the australian Cameron Smith he was overwhelmed with emotion as he savored the biggest victory of his career in the The Players Championship this Monday, sharing his great triumph in what is considered the fifth Grand Slam -and the richest tournament on the tour, with the check of 3.6 million dollars for the winner-, with his family after having been separated from her for more two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 28-year-old’s mother, Sharon, and her sister Mel were spectators greenside at TPC Sawgrass as Smith outscored the Indian Anirban Lahiri after a final round delayed by bad weather.
As Australia’s ban on non-essential travel has been eased, Smith’s family made the 9,000-mile trek from Brisbane to Florida in late February to meet the golfer.
Smith’s voice cracked when asked how it felt to share the win with them.
“I haven’t seen them in two years so it’s really exciting to have them here and my main priority was just enjoying this time with them,” said Smith, who was also congratulated by his girlfriend.
“Golf has been second for these weeks so it’s nice to see them and it’s nice to get a win for them.
“It’s nice to give mom a hug,” he added.
Smith showed a lot of grit as he overcame a bad moment in the round with three consecutive bogeys from the 7th hole that threatened to derail his final round. He posted four consecutive birdies from the 10th and another impressive one on the island-green of the 17th after attacking the hole with a gutsy tee shot that landed just three meters from the lake.
He found water with his second shot in the 18th, in a mistake that could have cost him dearly, but he recovered to leave his fourth shot one meter from the flag and sign a bogey and 66 shots that avoided the tiebreaker and secured his fifth title. of the PGA Tour and second this 2022 after the Tournament of Champions in Kapalua.
He said his no-give-up mentality may come from watching his country’s rugby league and his home state of Queensland narrowly win against New South Wales in the annual Australian series.
“Even when things got ugly, they managed to win,” he said. “I think that fighting spirit is present in all of us,” she concluded.
