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No Masters regrets for Cameron Smith

Cameron Smith has the ideal chance to put the smile back on his face after his Masters woes, teaming up with Marc Leishman to defend their Zurich Classic title.

CAMERON SMITH of Australia.
CAMERON SMITH of Australia. Picture: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Cameron Smith reckons he has no regrets over his cruel last-round fate at the Masters and is out to bounce back to winning ways with his mate Marc Leishman this week.

Smith has had time to reflect on how his chances of winning the Green Jacket were sunk when his tee shot found water at the notorious short 12th hole and he ended with a triple bogey.

But he reckons he'd have changed nothing.

"It's been good, mate," said the Queenslander in New Orleans on Wednesday, when asked how he'd fared since that fateful Sunday in Augusta.

"I've done everything I could reflecting on it. I wouldn't have changed anything - just a bad swing at the wrong time.

"That's just how golf is sometimes. It can be pretty penal, especially coming down the stretch of a major championship.

"Scottie (Scheffler, the eventual winner) just continued to play really good golf. Yeah, it was a tough pill to swallow, but I think I've learned from it, and I'm ready for the next one.

"Yeah, don't need to change anything, mate. Just keep getting better every day and hopefully get another win."

Talking to reporters on the eve of his and Leishman's defence of their Zurich Classic title at TPC Louisiana, Smith made it sound as if this fun week would be the perfect time to get the smile back.

Smith and Leishman, great friends on the tour, had a ball last year as they won the PGA Tour's only pairs event while making the galleries laugh.

The pair went out to battle to the strains of The Mullet Song - with Leishman even briefly donning a wig in honour of his pal's now famous hair-do which has earned him a serious fan club.

"I think there's a few kids in Australia who have adopted the mullet a little bit," smiled Smith sheepishly.

"I'm not sure how their parents feel about it. I've just noticed, talking to my coach, that kids he's coaching now are growing mullets.

"Yeah, it's pretty cool."

So what was going to be the pair's theme tune this year?

"We haven't decided on one yet. We've got a few in mind," Smith said, while Leishman reckoned he'd let his younger playing partner choose the anthem this time around.

It promises to be a laid-back week for the pair, successful defence or not.

"I think being such good friends helps. We don't put pressure on each other to hit good shots," Smith added.

They had such a good time, enjoying a few beers while winning the event that it wasn't clear how they'd be able to top last year.

"Win again, I guess," shrugged Leishman.

There's another incentive for them.

"Both of our dads are here as well this week," explained Leishman.

"My dad's never been here when I've won an event. So that would be pretty cool if we could do that."

The one big disappointment? Leishman still has his mullet wig - but hasn't bought it with him.

"I thought that would be a one-and-done thing," he shrugged.

"It's like telling a good joke. You don't want to tell it too many times!"

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