Watching The Memorial at Jack’s place on Saturday from the comfort of my living room I was suitably impressed to hear that Jack Nicklaus names Cam Smith the greatest chipper he has ever seen. Praise does not come any richer than this from golf’s all time greatest major winner. Australia’s Cameron Smith is now being recognised as one of the leading players in the world of golf. In a season where he won the Players’ and the Tournament of Champions, he would normally be player of the year. However Scottie Scheffler has won 5 times, including a major at the masters.
Cameron Smith Recognised by Jack Nicklaus As Short Game Wizard
Cameron Smith is a short game wizard of the highest order.
Unfortunately Cam Smith fired a fighting 72 on the third of The Memorial and finds himself 5 shots behind Billy Horschel. Horschel shot a 63 and round of the day to blitz the field on Saturday. Smith is in second spot and will need a solid Sunday to claim another big tournament this year.
The Memorial at Muirfield Village
Muirfield Village looks a tough course and the greens were a challenge for most of the field all day. It takes a special performance to win here. There are plenty of challengers if Horschel doesn’t run away with it tomorrow. Sir Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus provided plenty of entertaining banter from the commentary box to keep us viewers engaged. Ian Baker Finch and Frank Nobilo ensured the Antipodean audience felt right at home watching this premier golfing championship.
I cannot help but compare this offering with the sterile stuff that comes out of the Middle East on the DP World Tour. On the eve of the launch of the LIV Tour and its bags of blood money in search of Sportswashing I doubt whether the atmosphere will be up there with tournaments like The Memorial. Golfers taking the money like Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, and the like will be doing themselves no favours in terms of their reputation and legacy. Golf will only be the worse for it if Greg Norman’s Frankensheik monster hangs around like a bad smell for too long. It was great to hear that Jack Nicklaus names Cam Smith the greatest chipper he has ever seen.
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