Aussies on Tour – 22 Feb, 2021

By Inside Golf | Sam Arthur
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His best ball-striking display in four years has Queenslander Cameron Smith excited about the build-up to The Masters after recording a top-five finish at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club.

Runner-up at Augusta National in November, Smith was making his first appearance since the Farmers Insurance Open three weeks ago and two weeks spent working on his swing technique paid dividends as he used a final round of 4-under 67 to move into outright fourth position and prizemoney in excess of $US450,000.

“Just took a couple weeks off and knuckled down. Actually did some work on my swing and it paid off this week,” said Smith.

“I thought I struck it probably the best I’ve struck it in a very long time, three, four years probably. It’s nice to get back in that groove.”

Ahead of this week’s World Golf Championships event in Florida moving into The PLAYERS and then The Masters, Smith believes that if he can stay on top of his swing tendencies he can take confidence into every event.

“I get this little move at the top of my swing that gets me all unbalanced,” Smith explained.

“Just spent a couple weeks on that so I’ve just got to keep my eye on it and do some really good preparation around the golf course.”

Defending champion Adam Scott bounced back from a disappointing 76 in Round 3 with a Sunday 66 to move inside the top 40 while Matt Jones rounded out a strong week with a 1-under 70 to join Smith inside the top 10.

There were no Aussies inside the top 10 at the resumption of the Korn Ferry Tour with Victorian Brett Coletta the best in a tie for 11th.

An opening round of 63 had Coletta tied at the top of the leaderboard but it was a pace he was unable to maintain, weekend rounds of 73-70 resulting in a finish just outside the top 10.

Kiwi Steven Alker was also tied for 11th with Aussie pair Brett Drewitt and Mark Hensby in a tie for 47th alongside New Zealand’s Nick Voke.


PGA TOUR

Genesis Invitational

Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, California
Won by Max Homa (USA) in a two-hole playoff

4            Cameron Smith, 69-68-71-67—275
T8          Matt Jones, 67-72-69-70—278
T32        Marc Leishman, 69-73-73-68—283 
T38        Adam Scott, 69-73-76-66—284 
T43        Cameron Davis, 71-69-77-68—285 
T52        Danny Lee, 72-70-72-72—286 


KORN FERRY TOUR

LECOM Suncoast Classic

Lakewood National GC (Commander CSe), Lakewood Ranch, Florida
Won by Billy Kennerly (USA) by two strokes

T11        Brett Coletta, 63-69-73-70—275
T11        Steven Alker, 69-68-67-71—275 
T47        Mark Hensby, 65-72-74-71—282
T47        Brett Drewitt, 67-72-72-71—282 
T47        Nick Voke, 69-69-72-72—282 


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