After all the storms, game breaks and hacked days, The Players Championship finally came to an end. And the winner was 28-year-old Cameron Smith who won a battle ahead of Indian Anirban Lahiri, which the Australian’s fiery putting largely contributed to.
The victory in The Players is Smith’s fifth on the PGA Tour and his biggest of his career.
Victory checks? $ 3.6 million, corresponding to SEK 32.8 million.
On the greens, Smith was almost indomitable and showed that he is one of the world’s absolute best putters. On the last lap he had 13 single-putters and five two-putters. He earned 4,158 strokes in putting compared to the rest of the field, according to Strokes gained statistics.
Before the final round, he was two strokes behind leading Lahiri. Smith went around 66 strokes, six under par on the lap and 13 under par in total. Lahiri had the chance to take the competition to special play with a birdie on the last hole but it was par for the Indian, which made Cameron Smith win by one stroke. This after impressive saves on holes 16 and 18 where Smith could have lost a lot after misses from the tee, as well as a subsequent water visit on the closing hole.
– It feels incredible. These are one of the big ones and it feels good to get it done. I have felt that winning one of the big competitions has been the next step for me. I have knocked on the door a few times, this time it was my turn, Cameron Smith said afterwards.
He has now won twice this year and will most likely advance from his tenth place in the world rankings.
Alex Norén, who was the only Swede who passed the qualifying limit, played his last lap. Norén went three under and climbed 18 places. He finished a total of four under par in a split 26th place.
The Players Championship
1. Cameron Smith, -13, SEK 32.8 million
2. Anirban Lahiri, -12, SEK 19.9 million
3. Paul Casey, -11, SEK 12.6 million
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D26. Alex Norén, -4, SEK 1.3 million
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70. Lee Hodges, +9, SEK 374,000 (last of those who passed the qualifying limit.)
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Golf Sweden
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Eric Franzén
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Golf Sweden
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Olof Åsgård
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The Players
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Olof Åsgård
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The Players
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Swedish Golf
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Text: Olof Åsgård • 2022-03-15
Tournytt • Alex Norén • Anirban Lahiri • Cameron Smith • PGA Tour • The Players Championship • Tournytt
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