LIV Golf Adelaide: Cam Smith lurks while surprising name holds lead

Cam Smith during the 2024 LIV Golf Adelaide event. | Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

Australian Cam Smith is in the mix in Adelaide and has his sights set on winning a LIV Golf title in his native country.

Cam Smith had one of the better rounds of the day on Saturday at LIV Golf Adelaide, making seven birdies and 11 pars to shoot a clean 7-under 65.

That, coupled with an opening round 4-under 68, has him sitting at 11-under par, four strokes behind leader Brandan Steele, with one round to play.

“It was a good day,” Smith assessed.

“I really didn’t do too much different to what I did [Friday]. Just a few more putts went in. Played the par-5s a little bit better. It was much more of the same. Yeah, feeling really comfy around here.”

Smith should feel very comfortable walking around The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, which has welcomed nearly 100,000 excited Australian fans this week. The support he has received has been second to none.

Scenes

Cam Smith walks down 18 to close Round 1 in Adelaide #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/tHbhkkumpU

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) April 26, 2024

“I think having support like we have this week is different from what we have 51 other weekends out of the year,” Smith said.

“It’s a very different feeling. I think the support is amazing, but there’s also a lot of pressure put on you, as well, to perform. I think not only for me, but probably every other Australian wants us to do well and wants us to win tomorrow. That’s a lot of weight on the shoulders as it is, but yeah, we’re ready for [Sunday].”

Smith is currently tied for fifth alongside Patrick Reed, Dean Burmester, and Cameron Tringale. Carlos Ortiz and Mito Pereia are one shot better than this group, while Danny Lee is at 13-under, one back of Steele.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.