Date: August 26, 2018
Author: Martin Blake

Smith roars out of his lull

 

Cameron Smith has been in a lull since the Masters, where he played brilliantly to finish in the top five. But not anymore.

The 25-year-old Queenslander soared into contention at the Northern Trust tournament on the United States PGA Tour today with a six-under par 65. Together with opening rounds of 69 and 68, Smith is at 11-under overall and sitting tied-third through three rounds in the first of the tour’s playoff events in New Jersey.

Bryson DeChambeau of the United States is the runaway leader, four ahead at 16-under after a stunning 65 today.

Smith missed four consecutive cuts soon after the Masters and has not been in contention for a couple of months, but he has hit back with aplomb this week at Ridgewood Country Club.

Despite DeChambeau’s dominance, the Australians are playing well this week.

Adam Scott had a poor start to his day but rallied late to shoot a one-under par 70 and also is in the mix at 10-under par, tied-fifth and six from the lead, while Jason Day’s 68 left him at eight-under and inside the top 15. Marc Leishman (one-under) has been quieter this week.

ON THE Web.com Tour, both Curtis Luck and Matt Jones are in contention in the first round of finals. At nine-under par through three rounds of the Nationwide Hospitals Championship in Ohio, they are just three shots from the lead.