Why Cam Smith Is Going To Win The Masters
This year’s Masters is set to be a thriller with a bevy of talented players hoping to contend. Fergus Bisset thinks Cam Smith could outshine them all.
The list of favourites for this year’s Masters is long and strong. A good case could be made for any of the players in the top-10 on the Official World Golf Ranking and for several star names currently outside that top-10. But my money - just like the GM tipster - has gone on Australia’s Cameron Smith and this is why.
He’s on tremendous form
The Australian has climbed to a career high of sixth on the Official World Golf Ranking following his impressive win in The Players Championship. In the final round at TPC Sawgrass, Smith fired in an incredible 10 birdies, including four to start both the front and back nines, en-route to a closing 66.
And he’s been playing well in the relatively few other events he’s teed it up in through the first months of 2022. He won the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii (setting a new PGA scoring record in the process,) and finished tied fourth in Saudi Arabia.
He’s well rested
The fact he’s only played five tournaments so far this year, and none since his win at TPC Sawgrass, means he’s arrived in Augusta well rested: A fact he has already noted speaking to the press. At 28, he’s young enough to have plenty of energy but, having taken three weeks off, he’ll be raring to go.
Related: Cameron Smith what's in the bag
He has a great record at Augusta
It’s his fifth start in The Masters and he has three top-10 finishes to his name. He was tied for second back in 2020 when he became the first player in Masters history to fire four rounds in the 60s.
Related: Who Is Cameron Smith's Caddie?
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
With four Masters behind him now, he has the experience (and results) to know how to play the course and he knows he has the game to win.
Boy, can he putt!
And a key to that game is his exceptional putting. In his victory at The Players, Smith’s silky putting touch was to the fore and, at times, it looked like he simply couldn’t miss.
He currently ranks third on the PGA Tour in strokes gained putting and his putting stats in the last few Masters have been impressive – top-10 in number of putts twice, including one second in that category. Controlling the speed on long putts and holing those clutch putts is often what separates the winner from the field at Augusta and Smith has the ability to do just that.
And his approach play is pretty good too
Approach play is another important piece of the puzzle at Augusta. The greens are so challenging and pin positions so precarious that shots just off target can fall away from the hole. Precision with the scoring clubs is always important.
Last season, Smith was best on the PGA Tour on approaches from 100-125 yards and eighth from 125-150 yards. This season, he’s doing well again from 100-125 yards - ranked seventh.
Smith’s short game is extremely tight and tidy, he’s ranked inside the top-40 on the PGA Tour in strokes gained around the greens in five of the last six seasons. He has a great chipping action and is excellent from tight lies like you often see around the surfaces at Augusta.
His attitude and determination
On the final hole at Sawgrass, Smith misjudged his lay-up from the trees and found the water. A lesser player could have panicked and lost the tournament from there but Smith didn’t look fazed. He calmly took his drop and got up and down for the five that would prove good enough to give him a one-stroke victory.
He's a supremely level-headed and patient player who has that natural ability to put bad shots behind him and focus on limiting any damage. That’s crucial around Augusta: Players must know when to attack and when to play sensibly, Smith seems to have an innate ability to choose the right shots at the right time. And if he makes an error, he gets himself back in play and starts again. In short - he's gritty.
Also: Who is Cameron Smith's girlfriend?
He's got the look
I’m trying to think of the last Masters winner to own a moustache. I think it might have been Craig Stadler back in 1982. It’s about time for another one surely. And to have a winner sporting the moustache/mullet combination would be something completely new at Augusta… I think it’s meant to be.
What is Cameron Smith wearing?
This year’s Masters is wide open with strong support for a selection of hugely talented young players (plus for a few veterans) but for the reasons above, and just because he’s a real Aussie “battler” and a down to earth and decent chap – I’m backing Cam Smith to don a Green Jacket on Sunday evening.
Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.
He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.
Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?
-
Transgender Golfer Hailey Davidson Banned From LPGA After Gender Policy Update
The LPGA has updated a key policy meaning that from the 2025 season, athletes who transitioned following puberty will not be allowed to play in its competitions
By Mike Hall Published
-
PuttOut Medium Putting Mat Review
Sam De’Ath discusses how the PuttOut Medium putting mat can help you hole more putts
By Sam De'Ath Published
-
Why Tiger Woods’ Masters Week Was Actually A Huge Success
Woods finished last at an event in which he made the cut for just the third time in his near-30-year pro career at The 2024 Masters - but looking at the result here is too short-sighted...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
What Golf Shoe Does Bryson Dechambeau Wear?
DeChambeau has worn many pairs of golf shoes throughout his career, with the American currently wearing the FootJoy HyperFlex Carbon
By Matt Cradock Published
-
The Masters Azalea Cocktail Recipe: How To Make The Famous Augusta National Drink
Thanks to the Masters’ official pinterest page, we now know how to make the famous cocktail the right way
By Joel Kulasingham Published
-
The 2018 Fairway Wood Tiger Woods Is Using At The Masters
Despite being an older model, the 15-time Major winner has kept the TaylorMade M3 fairway wood in his bag for over six years and continues to use it at Augusta National
By Matt Cradock Published
-
What Golf Shoes Is Camilo Villegas Wearing At The Masters?
The multiple-time PGA Tour winner was seen wearing a pair of eye-catching Nike Air Jordan shoes whilst paired with Rory McIlroy during the third round at Augusta National
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Who Has Won The Most Money At The Masters?
Jack Nicklaus has won the most Green Jackets in history and Tiger Woods is the most successful champion in the modern era - but the answer is neither of those two...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Who Has Made The Most Consecutive Cuts At The Masters?
Tiger Woods is chasing a record-breaking 25th consecutive cut at the 2024 Masters
By Joel Kulasingham Published
-
Who Gives The Green Jacket If There's A Back-To-Back Winner Of The Masters?
Traditionally, the previous winner of The Masters hands the new champion the Green Jacket - here's what happens when there's a back-to-back winner
By Mike Hall Published