LIV GOLF BEDMINSTER

August 11, 2023

Cam Smith

Trump National Golf Club

Ripper GC

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by the captain of Ripper GC, Cam Smith. Welcome, Cam. You shot 5-under 66 today. Tell us a little bit about your round.

CAM SMITH: Yeah, just a really solid round. Not much -- wasn't out of position much. Maybe missed a few fairways, but found myself on the green most of the times and having a look at birdie.

A little bit different to last week, which was the goal, especially today.

Q. What is your experience with this golf course prior to this?

CAM SMITH: This is my first time here. I think it's a great golf course. You can see how it was going to host a major for sure. The rough is pretty gnarly. I think if these greens were firm and fast, it would be a really tough test of golf, and it would be tough to break par.

Yeah, really good solid golf course.

Q. You've been on quite a run, seven straight weeks of golf. You played a great round today on a golf course that was trying. The rough is high, the greens are fast. How do you feel -- do you think it's important for golfers to be in tip-top shape to be able to go on a run like you're going on?

CAM SMITH: Yeah, I think runs of golf can either help you or kind of haunt you. I think if you get off to a bit of a rough start in that period, you're kind of working through something, but I've managed to play some pretty solid golf.

Other than my week last week, I don't think I would do anything different or try anything different.

Yeah, it's been really solid.

Last week wasn't my best week, like I think I mentioned, but it was a golf course that I've never really played that great on, so I didn't like it that much.

Q. You're noted as a great short game player. What would you impart to a young kid that wants to get involved in golf? When you talk about short game, what are the things that you work on? Is it pre-shot routine? Is it speed? What are the things that you think are the most important part of short game?

CAM SMITH: I think for short game, it's probably controlling your low point at the bottom of your swing. Then there, just trying to manage how hard you're going to hit it. That's basically about it.

I spend a ton of time on the putting mirror. That's helped me out a lot. It gets me back into shape when the putter is not feeling that great. Yeah, so I'd get on a mirror, as well.

Q. Can you talk about the shot off the cart path? How often do you do that?

CAM SMITH: Well, I didn't really have another option. The rough, like I mentioned before, the rough is pretty gnarly out here. The cart path I think is a better option than the rough.

I try not to do it too often, but managed to hit a pretty good shot. Probably actually didn't go as far as I thought it was going to go, but that was about it.

Q. Obviously it's pretty easy for you to dismiss a result like last week. When you left there, were you not even thinking about it anymore or were you still a little frustrated? You have been in good form.

CAM SMITH: Yeah, I have been playing good. It was a weird week. I didn't feel like I -- my putter didn't feel good. My distance control with my wedges didn't feel good. Although I thought I was hitting the ball actually pretty solid, it just wasn't my week.

It was very frustrating. Probably put a little bit more time, particularly on the putting green, at the start of the week here, and yeah, today it paid off. Holed a few good putts.

Q. In terms of the season-long points race, obviously you're second. We have three tournaments left. Do you think about that at all? Do you look at the standings? Do you know how close you are to Talor?

CAM SMITH: Yeah, I know. I don't go to bed thinking about it, but I know.

That was part of the reason for the work, the extra work this week. It's to be the best at the end of the season. That's what you want to be.

Sure, you want to win tournaments, but I think proving it over 13 tournaments is much better than one.

Q. I know you don't want to talk about last week, but last Sunday Bryson shot a 58. Were you aware of what he was doing out there when you were playing, and what do you think of shooting a 58 on that course last Sunday?

CAM SMITH: Yeah, it was pretty impressive. I played in the group behind him, so heard a lot of roars, not for myself but for him.

Yeah, it was a tough day. It was a little bit gusty. The rain kind of come in and out, which in altitude affects how far you're hitting it a fair bit.

I didn't think it was that easy, but obviously he did, and it looked like he holed a lot of putts, as well. Those greens are tricky.

Q. Yesterday you had said to me that you didn't like my sunglasses, and I was curious, what was going through your head when you said that?

CAM SMITH: What was going through my head? I wasn't really thinking. I was just more shaking my head at those sunglasses than anything else.