Golf: Cameron Smith smiling and cashed-up after first LIV event

Cameron Smith didn’t win his first LIV event but still pocketed a monster cheque and is adamant he’s made the right move despite criticism.

Cameron Smith fell just short of victory in his maiden LIV Golf event in Boston. Picture: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Cameron Smith was just under $1.5m richer following his first LIV Golf event, a cash reward that didn’t come with a victory.

But the broad smile and unbridled enthusiasm for the new format after falling short of winning was a clear indication of a golfer at ease with a move that earnt the Queenslander more criticism than congratulations.

Golfing greats including Gary Player and Fred Couples lashed Smith, the world No.2 and reigning British Open champ, for leaving the PGA Tour, Player declaring “how can you ever be a champion playing a tour with 54 holes and no cut?”

Former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley also declared across the weekend that players on the European Tour wanted nothing to do with LIV converts, which includes one-time team heroes Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood.

But Smith took his playing prowess to the Boston event in Boston, and his run at victory on the final day was cruelled only by an errant drive on his second-last hole that resulted in a bogey and cost him a shot in the playoff won by 2020 Masters champion Dustin Johnson.

But having declared LIV the “future of golf” last week, Smith lapped up the raucous crowds and the chants of “Cam, Cam, Cam” in Boston as he fired a final round 63 to declare his debut week “unreal”.

“Whenever I come up here there’s people rooting for me,” Smith said after his closing round.

“I don’t know if it’s the hair (mullet). The competition here is fantastic, it’s loud and it feels like the course has a heartbeat.

“I love that and I can’t wait to keep going.”

🗣 "To get out here today and do what I did is pretty cool"

Cam Smith narrowly misses out on a playoff#LIVGolf#LIVGolfBostonpic.twitter.com/SPlBouoqPa

— LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) September 4, 2022

He’ll have to keep going too.

Players crossed to LIV for the lighter schedule compared with the onerous, wraparound seasons on the PGA Tour.

But Smith and his fellow LIV contracted players – the Australian signed a deal reported to be worth around $140m – have to play another four events over the next seven weeks.

Oh no Cam 😰 this drive will hurt#LIVGolf#LIVGolfBostonpic.twitter.com/vbZxSbikgz

— LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) September 4, 2022

The LIV caravan will next head to Chicago from September 16-18, then Thailand (October 7-9), Saudi Arabia (October 14-16) before returning to the US for a finale in Miami (October 27-30).

After that Smith and the other three Australians on his “Punch GC” team – Marc Leishman, Matt Jones and Wade Ormsby – will head to Australia for the PGA and Open, which are back-to-back events in December.

The All-Australian team could only manage to finish in a tie for sixth among the 12 teams after Leishman and Jones finished in a tie for 26th and Ormsby finished 43rd in the 48 player field.