A frustrated Cam Smith declares "I'm trying my arse off" as he seeks to translate improving form into a long-awaited return to the golfing winners circle at the Open Championship.

Back at the major where he achieved a career-defining triumph just three years ago, Smith's current fortunes seem a far cry from that glorious year of 2022, when he was No.2 in the world and added the St Andrews Open title to his Players' crown.

Since then, he's made the move to LIV Golf and hasn't won any event globally for nearly two years since triumphing in the LIV Bedminster tournament in New Jersey in August 2023. His world ranking has, unsurprisingly, sunk outside the top 200.

But ever the optimist, the 31-year-old Queenslander, who's missed his last four cuts at the majors, has been working feverishly at his game and feels he's on the verge of a big breakthrough when the 153rd Open tees off on Thursday.

"It's such a weird game sometimes. I feel like I've been playing really good and not really getting much out of my golf," sighed Smith, reflecting on a difficult year which took a turn for the better last week when he finished tied for seventh in the LIV Andalucia event at Valderrama.

 

"It's been a really frustrating year; everything feels good, particularly on the range, on the putting green and stuff like that. I just have struggled to take it to the course and feel like it's now coming out.

"I feel like I'm getting more confidence and committing to more shots and maybe hitting the shot that I don't necessarily feel comfortable with, but the right shot. So that's when I play my best and, yeah, it's coming.

"I am trying my arse off, there's no doubt about that. I don't think much has been able to click from my practice to tournament play and it's not from lack of hard work; it's just been lack of commitment out in the golf course."

Being back at Portrush helps, as he believes it was at the Northern Ireland course back in 2019 when he earned the top-20 place which persuaded him he could thrive on Open links.

"This was really the first time I ever played well on a links course and I think I just went back to simplifying my game, doing what we normally do and it worked. When I fell in love with links golf before that, I was pulling my hair out," shrugged Smith.

One man Smith has been delighted to play practice rounds with is his old junior teammate Ryan Peake. The 31-year-old's redemptive tale, as the one-time jail inmate who's bounced back to win the New Zealand Open and book a dream Open debut, has captured everyone's imagination at Portrush.

"It's awesome. He's a great guy, I've always loved Peakey," said Smith.

"Obviously got himself into a bit of strife, but it's good to see him back out here playing golf for one, but also having just turned his life around. As a mate, that's something you want to see. So, yeah, good for him."