Runner-up at Augusta National in November, Smith was making his first appearance since the Farmers Insurance Open three weeks ago and two weeks spent working on his swing technique paid dividends as he used a final round of 4-under 67 to move into outright fourth position and prizemoney in excess of $US450,000.

“Just took a couple weeks off and knuckled down. Actually did some work on my swing and it paid off this week,” said Smith.

“I thought I struck it probably the best I’ve struck it in a very long time, three, four years probably. It’s nice to get back in that groove.”

Ahead of this week’s World Golf Championships event in Florida moving into The PLAYERS and then The Masters, Smith believes that if he can stay on top of his swing tendencies he can take confidence into every event.

“I get this little move at the top of my swing that gets me all unbalanced,” Smith explained.

“Just spent a couple weeks on that so I’ve just got to keep my eye on it and do some really good preparation around the golf course.”

Defending champion Adam Scott bounced back from a disappointing 76 in Round 3 with a Sunday 66 to move inside the top 40 while Matt Jones rounded out a strong week with a 1-under 70 to join Smith inside the top 10.

There were no Aussies inside the top 10 at the resumption of the Korn Ferry Tour with Victorian Brett Coletta the best in a tie for 11th.

An opening round of 63 had Coletta tied at the top of the leaderboard but it was a pace he was unable to maintain, weekend rounds of 73-70 resulting in a finish just outside the top 10.

Kiwi Steven Alker was also tied for 11th with Aussie pair Brett Drewitt and Mark Hensby in a tie for 47th alongside New Zealand’s Nick Voke.

PGA TOUR
Genesis Invitational
Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, California
4             Cameron Smith  69-68-71-67—275            $US455,700
T8           Matt Jones          67-72-69-70—278            $262,725
T32        Marc Leishman  69-73-73-68—283            $51,925
T38        Adam Scott         69-73-76-66—284            $40,455
T43        Cameron Davis   71-69-77-68—285            $28,179
T52        Danny Lee           72-70-72-72—286            $22,153

Korn Ferry Tour
LECOM Suncoast Classic
Lakewood National GC (Commander CSe), Lakewood Ranch, Florida
T11        Brett Coletta      63-69-73-70—275            $US13,230
T11        Steven Alker        69-68-67-71—275            $13,230
T47        Mark Hensby      65-72-74-71—282            $2,604
T47        Brett Drewitt      67-72-72-71—282            $2,604
T47        Nick Voke            69-69-72-72—282            $2,604
T55        Curtis Luck          69-70-69-75—283            $2,496
MC         Ryan Ruffels       69-73—142
MC         Jamie Arnold       73-72—145