Cameron Smith slams unfair bans after $100m LIV defection saying PGA needed to be stirred up

Cameron Smith has made no secret that money was the driving force in him joining golf’s rebel league and now the Aussie has taken aim at critics of the circuit created by “his idol”.

Cameron Smith has joined the LIV Tour.

Greg Norman’s Saudi-backed golf tour is the future of the sport, Australian star Cameron Smith has declared in defending his reported US$100m deal to join the rebel circuit.

The world number two, speaking for the first time since defecting to LIV Golf, said it was “unfair” players joining the tour were locked out of major championships but that it was time for the PGA Tour to be “stirred up”.

And while he admitted money was a factor in his “business decision”, Smith said he was also excited to spend more time at home in Australia and to be part of a more laidback format targeting younger fans.

Smith bristled in the aftermath of his stunning British Open victory in July when he was grilled over whether he planned to join LIV, which is bankrolled by Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund in what critics say is a “sportswashing” effort to distract from the regime’s human rights violations.

But golf’s worst-kept secret was finally confirmed this week, with Smith revealing he had been in talks with LIV for a couple of months.

He said Norman had lobbied him in a series of discussions about the breakaway league the Australian legend had been plotting since the 1990s.

“He’s the idol – he’s someone that I’d always listen to,” Smith said, having played in Norman’s junior foundation until he was 18.

Cameron Smith of Australia plays his shot from the 17th tee during the second round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club

While the PGA Tour has been trying to shake up its format in recent weeks to combat LIV – which has also signed major winners including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka – Smith said there was nothing they could have done to keep him.

He revealed top players and even PGA commissioner Jay Monahan reached out in an effort to keep him, and while there had been “a lot of stuff up in the air” in recent weeks, he was “really excited” to be joining LIV.

“This is a new kind of chapter in my life,” Smith said. “I think this is the future of golf. I love how it is out here.”

“I think it needs to change, particularly as our golf fans become younger. I think we need to do something to make it exciting for them.”

“I think it’s been the same for a very, very long time and it needs to be stirred up a little bit.”

A key factor in Smith’s decision was the promise of an LIV tournament in Australia.

“We’re working on it … I think it would be awesome for Australian golf,” he said.

“To bring this new exciting format to Australia I think will be embraced.”

CALLING OUT THE BAN

Smith spoke to reporters in the leadup to this weekend’s LIV event in Boston with fellow Australian Marc Leishman, who also officially signed on this week.

The pair were both critical of the fact that players in LIV events could not accrue world ranking points to secure their place in major championships.

“As far as the majors and all that go, I think it could potentially hurt them having some guys potentially miss out because they’re not offering world ranking points here,” Leishman said.

“As a golf fan, that’s hard for the top tournaments, but hopefully that sorts itself out.”

While Smith has a five-year free pass to the majors as a result of his British Open victory, he also argued the rules were “unfair” on fans and “really a shame” for players.

“I hope that these world ranking points will sort themselves out before my exemption is up,” he said.

The pair will be part of an Australian squad in LIV’s new team format, which Smith said also influenced his decision to leave the PGA Tour.

After arriving in Boston, he said he had enjoyed the music playing on the course, shaking up golf’s typically reserved atmosphere.

But he said spending more time at home was what ultimately helped make up his mind.

“I haven’t been back in Australia for three years,” Smith said.

“To spend more time at home, not missing out on friends’ and families’ weddings, a couple of my friends have had kids over the last four or five years that I still haven’t met, so that’s going to be a part of my life I can’t wait to get back.”

Leishman acknowledged joining the rebel tour would lead to criticism but he said he believed the reception was “overwhelmingly … going to be pretty positive in Australia”.

“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion,” he said.

“As much as they’re entitled to that, we’re entitled to make a decision that’s in our best interests.”

“You deal with that criticism the best you can, and try to block it out to be honest.”

He said Norman was also his childhood idol, and that his personal pitch for him to join the breakaway series “made a huge difference”.

Their introductory press conference also featured several bizarre moments, with American reporters repeatedly questioning Smith about his mullet and one even asking if he would use his LIV pay cheque to team up with Norman and “buy Australia”, a question he avoided answering.

Cameron Smith’s legacy is not in danger, his long-time coach says.

SMITH LIV SWITCH HAILED GAME CHANGER FOR AUSSIE GOLF

By Brent Read

Cameron Smith’s long-time coach has hailed the Open champion’s switch to Greg Norman’s Saudi-backed rebel tour as a win for Australian golf and predicted the move will only enhance his legacy.

Smith was confirmed as LIV Golf’s star recruit on Tuesday night along with fellow Australian Marc Leishman, the pair turning their back on the US PGA Tour to join Norman’s rebel league.

Smith admitted money played a part in his decision – he was reportedly paid upwards of $US100 million – but he also insisted he was motivated by the opportunity to spend more time in Australia and play on home soil.

Grant Field, who began coaching Smith more than a decade ago, says Smith’s decision will be a win for Australian golf as Norman and LIV officials look to capitalise on his signing by playing more golf in Australia.

He also revealed that Smith was aware he could miss future majors and that was part of his consideration before he made the leap across golf’s great divide.

“Whilst a lot of people won’t think there is anything (in it) bar money, he is quite a passionate Queenslander and Australian and he wants to be home,” Field said.

“This gives him that opportunity as well. I think it will be great for Australian golf. While some people won’t agree with it, (he has) the ability to do things now in things other than golf.

Cameron Smith’s long-time coach says his LIV Tour switch will be great for Australian golf.

“He will be able to help a lot of people. I think you will see a lot of good come out of it. I hear a lot of comments about how he will lose his competitive edge.

“He will compete with you in a game of ping pong. The thing is most of those guys at the top have oodles of money. They are at that level for a reason and it is not because they don’t compete or try hard.

“I don’t buy into the claim that it will affect his golf. He will continue to work hard. He still has other goals he wants to meet. As he said, it was too good an opportunity to pass up.

“His legacy will be helping a lot of other people. Just winning tournaments isn’t necessarily leaving a legacy.”

Smith became arguably LIV Golf’s biggest scalp when he signed on the dotted line given he is the holder of the Claret Jug and the No. 2 player in the world.

His decision will come with scrutiny and criticism given the claims that LIV Golf is merely a haven for sport washing, where countries use sport to improve their public image.

“We’re all able to pick and choose our morality,” Field said.

“If we look deep enough into whether it be the US or most places around the world, I don’t think we would like what we find.

“The PGA Tour has been in China for 10 years. I think it is a bit hard to knock somebody for going for the money when people from around the world go to the US to a tour (the PGA Tour) that has the most money.

“It doesn’t make a lot of sense to bag somebody. If it wasn’t about the money, why has the PGA Tour increased (the prize money) everything they do.

“I think some of those arguments unfortunately don’t wash. I think there is definitely room in the world for more tours. He is going to cop a bit of flak, no question.

“But there is also going to be a lot of people who are on his side.”

As for the possibility that Smith could miss majors as a result of his LIV link, as was suggested by former Australian Open champion Robert Allenby, Field said: “That will be their choice. They would have to change a lot of their exemption categories.

“The majors aren’t run by the PGA Tour. Hopefully that helps him. He is fully aware that is a possibility. That is part of the decision he has made and he is fully aware of it.”

Originally published as Cameron Smith slams unfair bans after $100m LIV defection saying PGA needed to be stirred up