Cameron Smith reveals his reaction to seeing Pinehurst No. 2 in person for first time this week

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Cameron Smith has shared his initial impression of Pinehurst No. 2 as the Australian prepares to play in his first US Open at the North Carolina course this week.

Cameron Smith is one of 13 LIV Golf stars in the field at the US Open, with the 30-year-old looking to add his second major title after the 2022 Open Championship at St Andrews.

Smith actually made his US Open debut the year after the event was last held at Pinehurst No. 2, with the Ripper GC captain going on to finish in a tie for fourth in 2015.

Of course, Pinehurst No. 2 is known for being one of the most thorough tests in golf, with just four players finishing a US Open at the course under par. Just one – 2014 champion Martin Kaymer – has finished with a score better than -1.

Cameron Smith shares his first impression of Pinehurst No. 2

So the practice days are going to be particularly important for those without any experience of the course, with Smith one of the players in that particular boat.

And speaking on Golf Channel, Smith shared his immediate reaction to seeing the course in person for the first time.

“Mate, I love it. First of all, it’s a lot of eye candy going on, it looks so sick. The greens are probably the best greens we’ve played on, I would say close to ever, and yeah the course is awesome; everything I hoped for,” he said.

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It is definitely going to be fascinating to see how the world’s best players handle the task of playing around Pinehurst, particularly immediately after a major championship which set the record for the lowest score to par.

Smith is not going to be one of the real favourites this week, with him not winning on LIV this season and finishing in a tie for 48th in Houston. He shot +8 in the final round to fall right down the leaderboard.

But he is someone who is a wizard with a putter; arguably boasting the best putting stroke in the world right now. And those who remember his shot on the 17th at St Andrews two years ago, when he used his putter from off the green to get up and down, will certainly believe that he can contend this week.