Cameron Smith says his impending switch to LIV Golf overshadowed his win at The Open in 2022, and insisted the Saudi-backed circuit is going nowhere.
Both LIV and the PGA Tour engaged in a golf civil war of sorts before a shock announcement in June confirmed the two tours would be merging. Ahead of the latest LIV event at the Centurion Club, Smith said he believes the new and dynamic circuit has a long and bright future ahead.
"I really can't see LIV Golf going away," Smith added. "I think team golf is here to stay and if you asked every one of us out here, all the 48 guys, I think everyone has such a good time and everyone enjoys what they're doing out here. They love the competition and that team element really brings three or four guys really close that perhaps weren't before. It's good to see. It's unique. I don't think it's going anywhere."
The Australian won his first major at St. Andrews in 2022 and will be looking to successfully defend his title at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club when the tournament commences later this month. At the time of his impressive victory speculation was rampant regarding a potential move to LIV, which then came to fruition.
Though Smith produced a stunning final-round 64 to claim a one-shot victory over Cameron Young at The Open last year, the week was dominated by his LIV rumours, which left him frustrated. "It was definitely, I guess, a frustrating media conference after The Open," the Australian explained.
"Perhaps a little bit overshadowed that I'd probably just won the biggest tournament that I'll ever play in and someone was asking that, but as I look back on that, it's just a guy trying to do his job. I suppose it was a little bit harder from then onwards, definitely whilst making the decision. Just some nasty stuff, I suppose, said by the keyboard warriors.
"I knew it was going to be tough, but I feel since I made the decision, I made the right one." Prior to his last major appearance at the US Open in June, Smith admitted he initially did not believe that LIV and the PGA has agreed on a merger. "I guess the first reaction was I thought it was kind of a joke that had come out,” he said.
"H.E. [His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan] gave me a call and kind of explained what was going on. He didn't really explain too much. I think there's still a lot of stuff to be worked out, and as time goes on, we'll get to know more and more.
"But there's definitely a lot of curious players, I think, on both sides as to what the future is going to look like. But yeah, he kind of, I guess, didn't really explain much, but just kind of explained what was going to happen on that day, and there was still a lot of stuff to work out."
Smith will compete for his second LIV Golf title when the circuit hosts its next event at the UK's Centurion Club in Hertfordshire on Friday.
