Adam Scott urges public to celebrate Smith

By: Murray Wenzel Time published 2022-11-24 at 03:32 AM (GMT +11:00)

Adam Scott will play alongside Cameron Smith to begin the Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane and says the world No.3's feats shouldn't be underestimated.

ADAM SCOTT of Australia plays a shot during the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Pines Resort in Gold Coast, Australia.
ADAM SCOTT of Australia plays a shot during the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Pines Resort in Gold Coast, Australia. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Cameron Smith will press pause on the Claret Jug's celebratory tour of Brisbane to launch his assault for a third Australian PGA Championship.

The world No.3 will play alongside Masters champion Adam Scott and New Zealander Ryan Fox - second on the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai - in Thursday's marquee group from 6am (AEDT) at Royal Queensland Golf Club.

Since touching down ahead of his first appearance in three years, Smith has constantly paraded the fruits of his Open Championship labour.

Scott did similar with the green jacket after his historic 2013 success and says if anything Smith's magical year, in which he rose to No.2 in the world, hasn't been celebrated enough.

"It's not often that an Aussie brings the Claret Jug back to our shores and Cam's win certainly should be celebrated, not just for winning," Scott, who will reunite with caddy Steve Williams this week, said.

"At least from where I stood, it hasn't been celebrated enough that he shot 30 on the back nine (to win at St Andrews) and that might be one of the most historic back nines in Open Championship history.

"Hopefully everyone is really enjoying getting to see Cam and the Claret Jug and get to celebrate with him.

"It was such an epic victory; it's kind of all the asterisks next to a major victory you could ever want."

Staring at the silverware, Smith still shakes his head four months on.

"It still hasn't (sunk in); I still can't believe it's here, I can't believe I won it," he said.

"The whole tournament seems like a blackout; I can't remember much from the week."

Smith, who won a second Greg Norman Medal and received the keys to the city from the Brisbane major this week, will headline a stacked field for the $2 million European tour-sanctioned event.

Jed Morgan will defend his crown after shooting 22-under to win by a record 11 shots when mostly domestic-based players contested the Championship in January.

Min Woo Lee, Lucas Herbert and Marc Leishman all sit just outside the world's top-50 and will be chasing points to boost them inside by Christmas to earn a Masters start.