It was a weekend to remember for Australian Cameron Smith, who won his first ever major at St. Andrews on Sunday. The 28-year-old stormed past the competition on Sunday’s back nine, carding 5 birdies in a row to record a bogey-free 64, the lowest-ever Sunday score for a winner at St. Andrews.
Smith started the day 4-strokes behind co-leaders Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland but quickly set fire to the course on his way to securing the 150th Open title.
“It’s unreal. This place [St. Andrews] is so cool and to have the 150th Open here and to walk away with the win is something I have dreamed of. I didn’t know I was going to get this far. It’s awesome,” Smith told reporters after his win.
Adding, “I’m lost for words. It’s unreal to look at the names on this trophy and to add mine is unreal.”
For former world number one Rory McIlroy, it was a disappointing finish to what looked like a possible end to his major drought. The 33-year old’s last major title was at the 2014 PGA Championship. While McIlroy remained steady throughout the final round, Smith’s charge on the back nine was too much to contain.
“I was playing a controlled round but when I needed to make birdies, I just couldn’t. I was trying my hardest of course. Cam (Smith) played unbelievably the first two days, got his bad one out the way yesterday and followed up today,” McIlroy told reporters.
Adding, “This whole major season, I was second at Augusta, third here, fifth at the US Open, eighth at the PGA. I’m knocking on the door and I need to stay patient and keep knocking on the door and eventually one will open for me again.”
Titleist also proved to be a bigger winner at this year’s Open. Not only were their clubs and ball used by winner Cameron Smith, but they were also the #1 ball in the field last week, with 70% of players teeing up with the Pro V1 or Pro V1x, more than five-times the nearest competition! Titleist drivers, hybrids, utility irons, irons and wedges were also the most played at St. Andrews.
Get a closer look at Smith’s winning bag:
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Driver: Titleist TSR3
Fairway Metals: Titleist TSi2
Irons: Titleist T100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9
Putter: Scotty Cameron 009M Tour Prototype
