Cameron Smith Shrugs Off 5.5-Hour Open Round After Shooting 3-Over 73

1 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 16

Nearly 5 1/2 hours into The Open's first round at Royal Birkdale, Cameron Smith said the pace did not frustrate him, calling long days at major venues something players simply expect.
Smith said shifting winds were the bigger problem, with the breeze changing after the 1st hole and crosswinds making fairways hard to hold throughout the day.
The 32-year-old opened with a 3-over 73, mixing three front-nine bogeys with one birdie at the 11th, and said he would change little beyond finding "a meter" more fairway.
Royal Birkdale's 156-man field, no split-tee starts, long walks and links conditions have again slowed play, a recurring Open issue that prompted the R&A's pace-of-play policy.
Smith, the 2022 Champion Golfer of the Year, said an early Friday tee time and his 2017 Birkdale experience could help him recover after recent missed cuts at Portrush and Troon.