Scott soars as Smith suffers PGA setback

Darren Walton | August 15, 2022

Adam Scott briefly claimed the clubhouse lead as Cameron Smith’s bid to win the FedEx St Jude Championship and become golf’s world No.1 hit a major setback even before he teed off in the final round.

Scott’s four-under-par 66 vaulted him to the top of the leaderboard at 11 under midway through the final round in Memphis on Sunday and sealed his participation in next week’s BMW Championship, the second event of the PGA Tour’s FedExCup playoffs.

Smith, though, was labouring four shots off the pace after copping a cruel, retrospective two-stroke penalty for playing a ball from the wrong place on the fourth hole in round three.

After finding the water on the par-three, Smith took a drop and incorrectly played his third shot with his ball touching a hazard line.

Officials handed Smith the penalty after the world No.2 admitted he wasn’t aware he wasn’t allowed to play the ball with it touching the red line.

Instead of starting Sunday two shots behind JJ Spaun, Smith began four strokes back at nine under in a tie for 14th.

He made a birdie at the first but a bogey on the ninth hole left Smith trailing American leader Will Zalatoris by four heading to the 10th tee.

A statement from the PGA Tour read: “Prior to the start of the final round of the FedEx St Jude Championship, Cameron Smith was assessed a two-stroke penalty for a breach of rule 14.7 (playing ball from the wrong place) on hole number four during the third round as he was operating under rule 17.1 (when ball is in penalty area).

“Smith’s score has been adjusted and he will begin the final round at 201 (-9). Final-round pairings will not be adjusted.”

Smith, who won his first major championship at last month’s 150th British Open at St Andrews, would replace Scottie Scheffler at the top of the rankings if he wins on Sunday after the American missed the halfway cut.

The Australian has been the focus of huge interest all week over reports – which he’s chosen to avoid talking about – linking him as the latest player to join Saudi-funded LIV Golf after the FedEx Cup playoffs.

While Scott held the clubhouse lead for about half an hour after his final round, the former No.1 was eventually overtaken by Lucas Glover at 12 under, with several other players also out on the course in front of him.

Still, after starting the day in 77th spot on the FedExCup standings, Scott was projected to soar to 45th, ensuring his place in the 70-player BMW Championship.