Fans around Pinehurst No. 2 went wild for Cameron Smith’s popping ‘periodic table of booze’ shirt at the U.S. Open on Saturday.
The Australian played solid golf, navigating the tricky course to card scores of 71 and 72 to make the cut fairly comfortably at three-over - eight shots behind leader Ludvig Aberg. However, his third-round attire was what caught the eye to kick off the weekend.
Smith teed off wearing his trademark white Ripper GC hat to represent his LIV Golf team, but the ‘periodic table of booze’ polo was the highlight. Fans frantically let him know the decision to don the shirt was a wise choice, yelling their support for the 30-year-old while many had a beer in hand.
READ MORE: Shane Lowry makes frank admission over 'mental torture' of US Open as stars struggle
READ MORE: Francesco Molinari produces moment of magic with hole-in-one to show ultimate clutch gene at US Open
LIV Golf 2023 predictions including marquee signings and PGA Tour deadlockThe polo is produced by Original Penguin, a golf clothing brand known to dress their players in vibrant colors and funky prints. The white top had a periodic table featuring different kinds of alcohol across it from beer and gin to vodka and many more, which fans at home and in North Carolina thought was perfect for the 2022 Open Championship winner.
Smith, who captained Ripper GC to back-to-back team victories at LIV Golf Adelaide and LIV Golf Singapore earlier this season, is notorious for celebrating victories by chugging a beer out of a shoe. It’s unclear if the move was immortalised on his shirt.
Heading into the U.S. Open, many fans considered Smith as an intriguing shout to win the tournament given the Donald Ross-designed course suits his game. The course also resembles those that he grew up playing on in the Australian Sandbelt.
Smith also made both weekends at the previous two major championships this year, including by a tied-sixth finish at the Masters in April. However, his Thursday and Friday outings left him with work to do on moving day.
Smith began Saturday’s third round with three bogeys in his first four holes, and wrapped up a birdie-less front nine with another at six before a double bogey at eight. He made amends following the turn, carding successive birdies at 10 and 11 along with another on the 18th to end on 72.
The score leaves Smith five-over-par heading into the final day. Unless a miracle happens, or the rest of the field takes to the course having drunk each of the options on his shirt, Smith isn’t going to leave Pinehurst a two-time major champion.