Cameron Smith has aimed a dig at critics who ridiculed his decision to leave the PGA Tour and sign a big-money deal with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series after winning his first tournament in Chicago on Sunday.
Smith made the jump to LIV last month, signing a deal worth a reported $143million (£125m) and admitted that money was the main reason behind his decision, along with LIV's reduced schedule. And after winning LIV's fifth event by three strokes to bank $4m (£3.5m) in prize money, more than the $2.5m (£2.2m) he earned for winning the Open Championship in March, Smith hit out at those who suggested he would lose his competitive edge due to the money on offer.
"I think I had to prove to probably myself and some other people that I am still a great player, you know I am still out here to win golf tournaments," Smith said. "Proud of how I hung in there today. Didn't really have my best stuff the first eight or nine holes but stuck it tough and made a few good putts coming in. It was nice."
Nine-time Major champion Gary Player is among those who have criticised players for joining LIV, labelling it a tour for players who "don't have the confidence they can be winners" when asked about Smith's defection earlier this month.
Player told the BBC : "How can you ever be a champion playing a tour with 54 holes and no cut? What sort of Tour is that? 54 holes, no cut, a team event nobody understands.
"It's a Tour for people who don't have confidence in their future. They don't have the confidence they can be winners.
"It's never going to compare to the regular Tour. No chance. They've declared war on the PGA Tour.
"I was absolutely shocked to hear [about] Cameron Smith. Here's a young man I really thought was going to be a superstar. Now what sort of future does he have?
"Will he be allowed to play in Majors in the future? Will he be able to realise this great dream of being a champion? I don't know. This is a potential superstar. I think his advisors have given him the wrong advice."
