Heartbreak for Cam Smith as Nightmare Playoff Loss Hands Rival Shock Victory in Saudi

Cameron Smith was left reeling after a stunning comeback at the Saudi International came up agonisingly short in a playoff against Chilean sensation Joaquin Niemann.

Smith had entered the final day with a mountain to climb, but the Australian golfer produced a scintillating display that left the Saudi International crowd on the edge of their seats.

His mesmerizing charge will go down in history as one of the greatest final-round performances in recent memory, but ultimately, it was not enough to secure his first win of the year.

Niemann, who has long been tipped for greatness, stood firm under intense pressure to emerge victorious, sparking wild celebrations from his camp.

Despite the crushing defeat, Smith can take plenty of positives from his performance, not least his mental toughness and unwavering resolve.

After a slow start to the year, Smith will be eager to build on this momentum and claim his first win of the season in the near future.

Smith and Niemann both produced clutch putts on the final hole of regulation to force a playoff, but it was Niemann who proved superior when it mattered most.

With his confidence soaring, Niemann will look to carry this momentum into his next event and continue his ascent up the world rankings.