I have definitely kicked myself a couple of times over the past few years. To do it the way I did today was pretty cool, to be back and really apply pressure, keep holing putts. Yeah, it was awesome – Cameron Smith.

The song, “What a Difference a Day Makes” by Dinah Washington was played on July 17 before the start of the last round of the 150^th Open Championship at  Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland.

Cameron Smith had ended the third round with four strokes behindRory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland. With the lyrics, “24 hours,” Smith wondered if his opportunity had passed – a tall order to face with just 18 holes to play but one he saw as not being insurmountable.

Being able to put matters in perspective — not allowing one day’s poor play to spill over to the next presented a significant challenge but also an opportunity to test himself.Overcoming such a deficit on the Old Course had not happened since 1939 when Englishman Dick Burton mounted a similar final round charge. The odds for Smith doing similarly seemed improbable but that did not deter him knowing full well that final rounds at major championships can always be unpredictable.

Smith stepped up in a big-time manner, firing a second 64 in the championship earning a one-shot win over his playing partner Cameron Young. The two men both made final round moves scoring 129 between them. In the end, it was the Aussie capturing the Claret Jug for his first major title and being proclaimed the “champion golfer of the year.” Open 2022 – Cameron Smith

“I have definitely kicked myself a couple of times over the past few years. To do it the way I did today was pretty cool, to be back and really apply pressure, keep holing putts. Yeah, it was awesome,” said Cameron Smith.

Smith matched the lowest under-par score for a major championship with a -20 total. The last time that happened was when Dustin Johnson captured the Masters in 2020. The 28-year-old, originally from Brisbane, also bested the 72-hole scoring record at the Old Course set by Tiger Woods when winning the 2000 Open Championship — Smith’s 268 cumulative tally now one better than the previous mark.

When the leaders reached the final nine holes, Smith still trailed McIlroy by three shots. Then lightning happened. Smith made five consecutive birdies with a putting wizardry equivalent to Merlin. When winning the Players Championship this past March — Cameron one-putted no less than thirteen times giving him the edge he needed for victory. Coupling a Players win with an Open Championship in the same year has only been done one other time — Jack Nicklaus accomplished that in 1978 with his Open triumph also at St. Andrews.Open 2022 – Cameron Smith

Smith stepped up in a big-time manner, firing a second 64 in the championship earning a one-shot win over his playing partner Cameron Young. The two men both made final round moves scoring 129 between them. In the end, it was the Aussie capturing the Claret Jug for his first major title and being proclaimed the “champion golfer of the year.” Open

Smith’s ending 64 also matched fellow countryman Greg Norman’s final round when the Shark took the Claret Jug in 1993 at Royal St. George’s. The win coming at the 150^th Open Championship also followed-up another milestone win by an Aussie when Kel Nagle won the 100^th Open at St. Andrews, He becomes just the fourth Australian to win The Open Championship along with the aforementioned Nagle and Norman as well as Peter Thompson and Ian Baker Finch.

After taking a late final round lead, it was up to Smith to close out his pursuers. Standing in his way were the always dangerous Road Hole at the 17^th and the reachable closing par-4-hole 18th.

The Aussie’s approach at the penultimate hole came up short and with the Road Hole bunker staring him in the face he wonderfully putted from off the green around the bunker leaving him a 12-foot par putt to keep his lead. He flawlessly sunk the putt.

At the final hole, his drive was able to get near the front of the 18^th green but he would need to putt through the Valley of Sin with the pin position placed so near the frontal fall-off edge. His approach putt was magnificent, leaving him no more than just under three feet which he made to seal the triumph.

For Smith, the win marked a sign of redemption in major championship play. He had finished solo second at the 2020 Masters and this past spring he placed himself into contention trailing eventual winner, Scottie Scheffler, by three shots entering the final round. The Aussie would limp home with a 73 eventually earning a tie for third.

Breaking through and winning a major title is no small achievement and like other first-time winners in the game’s most sought-after titles, he had to overcome past failures and see matters through. To do so at the Old Course provided a grand redemption. 

Coming down the stretch of any major event is always a twofold trial by fire — executing shots precisely and keeping one’s emotions on an even keel basis. 

Saturday’s poor play could have proved an anchor to overcome for others — Smith used it as a motivator to believe what a difference a day can make.

“I think I was really frustrated yesterday with how the round went. I just really put it down to links golf. I think you really have those days on these courses where you get a bit of a weird bounce here and there and puts you in a bad spot. So, I shrugged it off pretty good, I think, last night. I really didn’t dwell on it too much. But to go out there and really stick my head down and keep making birdies and keep making putts, I think that definitely helped yesterday.”

Winning any golf tournament takes perseverance and Smith kept putting himself into contention knowing full well anything can happen in a final round — most notably in a major event.Open 2022 – Cameron Smith

“I guess, at the start of the year to really knuckle down and try and get over the line. For it to happen three times this year is pretty unreal. I really wasn’t expecting that. I would have been happy with one. Just lots of hard work and keeping at it.”

Being in the position in trailing played a crucial role for Cameron — playing both smartly and aggressively keeping his foot down on the pedal.

“I think it was a good thing that I was definitely behind. I think my mindset would have been a touch different coming in, especially on that back nine, if I was ahead. I think my shot into — my second shot into 13 was really when I thought that we can win this thing. I think I had three birdies in a row before that, and then to hit that shot in there, or the two shots, the drive and the second shot, were two of the best all week. For that to go in, I think, that was it for me.”

Besides his calling card being an unerring putting stroke — Smith was quick to point out his renowned mullet hair style will remain. “I think it’s going to stay mate.”

The 150^th Open at St. Andrews concludes the final major event for ’22. 

The next takes place nine months from now when the Masters is played at Augusta National. The Old Course once again provided the ultimate stage for an ending few likely ever thought possible.

Final Leaderboard – Top 10

Pos.	Player	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total
1	Cameron Smith	67	64	73	64	268
2	Cameron Young	64	69	71	65	269
3	Rory McIlroy	66	68	66	70	270
T4	Tommy Fleetwood	72	69	66	67	274
T4	Viktor Hovland	68	66	66	74	274
T6	Brian Harman	73	68	68	66	275
T6	Dustin Johnson	68	67	71	69	275
T8	Bryson DeChambeau	69	74	67	66	276
T8	Patrick Cantlay	70	67	71	68	276
T8	Jordan Spieth	71	69	68	68	276