PGA TOUR
THE PLAYERS Championship
Smith’s Banks Massive $5 Million Win at THE PLAYERS
Australia’s Cameron Smith pocketed the biggest winner's cheque on the PGA Tour at THE PLAYERS Championship. Regarded as Golf’s ‘Fifth Major’, the narrow one-shot victory at TPC Sawgrass, Florida earned Smith US$3.6 million (AUD $5 million). The 28-year-old’s massive payday is more than the career PGA Tour earnings of ‘Hall of Famers’ Lee Trevino and Johnny Miller. It is the largest prize cheque offered at an individual tournament in PGA Tour history.
Smith was unflappable during his final day. Well, that is until his post-win interview when the easy-going Aussie became emotional when describing the importance of winning in front of his mother, Sharon and sister, Mel. This week was the first time he had seen his family in two and half years due to COVID-19 travel protocols in Australia. The clutch win is his second PGA Tour title of 2022. Smith claimed the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January when he fired a PGA Tour record 34-under at Kapalua Resort on Maui, Hawaii. He becomes the fifth different Australian to win THE PLAYERS Championship joining Steve Elkington, Greg Norman, Adam Scott and Jason Day.
Anirban Lahiri finished outright second at 12-under. The 34-year-old was trying to become the second golfer from India to win a PGA Tour event after Arjun Atwal at the 2010 Wyndham Championship. Lahiri began the final round with a one-shot lead. The two-time winner on the European Tour closed with a 3-under 69 to become the first third-round leader in 16 years at THE PLAYERS to break 70 in the final round.
England’s Paul Casey ended in solo third place one shot further back at 11-under. The 44-year-old began the event with a triple bogey at his opening hole during the first round. Casey, who was searching for first win on the PGA Tour since the 2019 Valspar Championship, carded a final round 3-under 69 for his third top 10 result in 12 starts at THE PLAYERS.
This was the first THE PLAYERS Championship since 1994 without either Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson. Kevin Kisner was the best-placed of the Americans in the strongest field of the season, which included 48 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking. Kisner shot a final round 4-under 68 to get to 10-under and finish outright fourth. Compatriot Keegan Bradley rounded out the top 5. The 2011 PGA champion was hoping to become the second lowest world ranked player to win this event after Craig Perks won in 2002 ranked 203. Bradley, the world No. 86, finished bogey and double bogey to post a 4-under 68 to end at 9-under.
Smith carded a final round 6-under 66 to reach 13-under at the infamous stadium course. His final round was dramatic to say the least. The most important 18 holes of his burgeoning career included just four pars! Smith posted four bogeys including three consecutive dropped shots to complete his opening nine holes. And, he lost a shot at the 72nd hole after finding the water with his second shot. After taking a penalty drop, Smith pitched from 58 feet to just three feet of the hole to keep the damage to one dropped shot. He held a two-shot lead over Lahiri at the time. On the flip side, Smith poured in 10 birdies to equal the most birdies in any round at THE PLAYERS. Renowned as one the game’s best putters, Smith rolled in eight one-putts over his closing nine holes. Remarkably, he made 42 one-putts for the week. His shot of the day came at the par 3, 17th hole when he landed his approach to the island green to just four feet of the pin.
Speaking of the famous 17th hole, Shane Lowry produced an ace at the island green during his third round. The Irishman became the 10th golfer in the history of THE PLAYERS to achieve a hole-in-one at the stunning green.
Dustin Johnson tied the course record with a final round 9-under 63. It was the ninth time that number was recorded in THE PLAYERS history. The world No. 9 came home in 29 shots including a hole-out eagle from 67 yards at his final hole (9th) to finish at 7-under for the event and in a tie for 9th place.
Defending champion Justin Thomas was hoping to become the first back-to-back winner in the history of THE PLAYERS Championship. The 28-year-old American signed for a final round even par 72 to finish at 3-under and in a tie for 34th place.
Large paydays are on offer for the golfers who made the cut. The top 11 finishers will bank more then US$500,000. Everyone inside the top 36 will receive a six-figure cheque. And, last place will earn US$46,000—similar to the sum Jack Nicklaus earned for winning the first THE PLAYERS Championship back in 1974.
The PGA Tour remains in Florida for next week’s Valspar Championship staged at Innisbrook Resort. America’s Sam Burns is the defending champion.
Final Scores
THE PLAYERS Championship
1. Cameron Smith -13
2. Anirban Lahiri -12
3. Paul Casey -11
4. Kevin Kisner -10
5. Keegan Bradley -9
T6. Harold Varner III -8
T6. Russell Knox -8
T6. Doug Ghim -8
Other Australians
T68. Lucas Herbert +7
MC. Jason Day
MC. Marc Leishman
MC. Cam Davis
MC. Matt Jones
MC. Adam Scott
Photo credit: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
