2022 Masters: Cam Smith’s late triple-bogey ruined his inexperienced jacket competition, halved his payout

Cameron Smith may need value himself the 2022 Masters, a inexperienced jacket and a big chunk of change on Sunday after a flub-filled twelfth gap. Simply moments after he gained one stroke on 36- and 54-hole chief Scottie Scheffler on the par-4 eleventh to cut his deficit to 3 strokes, Smith instantly rotated and misplaced three strokes with a triple bogey on the difficult par 3.

Smith’s miscue might have in the end determined the Masters, and it virtually definitely had a drastic have an effect on on his payout from the document $15 million Masters purse.

His first assault on the 155-yard gap got here up quick and splashed simply shy of the inexperienced. After a drop, he took no likelihood of one other water ball and as an alternative flew the inexperienced. From there, he ran his strategy nicely previous the pin and subsequently whiffed on his try at a double bogey save earlier than carding a six on the scorecard.

It was Smith’s first triple bogey or worse on the PGA Tour for the reason that ultimate spherical of the 2021 Vacationers Championship, and it got here in arguably crucial spherical of his younger profession.

He was on tempo to complete second within the match, a payout of $1.62 million, however went on to complete T3, incomes $870,000 as an alternative — a $750,000 distinction.

“Only a actually dangerous swing on the improper time,” Smith mentioned of his effort on the twelfth. “It was really a extremely good quantity. It was a very nice 9-iron. Wasn’t even attempting to go close to that pin, and, yeah, only a actually poor swing.”

Scheffler made par on the twelfth as a part of an enormous momentum swing that considerably shifted the leaderboard, thrusting Smith into third and Rory McIlroy into second. Moments later, McIlroy holed out for birdie on the 18th to complete because the clubhouse chief at 7 below on the week. Scheffler, nonetheless, completed at 10 below, taking house the inexperienced jacket and his first profession main championship. McIlroy completed second and Smith — who performed the ultimate six holes at 1 below — completed in a tie for third with Shane Lowry at 5 below. 

“I used to be clearly very annoyed after the twelfth gap at this time,” mentioned Smith, “however simply hung in there and tried to complete off on a optimistic.”

Rick Gehman, Kyle Porter and Greg DuCharme react to Scottie Scheffler’s dominant victory on the 2022 Masters. Observe & hearken to The First Minimize on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.