Aussie Smith flying under the Open radar

Jul 19, 2017 - 5:32 PM Adam Scott, Jason Day and Marc Leishman aren't Australia's only US PGA Tour stars eyeing the Claret Jug at the 146th Open Championship, starting on Thursday.

Exciting youngster Cameron Smith is happy to fly under the radar at Royal Birkdale.

But the 23-year-old also has high hopes after a breakout season in America.

"I've come here to win but I don't put any expectations against myself," Smith told AAP ahead of his first-round, starting at 9.20pm (AEST).

"I've never done that. I just come here, do my thing and see how it goes."

The 23-year-old has proven he "goes" rather well when his game's on song and is anything but intimidated about making his Open debut on the Lancashire links course in Southport.

Smith compares the course favourably to the Melbourne Sandbelt layouts and believes Birkdale plays into the hands of Australia's 11-strong contingent.

"The course is nice. You just have to hit it real good, basically," a relaxed Smith said after a "muckaround" with fellow Australians Matthew Griffin and Ashley Hall to get accustomed to Birkdale's unique nuances.

Smith earned his ticket to the Open with a joint runner-up finish with Hall behind American superstar Jordan Spieth at last year's Australian Open at Royal Sydney.

He would have taken home the Stonehaven Cup if not for a short missed putt and bogey on the penultimate hole before Spieth won in a three-man playoff.

But a fourth on his major debut at the 2015 US Open and then victory with Swede Jonas Blixt in the Zurich Classic teams' event on the PGA Tour in April shows the former amateur star can be a big-time player.

"I've had five or six weeks off now, so I'm refreshed and ready to go," said Smith, who was 55th in his maiden Masters in April and 59th at last month's US Open.

Playing with American Bill Haas and England's Scottish Open runner-up Callum Shinkwin, Smith will be the third Australian to hit off on Thursday night after Adam Bland (8.47pm) and Griffin (9.09pm).

Source: AAP