Cameron Smith is eager to secure his first win of 2024 at this week's Australian PGA Championship, knowing the clock is ticking. The major champion, who is a member at Royal Queensland Golf Club, has yet to claim an individual victory this year and is feeling the pressure as the season draws to a close. The Australian PGA Championship, co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, marks the beginning of the European circuit's 2025 global schedule and presents an opportunity for Smith to break his winless streak.
Smith, who won the 2022 British Open, is the biggest name in a field that also includes former world No. 1 Jason Day and defending champion Min Woo Lee. The 31-year-old has had a series of close calls in 2024, including three runner-up finishes on the LIV Golf circuit, where he was also part of the title-winning Ripper GC team. His best performance at a major was a tied sixth at the Masters, but he is now focusing on securing a win at home.
Having returned to Australia in October to fine-tune his game, Smith played in two state-level events, finishing third at the Queensland PGA Championship and second at the New South Wales Open behind Lucas Herbert.
This preparation has boosted his confidence as he heads into the Australian PGA Championship, a tournament where he is determined to make amends after a disappointing performance last year. As the defending champion, Smith missed the cut after shooting a seven-over 78 in the second round, a day he later described as one of the worst in his career.
With his game in good shape, Smith is optimistic about his chances at this week’s event. “I’ve done all the prep, particularly the last month, to really be competitive,” he said, expressing his desire to be in contention on Sunday.
As the tournament unfolds, he remains focused on keeping his streak of winning at least one tournament each year since 2020 alive, with the Australian PGA Championship providing the perfect opportunity to achieve that goal.
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