Cameron Smith Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK

Australia's Cameron Smith wins the $3.6 million prize at The Players Championship

Cameron Smith sank 10 birdies to climb up the leaderboard in the final round of The Players Championship and win the tournament's record prize total.

Smith, 28, earned his spot in the The Players Championship by winning two PGA Tour events — Zurich Classic of New Orleans and Sentry Tournament of Champions — in the last year, but neither of those compare to the $3.6 million check he won Monday.

Heading into the final round, Smith was two strokes off the lead with six golfers ahead of him on the leaderboard. He shot a 66 to vault ahead of the field, although he had to come up clutch and save bogey on the 18th hole after his second shot found the water.

Smith's putting earned him the tournament victory as he one-putted nine of the last 10 holes.

The Australian finished one stroke ahead of India's Anirban Lahiri, who hit a birdie on 17 to close the gap, but could only manage a par on 18.

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