Cameron Smith Might've Hit The Most Impressive Fairway Bunker Shot I've Ever Seen On The 8th Hole At The Masters
Say what you will about Cameron Smith jumping ship to join LIV Golf. Dude is an incredible talent, a wizard with the wand, and the reigning Champion Golfer of the Year.
Combine Smith's putting prowess with a freaking FAIRWAY METAL from the terrifying bunker at Augusta National's par-5 eighth hole, and you get one of the more improbable, mind-boggling eagles in Masters Tournament history.
I can't emphasize enough what a staggering achievement of a golf shot this is. We saw during Smith's hyper-aggressive, birdie binge to win The PLAYERS Championship last year how full-send fuck-it he can get.
Smith must've figured this was the way to spark himself amid an otherwise pedestrian showing at Augusta. To be anywhere close to contention, he needed to make a big move. And well shit, he pulled it off.
From 258 yards away, Smith had to carry it over the lip of the massive, intimidating sand trap. Easily could've failed to get the ball up fast enough out of the dirt. Oh and by the way, there are trees hugging the short, left side of the green, not to mention wildly undulating mounds. You're at the mercy of brutal, unpredictable bounces. And you know, tree trouble!
Cam Smith couldn't have given less of a shit about all that danger. I'm bummed we won't see him more in marquee events like this. Still to late to pull out of LIV? I need more quality Cam Smith golf in my life. And while this might not be the highest-stakes situation to pull off a shot from the fairway beach, the sheer degree of difficulty makes it an all-timer to me...and it is as the fucking Masters, after all.
Fellow LIVer Brooks Koepka is sitting in the clubhouse with a comfortable three-stroke lead over Jon Rahm as inclement weather rains down and suspends play. Smith's trey got him to two under for the tournament, which is still 10 shots off the pace set by Brooksy.
Koepka is probably too far out of reach for most of the field. However, with all the rain coming, conditions will soften, and scores should drop accordingly. If Smith can get that putter red hot, light it up on the back nine of his second round and vault somewhere near six or seven under par, he might be able to chase Brooks down. Smith finished tied for second in the 2019 Masters and shared third place in 2022, playing alongside eventual champion Scottie Scheffler in the final pairing on Sunday.
Anyway, check out Dan Rap's awesome recap of Friday's early second-round action from Augusta, and keep an eye on Banks' page as well with the weekend approaching.
Speaking of Dan Rap, he's tight with a guy I almost share a name with who won the U.S. Open in 2022. Matt Fitzpatrick had a phenomenal approach of his own from the trap on The Country Club's 72nd hole.
And as we all hang in suspense to see if Tiger Woods will make the cut, how about the other best fairway bunker shot I recall seeing in my lifetime.
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