Cameron Smith seemed a bit irked that he had just been asked the question so soon after winning his maiden major championship – but such is the landscape of the golf world in 2022.
In his press conference following his devastating display that saw him light up the back-nine of the Old Course to snatch the Claret Jug away from fan favourite Rory McIlroy, the Australian was asked about his links to LIV Golf.
“I’ve just won the British Open and you’re asking me about that?” he said. “I think that’s… That’s not good.”
He was asked again.
“I don’t know, mate. My team around me worries about all that stuff. I’m here to win golf tournaments.”
That’s not a no.
And a congratulatory tweet from LIV CEO Greg Norman only fanned the flames…
Smith’s stance has always been that he would prefer to stay on the PGA Tour and that money wasn’t a motivation. After winning the bumper Players Championship prize, he was asked what he would do with all that money. “I don’t know,” he replied. “I’m pretty set, to be honest.
“I’m good with what I’ve got. I don’t know what I’d do, to be honest. Maybe some more fishing equipment.”
A hefty signing-on fee a reigning Open champion would command aside, would it be such a bad move for Smith?
The likelihood is one of the 14 planned LIV events in 2023 will be in his homeland, while the breakaway series’ ongoing world rankings issue won’t be a problem for Smith, who is now exempt for all four majors until 2027.
You best get used to being asked about it, Cameron.
Meanwhile, Swedish newspaper Expressen is reporting that Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson will resign that role in order to join LIV for its newly-revamped 2023 season.
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NCG contacted the DP World Tour and Stenson’s management for comment.
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