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The Open Championship 2022: Cameron Smith claims his ear of corn

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A daimen-icker in a thrave
          ’S a sma’ request:
I’ll get a blessin wi’ the lave,
          An’ never miss ’t!

Thus wrote Robert Burns, god-poet of Scotland, in his “To a Mouse,” third stanza. Thus did Cameron Smith claim his ear of corn, never to be missed, something of a small request. If this 150th celebration of The Open Championship were truly a loss, it will take us many a year to determine what sort of loss it was.

Golf is a game of dualities, duos, and duels. For each yin, there is a yang. For each Webb, there is a Sorenstam; for each Mediate, a Woods. For each Turnberry 1977, there is a Whistling Straits 1998. Golf could never be, without the one and the other. Thus it was in 2022, when the pair we thought would dominate round three, instead became the pair that dominated round four.

When Hovland and McIlroy stole the show on Saturday at the Old Course, we 100% expected them to do the same on Sunday. When Messrs. Smith and Young, aka The Camerons, drifted away along the crests of the North Sea, we mostly anticipated that they would be footnotes on Sunday. As it is with golf at Old Tom’s front lawn, it was precisely the opposite. As Hovland foundered and McIlroy struggled to find the inspiration to a 68 that would have won this gem outright, Cameron Smith and Cameron Young battled history and the present, each other and their own selves, and gave us the final major championship for younger males that we craved. For this, we must be grateful.

The temerity of Cameron Young, to open and close his front nine ’round the Old Course with bogeys, and still manage a 34. To add three birdies and an unscriptable eagle at the last, for 31 coming home, for 65 on the day, for minus-19 strokes on the week. The Old Course makes 19 under seem what it is: a feat and an achievement. Cameron Young’s third-place finish at May’s PGA Championship at Southern Hills was a marvel. His work over the links this week was more special.

You see, Young led this tournament after round one. He stayed the course during round two, and held steady during round three. His bookends of 64 and 65 are scorecards that he should nail to the wall of every home he occupies. Whether they lead to greater things, or are the greatest thing, they are more than any of us deserves, and they are to be cherished.

Even more brazen was the work that Cameron Smith put in over the final day at St. Andrews. Young was at least human with his bogeys. Smith was immortal with his eight birdies and ten pars on the day. He turned, like Young, in 34 shots. He then posted four consecutive birdies as he passed the loop, making a ridiculous one at the toughest hole on the week, the 13th. This was the hole that Bob McIntyre confessed, offered no plan to he and his caddy. And then, Smith held steady over the next three holes, somehow conjuring a par save from a place not known to the faint of heart on Road, the 17th hole.

Then did Smith drive his ball into the valley of sin on Home, where deceased remains lie beneath the putting surface. Summoning his inner Costantino Rocca, Smith calmly navigated the churning soils of the green and surrounds, and putted from what seemed like forever, to a manageable 28 inches. He holed for three, a total of 20-below par, and an ear of corn more than the other Cameron.

Recalling what was written earlier about duality, Smith is now the second mullet to win over these hallowed grounds. He joins John Daly, now known as Old Saint Nick, in the Business In The Front, Party In The Back brigade. Somehow, it’s fitting. Raise your hands to the champion golfer of the year for 2022, Cameron Smith of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

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GolfWRX’s Father’s Day Gift Guide (2026)

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A reminder from your friends at GolfWRX: Father’s Day is June 21. And as we do every year, we’re rounding up the best gifts for dad.

As we say every year, there’s no better golf-related Father’s Day gift than a round of golf with pops. Be it a country club or your favorite muni, take the time to get together to play 18 if you can.

Let’s get to the gifts.

Ghost Golf Qualifier Diamond Polo

We like the new polos that Ghost is offering, as the fabric and fit are so good. These new Qualifier Collection polos breathe well, are lightweight, stretch with your swing, and of course look great. You can wear them on the course, in the office, or just out at a casual event and they will fit right in.

Buy here.

STR8-Strip Grip Tape Remover

If your dad is an equipment aficionado and tinkers with his clubs, this tool works wonders. Removing grip tape has never been easier, just put a little head on the tape and the STR8-Strip peals it right off the shaft without any damage.

Buy here.

Why Golf: Putting Thing

When it comes to practice, it is good to have a purpose. This “Putting Thing” sure does it. We know from personal experience how challenging it can be and how rewarding it is on the practice green. This also provides some competition for your kiddo to see who will unload the dishwasher or do the next chore around the house.

Buy here.

OluKai Lae‘ahi Men’s Breathable Slip-On Shoes

Riding to and from the course in style and comfort is always a good thing. If you’re in a hurry, it’s a nice feature to slide into your shoes and get to the tee time. For the post-game shoe, at your locker or while putting your clubs away in the car. Nice to slide into a shoe that looks good anywhere. Pair that with meeting the family for dinner, no need to change!

Buy here.

Therabody Theragun Relief

A little wellness goes a long way. Keeping loose is a good way to go when it comes to the weekend game or treatment during the week. If there is a little ache or pain, the Theragun is there to help out. Help loosen up the back for a pre-game warm-up or cool-down. 

Buy here.

World Cup golf apparel

Something for the soccer dads. Embrace the World Cup fever this summer on the course with custom gear to support the nation of your choice.

Buy here.

FootJoy Pro SL spikeless golf shoes

Give the old man a break and save his feet with the Footjoy Pro SL Men’s Spikeless Golf Shoes for some added comfort on the course.

Buy here.

Bushnell Wingman 2 GPS speaker

Combine all the hits as well as some game improvement with the Wingman 2 Golf GPS Speaker by getting audible distance readings from 38,000+ courses worldwide through the Wingman 2 remote or speaker.

Buy here.

Personalized Titleist Pro V1 golf balls

The No. 1 ball in golf is a safe bet, and the Pro V1 fits the largest chunk of the bell curve if you don’t know what ball pops plays. Add personalization for a, well, personal touch!

Buy here.

 

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 OccuNet Classic

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With the PGA Tour across the border in Canada this week, GolfWRX Tour Photographer Greg Moore stayed stateside and headed to the OccuNet Classic presented by Amarillo National Bank in Amarillo, Texas.

It’s always interesting to see what the guys are playing on the KFT, and this week certainly hasn’t disappointed so far, with some incredible wedge stamping on display.

Check out links to all our albums below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

Luke Potter’s custom Cameron putter – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)

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From the GolfWRX Classifieds: Scotty Cameron GOLO 6 with BGT Stability Tour2 2022 M Edition

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @HuskerFlyer is sharing a Scotty Cameron GOLO with a BGT Stability Tour2 2022 M Edition shaft. While the putter is certainly enviable, the Augusta-inspired shaft is equally noteworthy.

 

From the listing:

Scotty Cameron Golo 6 with BGT Stability Tour2 2022 M Edition Scotty Headcover 34″ $375

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules.

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