Aussie golf star Cameron Smith says he has no plans to retire and hopes the LIV Golf tour – and its popular Adelaide tournament – will continue in the future, despite the loss of billion-dollar Saudi backers, the PIF.
Smith also opened up on the intense disappointment of being in a form slump at majors for the last two years, during which the 2022 Open champion has missed the cut in six straight tournaments.
“The goal is to get back to how I was playing a few years ago and get even better,” Smith said. “That’s why I work every day and get out and try and get better.
“It’s coming. I know it is. It’s a bit of a rough time at the moment.”
Smith spoke to Australian media on Wednesday from Washington, where LIV Golf is this week staging its first tournament since news broke last week that its major financial backers, the Saudi PIF, would not continue funding the league past its current season.
The news has thrown the futures of LIV Golf and its star players into major doubt, but LIV Golf boss Scott O’Neill confirmed this week he is talking with potential new sources of funding to be able to keep the tour going, potentially on a smaller scale and with revised formats.
Having banked an estimated $190 million with LIV Golf in sign-on fees and prize money since joining as a foundation player in 2022, Smith comes off contract at the end of 2026. He turned down an opportunity to re-join the PGA Tour at the start of this year.
Media minders requested Smith not be asked to speculate on the future of LIV Golf but the 32-year-old did say he hoped the tour would be able to find a path forward with new backing.
“What I hope will happen is we play, obviously. I think we do a great job of growing the game around the world. Bringing out new fans and letting people enjoy golf,” Smith said.
“Personally, I love what we do and it’s joy to do it. I know I haven’t been playing the greatest golf along the way, but I really love what we’re doing.
“It’s just so fresh. There’s nothing really to say. I know the team are working hard behind the scenes. They’re doing everything we can for us. I’m excited. I know Scott O’Neill is really excited for the challenge in the coming months.”
Smith offered a brief – but bullish – perspective when asked if he had confidence the Adelaide tournament would be played next year, saying: “Yes, mate. Absolutely. That’s the goal. One hundred per cent.”
Asked if he hoped Australia would continue to see more international stars, regardless of what happens with LIV, Smith said: “Absolutely. I think the more times we can get kids out to junior clinics, all the other stuff we do down there, the better for the game in Australia. I’d love to have 40 events down there, I’d play it, but it’s just not how it is.”
Smith’s sentiments about LIV Golf’s future were shared by other stars in their media duties in Washington, where LIV will play its first US event of the year at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia. Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann all said they hoped the league would continue, albeit with potential to be on a smaller scale financially and operationally.
‘If I could win another major, I’d be the happiest bloke alive.’
Cameron Smith
But alternate futures on other tours were also countenanced by some players.
A bemused Smith shot down suggestions he could retire from golf, saying “I’m 32 so I’ve got a while yet”. And while he didn’t discuss where he else he could end up, Smith remains determined to rediscover his best form and win more majors.
The Queenslander has endured a horror run in the four majors – The Open, US Open, Masters and PGA Championships – dating back to the Open in 2024. Missing the cut at this year’s Masters was the sixth-straight time Smith hasn’t played on the weekend in a major.
“It sucks to play golf like that and feel like that. It’s been a rough time in the majors for sure,” he said.
“Probably early in my career I kind of hung my hat on how I performed in the majors, and it’s just not good enough. Like I mentioned before, I am just making a few changes and trying to get back to where I was and better.
“I can promise you the fire is in the belly. It’s just a matter of time.
“I want to win tournaments. I want to win majors. I’ve done it before and I think it’s been a while since I’ve been truly competitive at the top of the leaderboard. The fire is really burning at the moment. To get back in that spot where I know I can be.
“If I could win another major, I’d be the happiest bloke alive.”
While Smith has a past Champions exemption to play in the Open until he is 60, he admitted he is conscious his five-year exemptions at the other majors expire next year. With LIV Golf tournaments not counted for world rankings points until this year, the former world No.2 has a current world ranking of 225.
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Iain Payten is a senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.
