Q. How did it go out there for you today?
CAMERON SMITH: It was pretty solid. The front nine was really good. The back nine, my swing got away from me a little bit. But stuck in there pretty good. And lots of good par saves.
Q. What are you happiest with? And if you are disappointed, what are you most disappointed with?
CAMERON SMITH: I think I'm just happy with the way I stuck in there. Really happy with where my short game's at. I feel like I'm rolling the ball really good. Just need to sort out that longer stuff. Didn't really hit many fairways on the back greens, but just need to hit a few balls and sort it out.
Q. Seems like the course is going to firm up, and it could really, really firm up. Would that play to your advantage?
CAMERON SMITH: Yeah, I'd love a firm and fast golf course. I think growing up in Australia, Aussies love that. I don't think it's going to be too windy over the weekend. So they can really kind of let this course get nice and firm. I'm looking forward to the challenge.
Q. And the last one for me, do you expect yourself to be at the top of the leaderboard week in, week out now? Record-setting fashion, Sentry. You won the whale at THE PLAYERS. You were there for a long, long time at the PGA Championship. You were there for a long time at the Masters. Do you expect to be up there?
CAMERON SMITH: I think so. I think my game's in a good spot. There's no reason why I shouldn't be. I'm playing some of the best golf of my life, and I feel I'm getting more consistent with the longer stuff. So just looking forward to everything coming up.
Q. You haven't had a ton of success here. Did you come in with a different mindset? Did you play the course any differently this time around?
CAMERON SMITH: Not particularly, no, just tried just a little bit more practice on the driver last week. This course is tough as it is. It's even tougher out of the rough. Need as many opportunities as you can get. And just tried to hit a few more fairways.
Q. Even though you haven't had success in this tournament, I know, I guess, it was seven years ago in the qualifying, after you missed the cut the first time here, how big a turning point was that to -- I guess you birdied four of the last holes to get into the U.S. Open?
CAMERON SMITH: Yeah, that was such a long time ago. That was a good experience. I think that changed my career getting into the U.S. Open, ended up having a really good finish there. And it set up a lot of stuff on the PGA TOUR. It's been a bit of a roller coaster, especially that first couple of years of my pro career. But happy it turned out the way it did.
Q. Where did you play that qualifier that year, do you remember?
CAMERON SMITH: I don't remember. I don't remember what happened yesterday.
Q. Seems like a lifetime ago, probably?
CAMERON SMITH: Yeah.
Q. And how big a turning point was that? That really changed everything, right?
CAMERON SMITH: Absolutely. Just get into the U.S. Open and then a really good finish. I needed a good finish there to keep my TOUR card. And I had a couple of, I guess, scratchy years at the start, but it's been tough.
Q. Mentally and mechanically, how close are you with your game to where you want it to be?
CAMERON SMITH: I think mentally I'm in a really good spot. I think I've got a few things to tidy up still with my longer stuff. I feel as though I'm getting more and more consistent week in, week out.
But just really happy. I think I can do a few things here and there to really tidy up that longer stuff and really stay on top of it.
Q. Why do you feel like you're mentally where you need to be?
CAMERON SMITH: I just try to hit the right shots every time. Even if I'm uncomfortable, I know what the right shot is, and I'm committed to trying to hit that shot and that's just a really good place to be in.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports