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An Undaunted Cam Smith Brushes Aside the Vociferous Phil Mickelson Support by the ‘Rowdy Crowd’ of New Jersey

Published 08/13/2023, 6:06 AM EDT

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The 2023 LIV Golf Bedminster event is underway at the New Jersey Trump National Golf Club in Miami, Florida. On Sunday, in the final round, fans will witness Cam Smith duke it out with Phil Mickelson! The Australian golfer is chasing his third LIV Golf win, while Lefty is vying for his first.

And while both are green on the greens, it seems like Smith does not see the 6-time major winner as a threat! When the Aussie star was asked in the interview, about the prospect of the New Jersey crowd chanting Mickelson’s name and how it would affect him, the player seemed unbothered!

How does the Aussie star plan to handle the noise?

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LIV is currently underway in New Jersey, where the crowd has always been nice and welcoming of Phil Mickelson. In an interview after round 2 on Saturday, Cameron Smith was asked if Lefty’s close relationship with the crowd bothered him since it was likely that the groups would be chanting Lefty’s name.

However, Smith’s response was quite unexpected. He brushed aside the first half of the question that focused on Mickelson and instead focused on the latter, which dove into his plans for Sunday on the greens.

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“Yeah, I don’t mind a rowdy crowd. I actually quite enjoy it,” he stated, not even mentioning Lefty’s name in his response. “I think it’s nice down the fairway, but once you’re over the ball and you’re trying to hit your shot, it’s always just about committing to your shot and doing what you have to do to get it in there tight and keep making birdies.”

The Australian’s confidence comes amid a good game that he experienced on Saturday in New Jersey. He birdied three of the last four holes. And signed off with a 4-under 67. The score allowed him to pull away from Lefty and gain a four-shot lead at LIV Golf Bedminster.

Considering his form and determination, it would take a lot of work to catch up with the Ripper GC captain. Last month, Smith won LIV Golf London. It would be interesting to see if this victory fever accelerates his win at Bedminster.

What can be expected from the likes of Phil Mickelson and Cam Smith on Sunday?

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Hyper GC Captain Phil Mickelson shot 67 and is in a tie with Stinger GC’s Dean Burmester at 9-under. The game is now focused on the three players. And for the first time, Mickelson will be playing on Sunday with the hope of winning the tournament.

During his conversation with the press, Cam Smith talked about the four-shot lead he has over the two players tied in the second position. He does not think having the lead means he has the game in the bag. The conditions can take a drastic turn, so he is just “as comfortable as [one] can be at a course like this.”

On the other hand, Mickelson’s last win was at the PGA in 2021. To mark his victory this week, Lefty will have to pull up his socks and play one of the best games at LIV on Sunday. Similarly, Cam Smith cannot afford to commit a crime. He will have to maintain the same form on Sunday as he did on Saturday, or even better. It would be interesting to see who takes the title with them.

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Watch This Story | After a Successful LIV Golf Adelaide, $400M Worth CEO Greg Norman Set to Return to Australia With Another Big Announcement

Each of these players is eyeing the title and the $4 million check that goes with it. Do you think Lefty would be able to score his first win or that Cameron Smith would find his third? Tune in to find out!

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Written by:

Manya Jain

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Manya Jain is a promising golf writer at EssentiallySports. Despite being in her early days, Manya displays a strong passion for golf writing. The majors are Manya's forte, and their in-depth coverage is her creative fueling.
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Edited by:

Sheldon Pereira

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