Australian Open golf 2017: Sweden's Jonas Blixt blasts into contention as good friend Cameron Smith lurks

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This was published 6 years ago

Australian Open golf 2017: Sweden's Jonas Blixt blasts into contention as good friend Cameron Smith lurks

By Adam Pengilly
Updated

Swede Jonas Blixt may win his first Australian Open in Sydney on Sunday after being pestered into travelling Down Under by good friend Cameron Smith, but he wants to set the record straight.

"Oh, he owes me so much," the world No.428 laughed. "He's going to have to pay back something, right? I did his interview after the tournament we won ... he owes me for life."In case you haven't seen it, after the pair combined to win the US PGA Tour's Zurich Classic, a teams-based event in New Orleans this year, the softly spoken Smith didn't say anything. Couldn't say anything.

Challenger: Jonas Blixt tees off at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney

Challenger: Jonas Blixt tees off at The Australian Golf Club in SydneyCredit: AAP

And that's when his partner and close friend stepped in, commanding the microphone after Smith offered, "um, I can't even talk" and just shrugged his shoulders at the thought of splitting the more than $US2 million first-prize purse.

The winner of the Stonehaven Cup will get almost one-tenth of that after the national championship wraps up at The Australian Golf Club – and Blixt shapes as an unlikely victor. There's been little attention or fanfare surrounding him, but his cover was well and truly blown by the time he walked off the 18th green on Saturday.

Save for ace Japanese amateur Takumi Kanaya's six-under 65, no player shot lower than Blixt on moving day, which eventuated to be really anything but.

Blixt (-7) reeled off five birdies without a blemish to post a 66, lifting him to just three shots off leader Jason Day heading into the final day.

"I hit the ball absolutely awful [on Friday]," Blixt said. "I couldn't figure the wind out and the good shots were as bad as the bad shots.

"I went to the range and had a little session with myself and kind of figured out a couple of things and it worked out today. Today it kind of clicked and that was nice."

Ironically, the 24-year-old Smith might be one of Blixt's biggest stumbling blocks after clawing ground off the leaders to inch into contention.

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His two-under 69 dragged him to six-under for the tournament, giving the US PGA Tour winner a chance to avenge last year's heart-stopping three-way play-off loss to Jordan Spieth at Royal Sydney last year.

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Asked about his US PGA Tour win holding him in good stead for a final-day shootout in Sydney, Smith said: "It was probably one of the best experiences of my life as far as getting in the moment and being in contention. And as far as being there and doing it on the circuit is a big help. It will be interesting [to be battling Blixt]. We haven't really gone head to head in any tournaments and I hope he does good and I hope I can track him down."

And Smith is sure Blixt will owe him something if he can chase down the Australian leaders. "Maybe the prize money," Smith quipped. "No, I'd just be happy for him as a mate."

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