Cameron Smith is re-evaluating his 2022 goals after a record-breaking victory at the US PGA Tour's Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, which saw him break into the world's top 10 for the first time.
No player has been less on the PGA Tour than Smith, who scored 34-unders to clinch a wire-to-wire victory in Maui and a flawless eight-under- to clear a stroke from world No. 1 Jon Rahm. Made a card of Para 65.
The Queenslander played partner and fellow overnight co-leader Rahm (66) all day in a thrilling final-round duel and won the opening PGA Tour event of the year in style.
Smith joined Steve Elkington (1992, 1995), Stuart Appleby (2004, 2005, 2006) and Geoff Ogilvy (2009, 2010) as the fourth Australian to win the tournament.
Compatriot Matt Jones charged home at 12-under 61 with two Eagles on the back nine to finish third under 32 as he also took advantage of favorable scoring conditions on the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort.
The top three all bettered Ernie Els's PGA Tour record for equal shots, which was set under 31 at Kapalua in 2003.
"Dude, it was intense. Johnny (Rahm) and I played well all day and we had Matty (Jones) in the group in front of us," Smith said in the moments of his fourth PGA Tour win.
"Unreal round, something I certainly will never forget."
Smith made eight birdies, including 18 when he defended from Rahm, while Jones set the PGA Tour record for lowest two-round score with an even more remarkable 18 holes in the third round of 62.
Jones' rounds included an exit for the eagle on the 13th and a 4-foot eagle on the 15th as he made as many eagles for the second day in a row.
But Smith, a two-time winner of the team event in New Orleans, shouldn't be denied as he spurred his enthusiasm once again in Hawaii to add to his first individual success at the Sony Open two years ago – an event that He will return with full confidence on Thursday.
The 28-year-old is projected to jump from 21 to 10 in the world to meet one of his goals for this year, but he still has long-term aspirations to win a major and work his way to the top of the rankings. Huh.
"Obviously there's a long way to go (to get to No. 1) but there are still things in my game that I want to improve," he said.
"I've competed well in big companies and feel comfortable on them, I just need a good week so it all comes together and I'll be there."
The win set Smith up for a big year, now winning the Tour for three consecutive seasons and counting one of his most recent records in the victory column.
In November 2020, he became the first player in The Masters to shoot four rounds in his 60s, and last year he equaled the lowest putt mark in a PGA Tour round with 18.
"Obviously the scoring record is good. Everyone keeps reminding me about Augusta but I can't find the green jacket," Smith said.
"To be honest, I'm not a huge golfer. I really don't know about the record. I just set out to compete against the best players in the world."