Under the staggered start format of the 30-man Tour Championship, Smith will start the week five shots in arrears of American Patrick Cantlay. The course and his own play clearly the 28-year-old’s primary concern rather than the pros and cons of the unique fixture on the PGA Tour calendar.

“I really like East Lake,” Smith said. “I haven’t really had a chance of winning the FedExCup. I’ve played here a couple of times and you really have to hit it straight around here. It’s very penal in the rough and it’s very tricky around the greens. These are some of the best greens we putt on all year. And if you get onto the wrong side of the hole, it’s going to be quite harsh. You’ve got to be smart and hit it straight.

“As the week goes on, I’m sure the course will play a bit firmer. Those guys playing a bit earlier in the morning can take advantage of the softer conditions. I’m just going out there to give it my best shot and hopefully walking up 18 on Sunday, I’ve got a shot at winning the FedExCup.”

"I’d love to go back to Australia. That’s the main thing on my mind right now.”  Cam Smith.

Smith claimed victory at the Zurich Classic alongside compatriot and close friend Marc Leishman this year, while he missed a golden opportunity for another win at The Northern Trust when he blew his drive well right on the first and only play-off hole with eventual champion Tony Finau.

The two-time Australian PGA Champion also got the staggers down the stretch at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Classic in his previous start to miss sudden-death and finish T5.

But the lack of an individual win has not given the Olympian a glass half empty view of his season.

“It’s been really solid. Been really consistent,” Smith said when asked to assess his year. “I think as golfers, we’re perfectionist and we always want more than what we’re giving. It’s a very frustrating game and most of us know that. Nonetheless, it’s been a very good season.”

Smith once again referred to recent issues with his driver as potentially halting the search for even better results, while also identifying an improved short game for his good play of late.

The lone Aussie in the field this week, and unquestionably our best performer of the year on the PGA Tour, possessing the chance to make Australian golfing history if he were to successfully navigate East Lake and the pre-tournament stroke deficit system Cantlay suggested was “Frankly, not a good format”.

“I feel like around the greens, on the greens, it’s probably been my best year on Tour,” he said. “It frees me up into the greens. I like to hit my driver a bit straighter. It’s been a bit frustrating over the last few months I think it’s definitely let me down a little bit. I’ll try to fix it up a little bit.”

As for the future, Smith allowed a window into his deep connection to his homeland that many overseas Aussies would share when asked what for his goals next season.

“I usually think about these things after this week. I’d love to go back to Australia. That’s the main thing on my mind right now.”