Smith shines, Koepka triumphs as LIV stars dominate the PGA

LIV claimed PGA bragging rights after Brooks Koepka’s win and top-10 finishes from Cam Smith and Bryson DeChambeau.

Cameron Smith couldn’t help but laugh after shooting a stunning final round 65 to storm into the top 10 as fellow LIV Golf star Brooks Koepka took out the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club.

With Bryson DeChambeau also in the top 10, after three LIV players filled the spots immediately behind winner Jon Rahm at the Masters, world No.8 Smith was asked whether it was a reminder the rebels were still world class players.

Watch every round of the PGA Tour LIVE & Exclusive on Fox Sports, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

The question came with LIV players only facing no-cut, three-round events on Greg Norman’s breakaway tour.

“I gave up on that narrative about six months ago, I think,” the Queenslander said with a laugh after finishing in a tie for ninth.

“I think there’s been a few guys that have been trying to kick it along a little bit.

“We’re still out there. We haven’t forgot how to play golf. We’re all great golfers out there, and we know what we can do, and I think that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Brooks Koepka celebrates on the 18th green at the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club. Photo by Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images via AFP

Koepka snared his fifth major with a stunning one-shot victory as Norman declared his players “belong” at the majors, with their ongoing fight for world ranking points set to remain a hurdle for qualification for some.

“They belong and the majors and golf knows,” Norman said in a Twitter post.

Of the 16 LIV players at the PGA, 11 made the cut, and five finished in the top 20.

Smith conceded a longer than usual break over the summer, during which he spent a lot of time in Australia - something he couldn’t do if he wasn’t with LIV - had impacted his slow start to 2023.

Congrats @BKoepka your comeback has been impressive. I am so proud of you. As for the @livgolf_league players they belong and the Majors and golf knows. 3 LIV Golfers in the top 10, 5 in the top 20, 11 made the cut.

— Greg Norman (@SharkGregNorman) May 21, 2023

With his eyes firmly on his British Open defence at Royal Liverpool in July, Smith was confident with how things were progressing.

“It‘s starting to feel really nice. I think a little bit too much time off with the golf clubs probably has, I guess, kind of delayed how I wanted to start the year. Now it’s starting to feel really nice,” he said.

“I’m starting to feel confident with those irons, which when I’m playing good golf, that’s where I feel like I’m at. If I’m in the fairway and I have an iron in my hand, I really feel like I can be competitive out there, and that’s what I’m doing.”

Cameron Smith stormed home to finish in the top 10. Picture: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images via AFP

Smith wasn’t the top Aussie, however, with Cam Davis securing his first top-five finish at a major championship, also finishing with a five-under 65 to finish at 3-under in a tie for fourth, having held the clubhouse lead for much of Sunday.

Davis said the result was validation that “I can do this” on a course most players conceded was one of the toughest they had confronted.

“Every time you have a really good round under tough conditions, it’s just another little positive voice in the back of your head that, yeah, I can do this even when it’s difficult,” he said.

Liv Golf Commissioner Greg Norman was quick to congratulate his players after the PGA Championship. Photo by Brenton Edwards / AFP

“Even when the rough is really deep and the pins are tight and firming up quick, you can still play really good golf and make a score, especially toward the end of a major.

“That’s where I want to be. I’d love to win one or more of these for sure.

“This is just one more step towards that goal for me, a lot of positive stuff.”

Min Woo Lee also secured playing status on the PGA Tour for the remainder of 2023 by finishing in a tie for 18th.

Of the other Australians to make the cut, Adam Scott finished in a tie for 29th and Lucas Herbert tied for 40th.

Final scores

1 Brooks Koepka 72-66-66-67—271

T4 Cam Davis 71-70-71-65—277

T9 Cameron Smith 72-72-70-65—279

T18 Min Woo Lee 73-67-71-71—282

T29 Adam Scott 68-74-74-69—285

T40 Lucas Herbert 75-69-72-70—286

MC Jason Day 76-72—148

MC David Micheluzzi 76-73—149

Originally published as Smith shines, Koepka triumphs as LIV stars dominate the PGA