Travis Smyth: “I’m starting to unlock what it takes to win”  09:46, 05/04/2026

Why do you see The International Series as your “majors”?

I really do see these events as our majors. Most years, I’m not playing in the actual majors, so these are the ones that matter most to me—the big events on our schedule.

I put a lot of emphasis on preparing well for them and giving myself the best chance to perform.

The journey has been a bit frustrating at times, to be honest, but I’m just really glad I’ve persevered and finally got the win.

How do you build on this momentum after the win?

As cliché as it sounds, it’s about sticking to what I’ve been doing.

I’ve just come off a win a couple of weeks ago, and mentally it’s not always easy to back that up straight away. You’re a bit drained, and your expectations are high, so there’s always a bit of a comedown.

I’ll head home, take a few days off, then get back into it. I’ve got a couple of weeks to prepare for Singapore, so it’s about getting back into the routine, working hard, and making sure my body and game are ready. Just keep repeating the process.

Is earning a place on LIV Golf one of your goals this season?

Definitely, yeah.

I had the chance to play a few LIV Golf events in its first year back in 2022, and I really enjoyed the experience. Since then, I’ve been watching from the sidelines, hearing from the guys out there, and it looks like a great environment.

That taste of it was enough to make me want to get back there.

Obviously, the PGA Tour is an incredible tour, but living in the U.S. full-time isn’t really for me. The idea of being based in Australia, travelling the world, and competing in LIV events alongside The International Series really appeals to me. That’s a lifestyle I’d love to work towards.

Why do you call your hybrid your “lucky club”?

It just goes straight.

Even when my swing doesn’t feel great, that club always seems to behave.

I’ve got a lot of good memories with it, and it’s really versatile—I can hit it low or high depending on the shot.

Funny enough, my clubs actually got a bit rusty after some flooding at home, and the hybrid doesn’t look great anymore… but I can’t change it. It’s my lucky club.

Were you watching the leaderboard on the back nine?

Yeah, I had an idea. I saw the leaderboard around the 13th or 14th, so I knew what I needed.

The closing stretch gives you chances—16, 17, 18—if you hit good shots.

I was definitely aware of it, but I just tried to focus on hitting good golf shots and putting myself in position. Luckily, it worked out.

On the final putt, were you trying to win outright or just make the playoff?

I was definitely trying to hole it. I didn’t want a playoff.

It was a very similar putt to one I had a few weeks ago to win—downhill, left to right. I’ve been reading the greens really well this week.

Sometimes you just get that feeling over a putt, like a green light moment.

I felt like I had the line, and all I needed to do was get it to the hole. Thankfully, it went right in the middle.

What do you enjoy about playing in Japan?

I’ve always had a soft spot for Japan. From the first time I came here, I just loved it.

It’s such a unique place compared to anywhere else we travel—the culture, the food, the cities, the countryside, the golf courses… there’s just so much to like.

Winning here again is really special, and it’s great that I now have status on the Japan Tour as well. I’m looking forward to coming back and playing more often.

Has your strong start to the season changed your mindset?

I’ve had a lot of good results before—top fives, top tens—and I’d still consider that success. But winning is different. It takes something extra mentally, and I feel like I’ve started to unlock that.

At the start of this week, I actually wasn’t playing well at all. I’d taken some time off, had a poor prep, and even in the first round I was a few over early.

But I stayed patient, kept believing, and trusted that the good shots would come.

That’s probably been the biggest difference—learning how to handle those uncomfortable moments and not let them derail me. I feel like I’m starting to get better at that.