Cameron Smith fell just short of second LIV win in a playoff loss to Dustin Johnson

Just hours after Jason Day won for the first time in five years, fellow Queenslander Cam Smith narrowly missed a big victory of his own.

Cameron Smith lost a playoff to Dustin Johnson. Picture: Ian Maule/Getty Images/AFP

Cameron Smith blitzed the final round of the LIV Golf event in Tulsa, coming from six shots off the lead to force his way into a playoff for a $6m payday.

But after Dustin Johnson, who had led for most of the event, nailed a birdie putt on the first playoff hole, Smith pushed his own 5m attempt right as the American sealed his second LIV Golf win.

Smith, who carried the burden of expectation and finished third in Adelaide as his best finish of what had been a stuttering 2023, was brilliant on the final day in Oklahoma.

The Queenslander nailed nine birdies in a flawless round of 61, including a clutch birdie on the final hole to give him the clubhouse lead at 17-under.

Four birdies in a row to take the lead! What a stretch for Cam Smith 🐤🐤🐤🐤#LIVGolf@rippergc_pic.twitter.com/S8wejz8S3h

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) May 14, 2023

South African Brandon Grace joined him on that score on the 17th hole and then Johnson did the same with the final putt of regulation play, sending the three men into a playoff.

Grace was the first man eliminated when Johnson made another huge birdie putt, with the focus then on Smith.

But then with the opportunity to extend the playoff into a second hole, Smith’s putt never looked like going in and Johnson was crowned the fifth LIV winner for 2023.

“Yeah, just kind of went right on me and didn’t really come back,” Smith said.

“I thought it was pretty good, and yeah, just kind of didn’t come back. It came back after the hole. I had holed a lot of putts today, so yeah, can’t really be angry at the greens.

“I mean, it was really good stuff, but still just a little bit disappointing..”

Having finished third in Adelaide then sixth in Singapore and now runner-up in Oklahoma in his past three events, Smith is primed to contend at this week’s PGA Championship at Oak Hill.

He’s one of 18 LIV golfers, including 2021 champion Phil Mickelson, who will play in the second major of the year.

Originally published as Cameron Smith fell just short of second LIV win in a playoff loss to Dustin Johnson