Sports

Cameron Smith has claret jug, now eyes No. 1 in world

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — J.J. Spaun did simply sufficient proper on the finish to trend a 2-under 68 and hold his one-shot lead Saturday within the FedEx St. Jude Championship with a well-recognized identify lurking.

At stake for Cameron Smith is No. 1 on the planet.

Already a banner 12 months together with his first main on the British Open, and beneath heavy scrutiny for stories that he’s headed to Saudi-funded LIV Golf, Smith birdied his final gap for a 67. That left him two pictures behind and totally conscious a victory strikes him to No. 1 on the planet.

“That is been considered one of my targets in all probability because the begin of the 12 months is to attempt to get to that high spot,” Smith stated. “Attempt to chase it down.”

The chase will begin out in a site visitors jam.

Spaun had a two-putt birdie on the par-5 sixteenth and holed an 18-foot birdie putt on the following gap to assert the 54-hole lead a 13-under 197.

Sepp Straka was proper there with him till he failed to avoid wasting par from the bunker on the 18th for a 68 that left him one shot behind. Each are first-time winners on the PGA Tour this 12 months, and a victory in a FedEx Cup playoffs even carries much more weight — $2.7 million to the winner and a assured spot at East Lake for the FedEx Cup finale.

Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 participant on the planet and within the FedEx Cup since March, missed the minimize. That paves the best way for Smith, whose three wins this 12 months embody The Gamers Championship, to achieve No. 1 if he have been to win.

Will Zalatoris is simply as hungry, for various causes. Zalatoris has been a troublesome buyer within the majors, shedding in a playoff on the PGA Championship and ending one again within the U.S. Open. He’s No. 14 on the planet. And he has but to win on the PGA Tour.

Zalatoris opened with a 71 that put him in such a gap that even his fiancee wished to know their plans if he did not make it to the weekend.

“I advised her, ‘Let’s cross that bridge when he get there,’” Zalatoris stated with a smile. He determined to let his new caddie, Joel Inventory, learn putts of their second official spherical collectively. Zalatoris shot a 63 and adopted with a 65 on Saturday.

He additionally was two behind, together with Trey Mullinax (66).

The highest Canadian after three rounds is Adam Svensson of Surrey, who’s tied for twenty ninth at six beneath. Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., is one stroke again and tied for thirty sixth. Mackenzie Hughes of Hamilton, Ont., is tied for 58th at two beneath, whereas Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. is tied for sixty fourth at even par. Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., is 68th at 2 over.

As for the chase to the following playoff occasion, contemplate Tyler Duncan. He’s No. 118 within the FedEx Cup, and solely the highest 70 transfer on to the BMW Championship subsequent week in Delaware. Duncan had a 67 and was tied for sixth. He was three behind, and even when he does not win, he can transfer on if he can maintain his place.

That will not be straightforward with so many gamers within the combine — 16 gamers separated by 4 pictures. That group contains Sam Burns and Tony Finau. A winner in his final two begins, Finau ended his streak of 11 consecutive rounds at 68 or decrease. He made a bogey on the final gap gave him a 69, leaving him 4 behind.

Nobody stands out like Smith, for thus many causes. Not solely is it his first begin since being launched at St. Andrews because the “champion golfer of the 12 months,” the Each day Telegraph reported on Tuesday that he had signed with LIV and would be a part of the defectors outdoors Boston after the Tour Championship is over.

Smith has steadfastly refused to speak about it, solely to say he is solely considering of the FedEx Cup.

“I’m a person of my phrase and everytime you guys must know something, it’ll be stated by me,” Smith stated Tuesday. That was shortly earlier than a California federal choose denied a request by three LIV golfers to play within the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Distractions aren’t a difficulty, and there’s no scarcity of them.

“There’s undoubtedly been a couple of extra, however for me, I’m simply attempting to hit the most effective shot I can,” Smith stated. That’s what I’m right here to do is to hit good golf pictures and make birdies.”

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Extra AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Doug Ferguson, The Related Press



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