Cameron Smith reveals Open Championship motivator amid ‘holding back tears’

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Cameron Smith desires to win The Open Championship once more.

Badly.

“I simply needed to hand again the trophy. I believed I used to be going to do all proper, however I used to be really holding again tears,” Smith stated Monday. “However it was only a little bit of a second that I suppose you don’t take into consideration after which impulsively it’s there, and, yeah, I need it again.”

Final yr at St. Andrews, Smith produced one of many biggest rounds in main championship historical past.

He shot an 8-under 64 to waltz previous Rory McIlroy on Sunday and win The Open on the residence of golf.

The second of the championship befell on the well-known seventeenth gap, the place Smith efficiently bought up-and-down for par from in entrance of the treacherous street gap bunker together with his putter.

Cameron Smith, St. Andrews, The 150th Open

ST ANDREWS, Scotland — Cameron Smith strains up a putt on the seventeenth gap in the course of the last spherical of The a hundred and fiftieth Open on The Outdated Course at St Andrews on July 17, 2022.
Picture by David Cannon/Getty Pictures

However now at Royal Liverpool, Smith has eyes set on successful back-to-back opens, hoping to change into the primary since Padraig Harrington did so in 2007 and 2008.

“I’ve been saying to all my mates, It’ll solely be per week and we’ll be consuming out of it once more,” Smith joked. “Hopefully it’s one other week like final yr and I’m again with the trophy.”

If Smith does go on to repeat as champion, he would change into the second LIV Golfer this yr to win a serious championship.

Brooks Koepka’s victory at Oak Hill in Could was the primary time an lively LIV participant received a serious.

The 2023 PGA Championship was Koepka’s fifth main victory.

As for Smith, nevertheless, it was about this time a yr in the past when he was debating whether or not or to not be part of the Saudi-backed tour.

Cameron Smith, LIV Golf, The 151st Open

HOYLAKE, England — Cameron Smith reacts after taking part in a shot on the third gap throughout a apply spherical previous to The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Membership on July 17, 2023.
Picture by Gregory Shamus/Getty Pictures

Instantly after successful the Claret Jug, a reporter challenged Smith in regards to the rumor of him becoming a member of LIV Golf.

“I simply received the British Open, and also you’re asking about that,” Smith stated. “I feel that’s fairly not that good.”

“I admire that, however the query remains to be there,” the reporter snipped again. “Are you in any respect? Is there any fact in that?”

“I don’t know, mate,” Smith responded. “My crew round me worries about all that stuff. I’m right here to win golf tournaments.”

Come to seek out out, there was some fact with that.

Smith bolted to LIV Golf on the finish of the 2022 PGA Tour season.

But, he feels content material together with his determination to affix the Saudi-backed tour a yr later. However his sole focus is on successful the Claret Jug once more.

“Yeah, I feel LIV apart, I’m decided to attempt my greatest each week and simply try to be a greater golfer than I used to be final week,” Smith stated.

“I anticipate to do all the things one hundred pc, ticking all of the bins early within the week, ensuring I’m ready, after which simply go on the market and provides it my all. I feel we’re all right here to win the Claret Jug, and principally any one in every of these [LIV] guys, if they’ve their week this week, one in every of them goes to stroll away with it.”

Smith hopes he’s the one strolling away with the Claret Jug, as he would be part of Greg Norman and Peter Thomson as the one Australians to win a number of Open Championships.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. Make sure to try @_PlayingThrough too.