Smith ready to carry Aussie hopes at LIV Golf Adelaide

Cameron Smith is three shots off the pace going into the final round of the LIV Adelaide event.

Cameron Smith is ready to harness the weight of Australian expectation and capture a home-country win at LIV Golf’s Adelaide tournament.

Smith starts Sunday’s final round at The Grange in Adelaide three shots behind American leader Brendan Steele (14 under).

Smith’s Ripper GC teammate and countryman Matt Jones is a further stroke back with the pair the best chance of a local victory.

“Having support like we have this week is different to what we have 51 other weekends out of the year,” Smith said.

“It’s a very different feeling. The support is amazing but there’s also a lot of pressure put on you, as well, to perform.

“I think not only us but probably every other Australian wants us to do well and wants us to win tomorrow.

“That’s a lot of weight on the shoulders as it is but we’re ready for it.”

Steele holds a one-shot break from New Zealand’s Danny Lee (13 under) while Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz and Mito Pereira lurk at 12 under.

Australia’s Jones played with Steele on Saturday and said the American would take some catching.

“I can’t see him going backwards again,” Jones said.

“We’re going to have to hit a lot of good shots and give ourselves a lot of good putts.”

But Steele is bracing for the challengers to come thick and fast.

“It’s going to be tough,” he said.

“Because there’s a lot of birdies out there, obviously – it’s kind of a race to 20-under par I think.

“For me personally, I just want to go and play as freely as I can.

“I’ve been doing that well the last couple days and if I can do it for one more day then I think I can have a good chance.”