Cameron Smith had a rough time at the Australian Open, especially on the back nine, when he got a warning for slow play.
He started strong with three birdies and an eagle in his first six holes but then lost all those gains due to some bad choices under pressure.
Smith wasn’t happy about being put on the clock and seemed to suggest that Elvis Smylie was part of the problem.
Smith’s Frustration
Smith rarely gets timed for slow play and believes he’s usually quick. He said, “I don’t get put on the clock too often. I feel like we do a pretty good job.” But this time, he felt rushed and made mistakes.
Meanwhile, Smylie played brilliantly with a score of 64, putting him five shots off the lead. Fans might think Smith is just trying to shake off a bad round by pointing fingers.
When asked if he’d talk to Smylie about it, Smith replied it wasn’t his responsibility and hinted there are better ways to handle such situations.
Smylie’s Perspective
Smylie sees things differently. He thinks it’s not just one person’s fault but a group issue involving everyone playing, including Victor Perez. “It’s a group thing,” he stated.
Smylie focused on keeping up with his routine even when they fell behind, saying he tried his best to maintain pace without getting anxious from being timed.
Lucas Herbert, another player from Smith’s team Ripper GC, has taken a solid four-shot lead halfway through the tournament.
What do you think? Is it fair for Smith to blame others or should he focus more on his own game?
