Wednesday, 11 April 2018:
 | | CAMERON SMITH of Australia plays a shot during the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii. | |
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Cameron Smith's maiden top five finish at the Masters has inspired him to join the list of Australian winners headlined by Greg Norman at the famous Harbour Town Golf Links.
The 24-year-old Queenslander broke into the top 40 golfers on the world rankings for the first time in his career courtesy of a final round 66 which earned him a tie for fifth at Augusta National last week.
Although a share of fourth at the 2015 US Open is Smith's best result at the majors, Smith says he is just as chuffed at last week's result given the prestige of the Masters.
"I finished top four at the 2015 US Open, but the Masters is the big one everyone wants to play well in," world No.39 Smith said.
"I'm really proud of the way I finished and definitely more confident about going to Augusta next year."
Smith now turns his attention to the US PGA Tour's RBC Heritage tournament in South Carolina, where Australian golfers Graham Marsh, Norman, Peter Lonard and Aaron Baddeley have lifted the trophy.
The strategic and narrow layout at Harbour Town has typically favoured shorter hitters, which is good news for Smith given he is mid-range on the US Tour for driving distance with an average of 297.5 yards.
However, the Brisbane native's sharp iron play and wedge game will bode well around the South Carolina course, with Smith ranking 24th on tour for strokes gained around the greens.
"I'm just really excited for this week," Smith said.
"I felt as though I started hitting it really well (at Augusta) and I'll get some confidence out of the way I hit driver in the final round."
Smith's countryman Marc Leishman is the highest ranked Australian in the RBC Heritage field and will take positives from his ninth in the Masters, despite leading early on before fading in the third round.
Queenslander John Senden makes his return to the US Tour in almost a year, having taken leave to spend time with teenage son Jacob while he underwent treatment for a brain tumour.
Senden made his competitive return to golf at the Web.com Tour event in Louisiana in March where he missed the cut.
The 46-year-old Senden has received a 'Family Crisis' exemption and will be given 13 starts to earn 310 FedEx Cup points - the amount needed to finish 125th last season.
Rounding out the Australian contingent is former Harbour Town champion Baddeley as well as veterans Greg Chalmers, Geoff Ogilvy and Rod Pampling.
World No.1 Dustin Johnson headlines the big names and is teeing up in the event following the Masters for the first time since 2009.
