What is Cameron Smith's recent form like?

Cameron Smith has missed the cut in his last seven four-round events, including all four majors this year.

Why is Rory McIlroy the crowd favourite at the Australian Open?

Rory McIlroy was the overwhelming crowd favourite at the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews, and a similar atmosphere has emerged in Melbourne for the Australian Open.

How is Cameron Smith addressing his putting struggles?

Smith believes his putting issues are more mental, stemming from pressure due to inconsistent iron play, and is working on regaining confidence in his swing.

Home / Sports / Smith vs. McIlroy: The Rematch at Royal Melbourne

Smith vs. McIlroy: The Rematch at Royal Melbourne

3 Dec

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Summary

Cameron Smith eyes redemption at the Australian Open.
Rory McIlroy is the crowd favourite in Melbourne.
Smith discusses his putting struggles and mental game.

Smith vs. McIlroy: The Rematch at Royal Melbourne

As the Australian Open commences at Royal Melbourne, a palpable 'Rorymania' has swept through the city, echoing the sentiment from Cameron Smith's 2022 Open Championship victory. Despite being the defending champion, Smith finds himself contending with a recent dip in form and significant putting struggles.

Smith candidly addressed his performance issues, attributing them to the mental pressure stemming from his iron play rather than technical putting flaws. He expressed frustration with not capitalizing on opportunities, highlighting the psychological impact on his game. The golfer aims to regain confidence by focusing on his shorter and mid-iron accuracy.

Looking to recapture his best form, Smith is drawing inspiration from his strong performance at the 2019 Presidents Cup held at the same Royal Melbourne venue. He hopes to channel the confidence and positive memories from that event to turn his current fortunes around and deliver a winning performance.