(Kapalua) Cameron Smith needed every shot to take down Jon Rahm and win the PGA Champions Tournament.
In the best conditions Kapalua has seen since hosting this start-of-the-year tournament for last season’s winners, Smith managed a birdie in the 18e hole to hand over a card of 65 (minus-8).
Smith showed a cumulative score of minus-34, which is a tournament record by three strokes. Ernie Els won the event at minus-31 in 2003, and it was the PGA Tour record at the time.
Not only did the Australian break the record, but he stood up to the best player in the world by having the best by one blow.
Rahm, who was playing his first tournament since mid-October, went out of his way to defeat Smith, but he never had a go.
The two golfers entered the final round tied for the first echelon. Smith scored a birdie on the fourth pennant to take the lead. Rahm played 66.
Australian Matt Jones joined the race recording an eagle at the 13e and 15e holes and he landed a long putt for a birdie at the 17e. He completed Plantation’s course in 61 strokes, which tied a record set by Rahm and Justin Thomas on Saturday.
Jones took third place, with a cumulative score of minus-32.
The three players were so dominant that Patrick Cantlay closed the tournament in fourth place, but under-26.
No Canadian took part in this event.