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Cameron Smith will arrive in Melbourne with an itch to scratch after falling short in a final-round shootout for the second time in two weeks.
A disappointed Cameron Smith will roll into the Australian Open full of steam after missing another chance to end his 15-month title drought in Brisbane.
The former world No.2-turned LIV Golf star finished second, two shots behind former his old protege Elvis Smylie (14 under) at the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland on Sunday.
The pair were co-leaders to start the day but Smith threw in three front-nine bogeys then lost his radar down the stretch.
Smith also led the NSW Open last Sunday before Lucas Herbert stormed home from four strokes back to lift the trophy.
The 2022 British Open champion led his Ripper GC squad to the teams LIV Golf title this season but his last individual win came in August last year in Bedminster.
"I'm just quite pissed off that I had two three-putts out there, from nowhere," Smith, a three-time winner at his home event, said.
"It would have been a bit of a different story ... three bogeys on the front nine.
"It felt like the last couple of weeks especially I've done all the right things, had a day in there where things haven't gone my way.
"Hopefully we can get through that next week. It's definitely more motivation."
Smylie's win was bittersweet considering Smith had awarded him a scholarship five years ago that included a stay at his US home.
"Helping Elvis out along the way is really cool, but he had such a great round," Smith said.
He added the scholarship was designed to give young Australian players "someone that they could talk to ... because I had a couple of years where I could have really used that".
"It was an opportunity to help really young kids," he said.
"He's on a really good track, I think. He should enjoy this win but keep working hard, because he's got a long way to go."