LIV Golf Chicago: Cameron Smith Heads Into Finale Up 2 on Dustin Johnson

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Cameron Smith 2022 LIV Golf Chicago
Team Captain Cameron Smith of Punch GC plays his shot from the 1st tee during Day 2 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms on Sept 17, 2022 in Sugar Grove, Ill. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

SUGAR GROVE, Ill. – Cameron Smith posted his fifth straight sub 70 round on the LIV Golf tour and will enter Sunday’s finale of the Chicago Invitational holding a two-shot advantage.

Highlighted by back-to-back closing birdies on Nos. 17 and 18, the captain of the all-Aussie Punch GC signed for a 4-under 68 to reach 10-under par, two clear of Dustin Johnson.

“He’s definitely one you want to beat for sure,” Smith said of Johnson. “He’s been one of the best players for the last 10, 15 years, so someone to go up against and someone to try and beat.”

Dustin Johnson 2022 LIV Golf Chicago
Team Captain Dustin Johnson of 4 Aces GC putts on the 11th green during Day 2 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms on Sept 17, 2022 in Sugar Grove, Ill. (Photo by Charles Laberge for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

Johnson, the LIV tour’s consistent player in its inaugural season, suffered his first over-par score of the 2022 campaign, shooting a 1-over 73. After opening with a 63, DJ started the day with a 3-shot lead but will now chase Smith after going 2 over without a birdie on his final 10 holes.

The good news for Johnson is that he’ll be in the lead group for the fourth consecutive event. That will give him an up-close view on what he needs to do to chase down Smith and post a second straight victory.

One further back was Smash GC’s Peter Uihlein, who posted a low-round 66 on Saturday amid difficult conditions.

Peter Uihlein 2022 LIV Golf Chicago
Peter Uihlein of Smash GC walks off the 3rd tee during Day 2 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms on Sept 17, 2022 in Sugar Grove, Ill. (Photo by Chris Trotman for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

“I want to have championship tests,” said Uihlein, whose best finish this season was T3 in London. “You don’t really kind of want to have these 25 under par shootouts.

“Good, tough courses is kind of what we enjoy playing.”

Cleeks CG’s Laurie Canter (68) and Charl Schwartzel (69) of Stinger were T4 on 6-under par, one shot ahead of a trio headlined by Crusher GC’s captain Bryson DeChambeau (70), alongside teammate Charles Howell III (71) and Lee Westwood (71), who captains Majesticks GC.

Rounding out the top-10 on the leaderboard was a logjam of four more players, one further back on 4-under par, including Punch GC’s Matt Jones (72), Louis Oosthuizen (71) of Stinger GC, Torque GC’s Joaquin Niemann (69) and Matthew Wolff (73) of the Hy Flyers GC.
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Cameron Smith is just five rounds into his LIV Golf career, so he’s still trying to figure out how to balance the individual competition and the team component.

Cameron Smith 2022 LIV Golf Chicago
Fans look on as Team Captain Cameron Smith of Punch GC plays his shot from the 1st tee during Day 2 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms on Sept 17, 2022 in Sugar Grove, Ill. (Photo by Joe Scarnici for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

During Sunday’s final round at LIV Golf Invitational Chicago, the reigning Open Champion will get a crash course in the chase for two trophies.

“It’s a very unique situation, one that I’m probably not used to yet,” said Smith, who is 10 under through two rounds. “I find myself looking at the team score more than the individual score.”

Unfortunately for Smith, his 4-under score was the only one in the red for Team Punch (-4) as Matt Jones’ even-par 72 was the second score used on Saturday.

The all-Aussie team was 14-under par, one back of 4 Aces GC, who for the first time in 14 rounds didn’t use the score of Dustin Johnson (73). The three-time team champions relied on the scores of Patrick Reed (-3) and Pat Perez (-1) to reach 15-under par.

Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed 2022 LIV Golf Chicago
Team Captain Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed of 4 Aces GC are seen on the driving range during Day 2 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms on Sept 17, 2022 in Sugar Grove, Ill. (Photo by Chris Trotman for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

Smash GC, captained by Brooks Koepka (74), used the scores Peter Uihlein (-6) and Jason Kokrak (-4) to reach 13 under.

Stinger GC and the Majesticks GC were T4 and just two shots out of the money on 11-under par.


LIV Golf Invitational Chicago

Cameron Smith 2022 LIV Golf Chicago
Team Captain Cameron Smith of Punch GC on the driving range during Day 2 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms on Sept 17, 2022 in Sugar Grove, Ill. (Photo by Chris Trotman for LIV Golf via Getty Images)
Top-10 Leaders

Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 2)
1. Cameron Smith -10 (-4)
2. Dustin Johnson -8 (+1)
3. Peter Uihlein -7 (-6)
4. Laurie Canter -6 (-4)
4. Charl Schwartzel -6 (-3)
6. Bryson DeChambeau -5 (-2)
6. Charles Howell III -5 (-1)
6. Lee Westwood -5 (-1)
9. Joaquin Niemann -4 (-3)
9. Louis Ooshthuizen -4 (-1)
9. Matt Jones -4 (E)
9. Matthew Wolff -4 (+1)

Top-5 Team Leaders

Pos-Team-To Par (Rd 1)
1. 4 ACES GC -15
R1: (Johnson -9, Gooch -2)
R2: (Reed -3, Perez -1)
2. PUNCH GC -14
R1: (Smith -6, Jones -4)
R2: (Smith -4, Jones E)
3. SMASH GC -13
R1: (B. Koepka -2, Uihlein -1)
R2: (Uihlein -6, Kokrak -4)
4. STINGER GC -11
R1: (Oosthuizen -3, Schwartzel -3)
R2: (Schwartzel -3, Oosthuizen -2)
4. MAJESTICKS GC -11
R1: (Stenson -4, Westwood -4)
R2: (Poulter -2, Westwood -1)


LIV Golf Media content, including press releases, stats, photos, and transcripts, were used to produce this recap.


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