Aussie golfer Cam Smith wins fans over with big-hearted gesture after he hit a spectator
Aussie golfer Cameron Smith is on the nose with many fans ahead of his expected defection to the rebel LIV series tour – but one spectator at the FedEx St Jude Championship was singing his praises.
Smith, 28, had a ‘run in’ with golf tragic Blake Krassenstein, who recalled their unusual meeting on Twitter.
The Queenslander’s tee shot from the seventh hole last Saturday on day three of action smashed Krassenstein’s thumb and iPhone in incredibly unlucky scenes.
Rather than wash his hands of the situation, Smith signed the punter’s glove and went out of his way to replace the damaged smartphone.
‘A quick Cam (Smith) story from Saturday, he smoked my thumb and phone with his drive on 7,’ Krassenstein tweeted.
‘(He then) walked over and shook my hand, signed his glove for me, wrote down my cell # in his yardage book and ordered me a new phone. Unreal moment.’
Cameron Smith had to endure some flak from hecklers at the St Jude Championship in Tennessee amid his expected move to the LIV series tour
Smith, 28, had a ‘run in’ with golf tragic Blake Krassenstein, (pictured, a golf glove of Krassenstein’s signed by Smith)
The Queenslander’s tee shot from the seventh hole last Saturday smashed Krassenstein’s thumb and iPhone, with the golf fan later recounting the tale on Twitter (pictured)
In the thread which followed, Krassenstein uploaded an image of his new iPhone, as well as a text message from the British Open champion, who was ‘glad he was enjoying the tournament’.
Smith added that his new iPhone was due to arrive on August 16.
While Smith has a fan for life in Krassenstein, the same can’t be said for other members of the crowd in Memphis, Tennessee.
Smith had to endure some intense heckling from fans on the course as rumours continue to swirl he will soon leave the PGA Tour.
He copped sledges such as ‘$100million man’, ‘sellout’ and ‘LIVing large’ before eventually finishing tied for 13th.
In further drama, Smith was docked two shots from his third-round score following a breach of Rule 14.7 on the par-three fourth hole.
Smith replaced the spectators phone, and will have a few admirers after his noble act
In a Twitter thread, golf tragic Blake Krassenstein revealed his new iPhone – replaced by the British Open winner – had arrived
Smith eventually finished tied for 13th – he needed to win the tournament to earn the coveted world number one ranking
The two-stroke penalty for ‘improper placement of the ball’ was handed to Smith on Sunday after rules officials took a second look at his drop.
Earlier Smith sailed his tee shot into the water and then took a subsequent drop – but played his third shot from on the line of the penalty area.
Rule 17.1 in golf states the player must take complete relief from the penalty area.
Smith was later widely praised for ‘taking the news like a man’ and is believed to have told officials ‘rules are rules’.
