THE 151ST OPEN

July 23, 2023

Cam Smith

Mixed Zone

Q. Have fun out there today?

CAM SMITH: Yeah, it was really just tough to get anything kind of going. Lots of long irons in, and that generally means lots of long putts or chipping.

It's just hard to make birdies. It's a tough day for sure.

Q. How is the feeling 12 months on?

CAM SMITH: Yeah, it was awesome being back. I would have liked to have done a better job at defending it, but yeah, just wasn't my week this week.

I can't wait to get back here next year and give it another crack. It's golf that I've learned to love. Can't wait.

Q. What's that mean, learned to love?

CAM SMITH: Yeah, I used to not like it (laughing). That's what I mean.

Q. How bad was it out there?

CAM SMITH: I mean, it was just wet and the ball wasn't going very far. There wasn't a lot of wind. There was a little bit maybe towards the start of the round, but it seemed to have died off a little bit, but it's just playing really long.

I hit a drive on 16 straight over a bunker which I thought I could carry, and we were five or six metres short of it.

It's just playing long. It's not tough -- I think if you're on your game, I think there's a score out there, just because it is soft. But yeah, it's long.

Q. I know the weather is shocking, but at least it means you retain The Ashes, doesn't it?

CAM SMITH: I mean, yeah, there wasn't too many Poms out there today chirping at me. Not as many as the last few days, that's for sure. I haven't even got an update on the cricket. What's going on?

Q. (Regarding weather).

CAM SMITH: That's good for us.

Q. Can you reflect on your 12 months as Champion Golfer of the Year? How extraordinary has it been, the whole episode?

CAM SMITH: Yeah, it's been nice. I think it was really nice to come back. It kind of sucked handing back the trophy, but it was nice to come back and play the golf courses again, see the fans again, and yeah, like I said, I can't wait to get back next year. Hopefully I can do a better job of being up there.

Q. Do you believe you can get the Claret Jug back?

CAM SMITH: Yeah, I think so. Even at the start of the week I felt as though I was playing good enough golf. It just wasn't my week. I left -- usually I'm leaning on my putter to make good scores, and this week it was almost the opposite.

A bit of a frustrating week on the greens.

Q. Can I ask about Jason Day, who's been in contention this afternoon --

CAM SMITH: What is he, five or six back?

Q. He's 1-under on the front nine. I wonder what your reflections are on his comeback.

CAM SMITH: Yeah, no, he's been playing great of late. I think this weather actually probably suits Jason more than other guys. He's got such a good short game and putts the ball good. When you're hitting long irons into par-4s you need to kind of lean on that a little bit. I'm sure he'll be up there at the end of today.

Q. Is he someone you looked up to as you were coming through? He's about six years older than you.

CAM SMITH: Yeah, he was probably just coming out of junior golf as I was coming in. He's always been a guy that I've watched, and I've always loved his game, even from a young age.