Australia's Cameron Smith survives meltdown on final hole to win The Players Championship

Australia's Cameron Smith has clinched a $5 million payday, coming from behind to win the so-called «fifth major», the Players Championship.

The Australian made a big charge in the final round at TPC Sawgrass: He was 7-under for the round, coming to the last, leading by three.

But he hit his tee shot into the pine needles on the right-hand side on the last and his second into the water before making a bogey five on the par-four 18th.

India's Anirban Lahiri — who had led going into the final round — had a chance to send the tournament to a play-off but missed a birdie putt.

Smith was 2-under for the day at the turn — but then he reeled off four birdies in a row to get right in the mix for the win.

Another birdie came on the famous par-three 17th where Smith ignored the option to play safe and hit close to the water on the island hole, landing his tee shot a couple of metres away and sinking the putt for a three-shot lead going down the last.

There was still drama in store.

After he hit the water, Smith held his nerve to hit his chip shot to a couple of feet and sink the putt.

He finished on 13-under, but Lahiri still had a chance.

The world number 330’s approach stopped short of the green, leaving him a 14m shot that had to go in.

He got close, but not close enough, to clinch victory for the Australian by one shot.

More to come.