Australian Cameron Smith has put his hand up as a potential dark horse for the US Open at Shinnecock Hills, buoyed by his growing credentials on the major championship stage.
Smith made his major debut at the 2015 US Open at Chambers Bay, where he bagged a share of fourth.
With three years of experience on the US PGA Tour under his belt and a tie for fifth at the recent Masters at Augusta National, the 24-year-old says he is ready to step up.
"I love the majors, I love the experience and I love playing tough golf courses," Smith told AAP.
"It's the comfort I have developed over time playing with these top players every week on the PGA Tour."
The Queenslander says he'll draw inspiration his sensational finish to the 2015 US Open, when he scored an eagle on the final hole.
World No.42 Smith has also enjoyed superb results on the US Tour this season, with five top-six results including the Masters and the WGC-Match Play.
"Yeah for sure, I've got that experience from 2015 to feed off, but I've also played a lot of good golf in the first half of this year, so I'm feeling pretty good," Smith said.
Smith, who won the Australian PGA Championship in December, has welcomed the brutal test Shinnecock Hills is likely to dish up competitors.
"It's going to be really tough; this is a course where you really need to control your irons which is right up my alley and have a really good short game," Smith said.
Smith's countryman and world No.14 Marc Leishman says the closely-mown areas around the greens will suit the nine-man Australian contingent.
"Yes, 100 per cent; not having the long, hack-out rough around the greens definitely gives an advantage to the Australians and the Europeans because we've grown up chipping off tight lies," Leishman said on Wednesday.
"But it's still really difficult and you have to be missing in the right spots to have easier par saves."
Share
