Olympic qualification. He acknowledged the limited opportunities he would have to prove himself, estimating that he would only have three or four chances before the selection process. The significance of the Olympics and his desire to represent Australia added to the pressure he felt.
As it stands, Smith is poised to be absent from this year’s Olympics because of his position in the rankings. The two Australian spots are currently held by PGA Tour stars Jason Day and Min Woo Lee. Day currently occupies the 19th spot in the world rankings, while Lee sits at No. 36 on the list. Meanwhile, Smith finds himself slightly behind in 61st place as he strives to make significant progress this week.
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