Cameron Smith in the dark on future of dual gender Australian Open

Cam Smith says he is in the dark over whether Golf Australia will play the men’s and women’s Australian Open at the same time again next year.

Cameron Smith does not know if the dual gender Australian Open will continue beyond this year, insisting the logistical chaos of men and women playing together made for a “long week”.

Smith, who finished his Stonehaven Cup assault with a final round one-under 71 at Kingston Heath on Sunday, has been in the spotlight all week after delivering a scathing pre-tournament assessment of the softness of the greens on the Melbourne sandbelt.

Golf Australia signed a one-year deal with the Victorian government for the event to be played in Melbourne this year, but no agreement is in place for the 2025, casting doubt as to whether the men and women will be alongside each other again.

It’s believed the agreement with the Victorian government has an option to be extended beyond this year.

Last month, 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott said the national open was “not the place for different formats”, and Smith tried hard to bite his tongue when asked whether he wanted the event to go back to separate championships.

The last women’s group of former winners Jiyai Shin and Ashleigh Buhai – as well as Australia’s Hannah Green – teed off almost two hours before the final men’s group on Sunday to allow for separation between the respective tournaments.

But by the time the television broadcast started at 1pm, the women had already played seven holes, with Shin extending her two-shot overnight lead to six strokes thanks to a spectacular hole-out eagle, while Green made a disastrous triple bogey. Neither was shown live.

Cameron Smith finished three-under par at Kingston Heath. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Asked whether all the arrangements were fair on the leading female players, Smith said: “I’ve asked that question and haven’t got any answers from higher-uppers. It’s probably unfair for me to answer for them. It’s a long week out here. I’ll just say that.”

Smith said there had been “some conversations” about the course set-up, but it was “the same again this year” with organisers trying to cater for variables, such as pin placements, which are fair for both sexes.

Golf Australia has maintained the format is the best commercial result for the Australian Open as it tries to make the event economically viable for years to come. The men and women both play for $1.7 million purses.

This is the third year men, women and all abilities players have featured on the same courses at the same time, and crowds were again strong as fans had the opportunity to watch Smith and Green on the same day.

But player pushback is mounting, with Green, Minjee Lee and Grace Kim only arriving in Melbourne on Wednesday after finishing their LPGA commitments last Monday morning (AEDT).

They didn’t have time for a practice round as wild weather closed the courses on tournament eve, and Green said the women’s event would be better placed in February.

Jiyai Shin of South Korea celebrates after making an eagle on the fourth hole during the final round of the women’s Australian Open. Picture: William West / AFP

Smith drew huge galleries to watch his final round despite the 2022 British Open champion having no chance of claiming a first Australian Open.

He finished at three-under for the tournament, a far cry from when he was humming at 11-under midway through his second round on Friday before a back nine collapse in which he dropped five shots.

He also took a swipe at playing partner and Australian PGA champion Elvis Smylie after the group was warned multiple times about slow play.

“That back nine on Friday really hurt and it was hard to get over,” Smith said.

“I was frustrated and angry that whole night. I got a terrible sleep. I was up all night thinking about it.

“It’s hard to get back into the rhythm of things. I felt like I did a lot right the three weeks before this, and when you have nine holes when it comes out of the blue – like it did – it’s just really frustrating.”

Smith played a beefed-up schedule in Australia this summer, and was a drawcard for the Queensland PGA and then the NSW Open at Murray Downs on the Victorian border.

Asked whether he would look to play as many events again next year, Smith said: “I would love to. I think I’ve got to take it as it comes.

“As everyone knows now, we’re expecting (a child next year) and that’s a big thing to do with it. That’s part of the reason why I wanted to do it this year.

“We finish (LIV) in the middle of August so there’s no reason why I can’t do one or two more again. I’ve loved doing it. Whether it’s the same two or a different two, I don’t really know. I’d love to do it again. We’ll just take it as it comes.”

Smith will jet straight out of Australia to play in the Saudi International next week alongside LIV Golf teammates Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones.

It will be his last chance to win an individual event this year.

Originally published as Cameron Smith in the dark on future of dual gender Australian Open