2022 U.S. Open: Top 10 Power Rankings at The Country Club

Cameron Smith is high up the list of best players without a major championship. He pulled off an achievement one rung below this year when he earned the best win of his career at the Players Championship.

It was part of a phenomenal 2022 to date, which includes a record-setting win to start the year at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. He also got into the final group at the Masters where he took T-3rd. Smith played well at Southern Hills to take T-13th at the PGA Championship.

The 28-year-old Aussie’s missed just two cuts all year and has four top-13s in his last six starts.

Smith has made 19 of 23 career cuts in majors with five top-10s.

He came on the scene in 2015 and posted his best U.S. Open finish in his debut at Chambers Bay where he took T-4th.

Smith is 4-for-6 making the weekend at the U.S. Open.

What will draw people to riding with the long-locked golfer this week is his short game. The Country Club features some of the smallest greens guys will see in competition. No matter how crisp your ball-striking is (which Smith’s is), you’re going to have to get up and down often.

Smith ranks 24th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained around the green (.361).

He’s also good at scoring when missing fairways. Smith is third in strokes gained approach (.958) and is just .16 away from the leader in this category, Will Zalatoris. Smith can pull off crazy shots behind trees, out of tough lies, or around hazards.

He’s 43rd in proximity from the rough (44’).

Smith is more equipped to thrive in shootouts as he ranks first in birdie average (4.93). He can still grind it out, too, and wear down opponents with his steady demeanor.

He showed the type of resilience needed for the U.S. Open at last week’s Canadian Open. He posted 76 in round one and could have easily mailed it in the next day and start prepping for The Country Club.

Instead, he shot 65 the next day to make the cut and finished the tournament in the top 50.