Estimated reading time: 13 minutes

ST. ANDREWS, SCOTLAND.  The song "What a difference a day makes" by Dinah Washington captures the essence of the 150^th Open Championship. The lyrics speak about "24 little hours" and for Cameron Smith the end of the third round had him wondering if his opportunity had passed -- scoring a one-over-par 73 and leaving him four shots behind 54-hole co-leaders Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland.

A tall order to face with just 18 holes to play but one he saw as not being insurmountable.

Being able to put matters in perspective -- not allowing one day's poor play to spill over to the next presented a significant challenge but also an opportunity to test himself.

Overcoming such a deficit on the Old Course had not happened since 1939 when Englishman Dick Burton mounted a similar final round charge. The odds for Smith doing similarly seemed improbable but that did not deter him knowing full well that final rounds at major championships can always be unpredictable.

But as Sunday's final round beckoned Smith stepped up in a big-time manner -- firing a second 64 in the championship earning a one-shot win over his playing partner Cameron Young. The two men both made final round moves scoring 129 between them. In the end -- it was the Aussie capturing the Claret Jug for his first major title and being proclaimed the "champion golfer of the year." 

Smith matched the lowest under-par score for a major championship with a -20 total. The last time that happened was when Dustin Johnson captured the Masters in 2020. The 28-year-old, originally from Brisbane, also bested the 72-hole scoring record at the Old Course set by Tiger Woods when winning the 2000 Open Championship -- Smith's 268 cumulative tally now one better than the previous mark.

When the leaders reached the final nine holes -- Smith still trailed McIlroy by three shots. Then lightning happened. Smith made five consecutive birdies with a putting wizardry equivalent to Merlin. When winning the Players Championship this past March -- Cameron one-putted no less than thirteen times giving him the edge he needed for victory. Coupling a Players win with an Open Championship in the same year has only been done one other time -- Jack Nicklaus accomplished that in 1978 with his Open triumph also at St. Andrews.

Smith's ending 64 also matched fellow countryman Greg Norman's final round when the Shark took the Claret Jug in 1993 at Royal St. George's. The win coming at the 150^th Open Championship also followed-up another milestone win by an Aussie when Kel Nagle won the 100^th Open at St. Andrews, He becomes just the fourth Australian to win The Open Championship along with the aforementioned Nagle and Norman as well as Peter Thompson and Ian Baker Finch.

For Cameron the combination of circumstances was noteworthy.

"That's pretty cool. I didn't know that. I think, to win an Open Championship in itself is probably going to be a golfer's highlight in their career. To do it around St Andrews, I think is just unbelievable. This place is so cool. I love the golf course. I love the town. Yeah, hopefully we can keep that trend going with every 50 years. That would be nice, wouldn't it? (Laughter)," said Smith.

After taking a late final round lead it was up to Smith to close out his pursuers. Standing in his way were the always dangerous Road Hole at the 17^th and the reachable closing par-4-hole 18th.

The Aussie's approach at the penultimate hole came up short and with the Road Hole bunker staring him in the face he wonderfully putted from off the green around the bunker leaving him a 12-foot par putt to keep his lead. He flawlessly sunk the putt.

At the final hole -- his drive was able to get near the front of the 18^th green but he would need to putt through the Valley of Sin with the pin position placed so near the frontal fall-off edge. His approach putt was magnificent - leaving him no more than just under three feet which he made to seal the triumph.

For Smith the win marked a sign of redemption in major championship play. He had finished solo second at the 2020 Masters and this past spring he placed himself into contention trailing eventual winner Scottie Scheffler by three shots entering the final round. The Aussie would limp home with a 73 eventually earning a tie for third.

Breaking through and winning a major title is no small achievement and like other first-time winners in the game's most sought-after titles -- he had to overcome past failures and see matters through. To do so at the Old Course provided a grand redemption. 

"Yeah, I think so. I've definitely kicked myself a couple of times over the past few years. To do it the way I did today was pretty cool to be back and really apply pressure, keep holing putts. Yeah, it was awesome," said Smith.

Coming down the stretch of any major event is always a twofold trial by fire -- executing shots precisely and keeping one's emotions on an even keel basis. 

"It was pretty tense. I think maybe after my second or third birdie there on the back nine, I was starting to think that I could really win this thing. I think I was three back with nine holes to go, and I really needed to make something happen."

"But, yeah, I would say those first three holes on that back nine really came to me, and then from there I was starting to get different emotions and really had to keep an eye on what I was thinking and just different shots into greens."

Saturday's poor play could have proved an anchor to overcome for others -- Smith used it as a motivator to believe what a difference a day can make.

"I think I was really frustrated yesterday with how the round went. I just really put it down to links golf. I think you really have those days on these courses where you get a bit of a weird bounce here and there and puts you in a bad spot. So, I shrugged it off pretty good, I think, last night. I really didn't dwell on it too much. But to go out there and really stick my head down and keep making birdies and keep making putts, I think that definitely helped yesterday."

Winning any golf tournament takes perseverance and Smith kept putting himself into contention knowing full well anything can happen in a final round -- most notably in a major event.

"I guess, at the start of the year to really knuckle down and try and get over the line. For it to happen three times this year is pretty unreal. I really wasn't expecting that. I would have been happy with one. Just lots of hard work and keeping at it."

Being in the position in trailing played a crucial role for Cameron -- playing both smartly and aggressively keeping his foot down on the pedal.

"I think it was a good thing that I was definitely behind. I think my mindset would have been a touch different coming in, especially on that back nine, if I was ahead. I think my shot into -- my second shot into 13 was really when I thought that we can win this thing. I think I had three birdies in a row before that, and then to hit that shot in there, or the two shots, the drive and the second shot, were two of the best all week. For that to go in, I think, that was it for me."

Now with the event in his rear-view mirror -- Smith was asked about how many beers it would take to fill the Claret Jug? 

"I'm going to guess two, two cans of beer," said Smith jokingly. He then whimsically added -- "I'll probably have about twenty Claret Jugs."

Besides his calling card being an unerring putting stroke -- Smith was quick to point out his renowned mullet hair style will remain. "I think it's going to stay mate."

The 150^th Open at St. Andrews concludes the final major event for '22. The next takes place nine months from now when the Masters is played at Augusta National. The Old Course once again provided the ultimate stage for an ending few likely ever thought possible.

Smith's opening comments during the Claret Jug presentation summed up matters ever so succinctly -- 

"What a week." 

Indeed -- it certainly was.