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Smith vs. McIlroy: The Rematch at Royal Melbourne
3 Dec
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.
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.
