Cameron Smith announces he is to become a father for the first time with his wife due to give birth in late March 2025

A year after their marriage Cameron Smith has announced his wife Shanel Naoum is pregnant with their first child, which may clash with one of the world’s biggest tournaments he has always wanted to win.

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - JULY 09: Cameron Smith of Australia poses with his girlfriend Shanel Naoum after his win on day three of LIV Golf - London at The Centurion Club on July 09, 2023 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)

Australian golf star Cameron Smith will become a father next year after confirming he and wife Shanel Naoum are expecting their first child in late March.

The exciting family news comes less than a year after the pair married in a beautiful ceremony surrounded by family and friends at Brisbane’s Cathedral of St Stephen last December.

Smith – one of Australia’s richest athletes after his mega money switch to LIV Golf two years ago – told Code Sports he was excited about the family news and is prepared to follow the lead of world No.1 Scottie Scheffler and delay his dream of winning The Masters if his first child is born during the tournament.

Augusta National will host men’s golf’s first major of the year from April 10, less than two weeks after his wife’s due date.

Cam Smith’s wife Shanel is due with the couple’s first baby in late March. Picture: Kelly Barnes

This year, Scheffler insisted he would be willing to withdraw from The Masters mid tournament if his wife, Meredith, went into labour as he vied for the green jacket.

But Scheffler surged to a second Masters victory and his son, Bennett, was born after the event.

“We’re in Asia [for LIV] a couple of weeks before [the due date],” Smith said. “I want it come basically on the day. I don’t want it to be too close either way.

“Obviously the same with what Scottie did, if it is late you have to be out [of The Masters]. They would fully understand.”

The Masters and Australian Open are the two crowns Smith desperately craves, and he can fulfil one of those this weekend in Melbourne as he tries to tame the famed Kingston Heath sandbelt.

But after so many near misses at The Masters – he has finished sixth or better four times at Augusta without winning – Smith is hoping next year will be his time to join Adam Scott as just the second Australian to slip on the green jacket.

Australian golfers have a history winning majors shortly after becoming fathers, with Ian Baker-Finch (1991 British Open), Greg Norman (1993 British Open), Steve Elkington (1995 USPGA Championship) and Geoff Ogilvy (2006 US Open) all winning at the highest level shortly after welcoming children.

“For the moment when I think about it, it’s just really exciting more than anything else,” Smith said.

“I’ve heard it’s obviously the best thing you do. I can’t wait for the day to come along.

“I feel a sense of responsibility, and you want your kid to see you be successful. I definitely feel like it’s going to make me work harder.

Ian Baker-Finch won the 1991 British Open shortly after becoming a father.

“There are obviously a lot of events we play that are all really close together. I think there’s absolutely going to be some tough times, but the time off will be so enjoyable, it will make up for it.”

Smith, 31, will forever have his place cemented in Australian golfing history as the winner of the 150th British Open at St Andrews, but he can become just the fourth male from the country to win more than one major with another victory.

Peter Thomson won five British Open titles, while Greg Norman and David Graham both captured two majors.

Scott and Jason Day won their only major titles 11 and nine years ago respectively.

“I think about winning [another] one, for sure,” Smith said.

“But I don’t think about all the stuff that comes with it. I think the more you think about that, the more it’s in your head to be honest.

“We’ve always done a very good job of being process oriented leading into those tournaments and I feel like I’ve had a pretty decent majors career.

“Absolutely, I want it to be better. That’s because we’re perfectionists. The goal is to win as many as we can. It’s so hard to get though. To get one or two more would be awesome.”

Smith has been the torchbearer for Australian golf in recent years, and this season has played four tournaments at home, including the NSW Open at the quaint Murray Downs Country Club – built in the middle of a sheep station – on the NSW-Victoria border.

Cameron Smith was super critical of the state of the greens at this week’s Australian Open. Picture: Michael Klein

But he’s also been in the spotlight this week for his stunning take-down of the way the courses have been prepared for the Australian Open, claiming it was a “bull---- excuse” the torrential Melbourne rain was solely responsible for soft and slow conditions.

“I’ve always been a truth teller and I’ve always said it how it is,” Smith said. “I’ve been truthful to what I’ve thought about everything, every tournament. It’s just not how these courses are meant to be played.

“My agent tells me, ‘the truth sets you free’. I feel like that’s the best way to get through to people.”

While he might have taken a huge swipe before his national championship, no one can question his commitment to lifting the profile of the sport in Australia.

He even had to watch one of his proteges, 22-year-old Elvis Smylie, beat him during the final round of the Australian PGA in Brisbane last week.

Smylie – the son of former champion tennis player Liz – visited Smith at his Florida base for a week five years ago after winning a scholarship named in the champion golfer’s honour.

“I didn’t think it would happen that quick,” Smith joked of his defeat.

“I don’t do it because I want to be thought about when I’m gone, I do it because I love it and want to genuinely help kids out and make them better golfers and professionals.”

Originally published as Cameron Smith announces he is to become a father for the first time with his wife due to give birth in late March 2025