Tokyo 2020 hopeful Cameron Smith made history during his second-place finish in the Masters, becoming the first golfer to card all four rounds in the 60s in the event’s 84-year history.
Smith finished tied-second at Augusta National on 15-under, behind World No.1 Dustin Johnson who finished with a record-breaking 20-under.
Smith, a proud member of Brisbane's Wantima Golf Club, carded a 3-under 69 during the final round, backing up scores of 67 (Round 1), 68 (Round 2) and 69 (Round 3).
Smith said news of his scoring record was “really cool”.
“I honestly can’t believe it… I just put it down to scrambling and digging deep.
“There were a few times this week that I could have let it slip away and it didn’t.”
In Masters history, only six men have bettered Smith’s 15-under total, with Johnson’s -20 the lowest total score at Augusta National and the equal lowest score in major championship golf, matching Jason Day at the US PGA in 2015 and Henrik Stenson at the Open in 2016.
Smith was exemplary throughout the week and looked as if he might get the ultimate reward when he made birdies on the second and third holes with Johnson showing early nerves.
But just after his par putt on the 11th slid by the cup, Johnson’s nerves seemed to disappear once and for all and the back nine battle Australia had longed for didn’t fully blossom.
Right to the end, though, Smith dazzled with his recovery skills.
“It was pretty solid,” Smith said in typically humble fashion.“I wouldn’t say I brought my best stuff, especially the long stuff, I felt l struggled with the driver this week.
“But my scrambling – my chipping and putting – was unreal this week, probably the best it’s ever been.
“A lot of good stuff, but also a lot of stuff to work on.”
Smith became the seventh Aussie to finish in the top two of the Masters and it was his third top-five finish in majors after his fifth at Augusta National in 2018 and his tied-fourth on debut at the US Open in 2015.
Smith said his original goal today had been to reach Johnson’s starting mark of 16-under, in an attempt to force the eventual winner to make some shots.
“I knew I had to put the pressure on early. I got out of the gates pretty good but `DJ’ was just too good at the end.
“I felt as though I needed to shoot three or four under on that back nine with the wind the way it was, it got pretty tricky out there.
“I'd take 15 under around here the rest of my career and I might win a couple.”
Of the other Australians, Marc Leishman briefly rose as high as seventh on the leaderboard before the lead groups played the final six holes.
The Victorian ultimately finished in a share of 13th at eight under after a rollercoaster final round that yielded two eagles, two birdies and two bogeys among his 68.
Adam Scott finished tied-34th at two under after his closing 73 that was also a thrill ride with four birdies and five bogeys.
Jason Day and Lukas Michel both missed the cut after Round 2.
View the full leaderboard here.
