Sarah Jane Smith says it’s time for someone else to step up and help Karrie Webb fly the Australian flag for women’s golf.
Smith made an impressive start to the women’s Australian Open at Victoria Golf Club on Thursday, opening with a four-under 68 to head the local charge two shots behind clubhouse leader Suzann Pettersen.
NSW’s Julia Boland was next-best at two-under while four-time champion Webb finished her round at one-under.
Former world No.1 Webb is now ranked eighth but the gulf between her and Australia’s next-ranked female on the LPGA tour remains huge.
Katherine Kirk (nee Hull) is at 106, Stacey Keating 116, Lindsey Wright 126, Rebecca Artis 136 and Smith at 163.
“Karrie’s been flying the flag for Australian girls for a really long time and none of us has really helped her out too much,” said 29-year-old Queenslander Smith.
“Obviously Stacey and Rebecca have had wins in Europe over the last couple of years but as far as the (United) States go, Australia hasn’t done a hell of a lot, other than Karrie; I mean she’s killed it obviously.
“I think it’s time a couple of us sort of pulled it along a bit.”
Smith’s best-ever result was a tie for sixth at the 2012 Navistar LPGA Classic in Alabama.
She has started this year in promising shape, finishing sixth at the New Zealand Open earlier this month and 13th at the Australian Ladies Masters on the Gold Coast last week.
She credits the form to focusing on feel rather than technique.
“At the start of last year I felt really good and like I was going the right way and then just lost track a little bit and got a little technical throughout the year,” she said.
“I then kind of figured it out a little bit and had a good solid month before we came home with my coach and got much less technical and a bit more back to feel how I sort of played I guess as an amateur more.”
Smith is hopeful that this year she finds some consistency in her game to make a dent on the rankings.
“I’ve worked really hard on my short game over the last year and I’ve got my ball striking back so hopefully now I can put the two together and that might be the next step,” she said.