Smith’s Open ambitions over after magic putter misfires
Cameron Smith’s chances of firing himself into final-round contention to successfully defend his British Open title evaporated during a frustrating hit-and-miss third round at Royal Liverpool.
The Queenslander had begun Saturday still scenting an opportunity, however distant, to lift back-to-back titles as he hoped a low score on a damp third-round “moving day” morning in Hoylake would put himself back in the title mix.
Cameron Smith on the 17tyh green on Saturday. AP
But while he did make his move into the red on Saturday, finishing at one under for the championship with a three-under round of 68, he still admitted to feeling a little frustrated that, in almost ideal scoring conditions, he didn’t enjoy aneven more striking run up the scoreboard.
Jon Rahm had shown what was possible on a damp morning with just light breezes to contend with, as he surged towards the top of the leaderboard, leaping from two over to six under with a brilliant 63.
For Smith, though, five birdies – two coming from 20-foot-plus putts – were offset by two bogeys and a couple of surprise short misses with his putting wand as he reached one-under for the championship before the leaders set out on Saturday afternoon.
“Yeah, still probably a little bit too far back. I’m sure I’ll keep going down the leaderboard as the day goes on,” shrugged Smith, and he was right as he ended the day in a 15-way tie for 24th place.
“For sure, it would have been nice to get a few more (birdies) and probably I am a little bit frustrated.
“But, all in all, it was a really solid day. There’s not much to complain about.”
Smith, the champion at the 150th edition at St Andrews, was glad to have made the weekend at all, after it required a wondrous six-iron approach from
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