Defending Sony Hawaiian Open champ, Cameron Smith has vowed to stick with the ‘Mullet’. What’s the Mullet I hear you say? No, it’s not a fish but an 1980’s style of haircut but definitely not your basic ‘short-back-and-sides’ cut. Of all the lockdown fashion cliches, few could have predicted the mullet. The hairstyle, known for its ‘business-on-top’ and ‘party-at-the-back’ shape is emblematic of all things ’80’s style.
The ‘mullet’ has taken off big-time in Smith’s native Australia and is very popular among rugby league players with the sport played in the Australian states of New South Wales, Queensland and one team based in Melbourne, Victoria. The haircut has also grown plenty of supporters among the rival Aussie Rules players with the sport strong in the states of Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
Smith was not surprised when asked about the haircut by fellow Aussie Ben Everill from PGA Tour.com during his pre-tournament press conference in Hawaii when asked to reveal what is the mullet.
“How did I know you were going to ask that?” said Smith in breaking out laughing. “It just came around, I saw a few of the rugby league boys at home doing it. It was a great time to do it during quarantine, just something fun. Make people have a laugh about it. I’ve just kind of kept it going.
“I’ve almost turned it into my good luck charm. It is not bad. I think it needs a little bit of a trim at the front. I’d really like to go full business at the front and party at the back. But maybe within the next couple months, it might change up a little bit.”
Smith captured a first ‘individual’ title 12 months ago in the US 50th State, holing an 8-foot birdie putt on the final hole to force a playoff against a faltering American Brendan Steele before winning the rain-soaked event with a two-putt par from 10 feet on the first extra hole.
However, it was last November when the now 27-year old Smith really stamped his presence becoming the first player in the history of the Masters to shoot four rounds in the 60s at Augusta National. Smith posted rounds of 67, 68, 69 and 69 to finish joint second, five shots behind American Dustin Johnson. It led to Smith also being asked what he felt he had learned about his game since November’s Masters.
“I think the biggest thing for me is just getting back to that longer stuff,” he said. “I feel as though my short game and my putting is in a really good spot. I feel like I can make the putts when I need to make the putts. I just need to hit it closer, basically.”
And in speaking of the Masters, the current World No. 29 was asked his reaction to Augusta National Chairman, Fred Ridley announcing earlier Tuesday that there will be a limited number of patrons allowed to attend next April’s Masters.
“It’s encouraging for the future, absolutely,” he said. “We miss the fans out here every week. I mean, I feel as though the atmosphere around there was obviously down this year. It’s such a unique place in that you can hear everything that’s going on throughout the whole course. I think if we get a few out there, it will definitely make a difference.”
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