Cameron Smith Says it Takes ‘Big Balls’ to Win at Augusta—Which He Plans on Doing

We’re already salivating at a potential final-day matchup of a PGA Tour pro vs. someone from LIV Golf on Masters Sunday in Augusta. There was a taste of it in Dubai a couple of weeks ago when Rory McIlroy outdueled Patrick Reed in the final round of a DP World Tour event.

But to have that drama and rivalry take place in the country’s most famous golf tournament would be must-see TV.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Cameron Smith (@cameronsmithgolf)

If it does happen, the best candidates on the LIV side appear to be 2020 Masters champion and Cameron Smith, who finished runner-up to Scottie Scheffler last year.

Smith, for his part, is planning on being fitted for a green jacket, as he told the Straight Down the Middle’ish podcast.

Smith said on the pod:

“I feel like that’s my next one that I really wanna tick off. I genuinely feel like I’ve played my best golf around Augusta, it just hasn’t lined up. You know, when you win a tournament, you get a lucky bounce or the putts just fall in.”

Last year, Smith had gotten to within three shots of Scheffler until his tee shot on the par-3 12^th hole found the water of Rae’s Creek, leading to a triple bogey.

Cameron Smith’s Masters hopes disappeared with a shot into Rae’s Creek at the 12th in the final round https://t.co/3OnTNfODlj pic.twitter.com/lZGjrMou6W

— John W. Blackman (@ifpainpersists1) April 11, 2022

But Smith said he won’t stop being aggressive at Augusta National, as he believes it’s a necessary quality to win.

“I just like to be creative, I feel like at that place, you just have to be creative and you have to have big balls. I love hitting the right shot, I don’t care about the scenario. I want to hit the shot that’s going to give me the best opportunity of making birdie.”

Smith has automatically qualified for the Masters for the next five years by virtue of his win at the Open Championship last July. Other LIV pros able to tee it up at Augusta include Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Reed, and Bubba Watson.

Cover Image Via Golf Digest