Cam Smith has extra motivation after 'unacceptable' display and LIV Golf drought

Cameron Smith has confessed that last year's "unacceptable" performance is fueling his ambition to secure a fourth BMW Australian Championship title.

Smith, who previously won the Joe Kirkwood Cup in 2017, 2018 and 2022, missed the cut by nine shots last year after rounds of 73 and 78 at Royal Queensland Club.

He emotionally stated at the time: " has been so good to me, there's no reason to perform like that. Unacceptable." is keen to avoid a similar display in his hometown of Brisbane, where fellow Aussie Min Woo Lee will be defending his title.

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Smith admitted: "I think just preparation last year, just got a little bit lazy, finished a couple months early and really didn't do much golfing. Did a little bit here and there, but I guess the time spent out on the range and on the golf course just wasn't there. And it really showed in how I played first week back, so a lot has changed since then.

"A lot more motivation, probably even more motivation to get out here and do a better job this year. And I feel like I've been prepping really hard and doing all the right stuff to compete this week and be in contention."

"It was completely disappointing to play how I did last year. It was terrible. It was a terrible feeling. I think being a Brisbane boy probably even hurt a little bit more and it's not very often I get to play in front of a home crowd."

Despite not clinching a win on the LIV Golf Tour this year, Smith arrives this week fresh from a tie for second in the Ford NSW Open and a shared third-place finish at the Queensland PGA Championship. Smith expressed his eagerness to triumph, saying: "I'd love for my first win (of 2024) to come here.

"I would've loved for it to come a little bit earlier. I feel like maybe a little bit of added pressure with some tournaments running out. I feel like my game is in a really good spot. I feel like I've done all the prep, I've done the things I've needed to do - particularly last month - to really be competitive.

"The only thing I want as a competitor is to be in contention on Sunday and I've been fortunate enough to do that the last couple of weeks, just haven't quite got across the line."