Cameron Smith posted a career-best 62 in Round 1 of the RBC Heritage to lead Stewart Cink by one shot after Thursday's action.
Smith put on a short-game and putting clinic at Harbour Town Golf Links. The Aussie ranks first in strokes gained: around the green and third in putting after 18 holes, which helped him secure the early lead at 9-under par.
"Everything just came together," Smith said, according to ASAP Sports. "It was a great day on the green. I was hitting my irons really good. I had lots of good looks, and I just took advantage of them."
Smith's career-low round on the PGA TOUR comes after he finished tied for 10th at the Masters last week.
Cink carded a stellar 8-under 63 in the morning wave, which gave him the clubhouse lead for the majority of the day. The 47-year-old, who's a two-time winner at Harbour Town, finished tied for 12th at Augusta and won the Safeway Open to kick off the 2020-21 season in September.
Here's how the top of the leaderboard stands after Day 1:
| Place | Player | To Par | R1 Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cameron Smith | -9 | 62 |
| 2 | Stewart Cink | -8 | 63 |
| T3 | Matt Wallace | -6 | 65 |
| T3 | Collin Morikawa | -6 | 65 |
| T5 | Charles Howell III | -5 | 66 |
| T5 | Billy Horschel | -5 | 66 |
| T5 | Harold Varner III | -5 | 66 |
Daniel Berger is part of a nine-way tie for eighth at 4-under par.
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson shot 70 and defending champion Webb Simpson signed for an even-par 71.
