Cam Smith has cashed in and living on his terms

The new-look Cam Smith is back in Australia after accepting the riches of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf. British Open hero or greedy villain?

Cameron Smith talks to media at the Royal Queensland Golf Club. Picture Lachie Millard.

Cam Smith stood behind the 18th green at The Lakes. A couple of unblinking motorised buggies and a handful of slightly pissed old blokes in floppy hats showed only a mild interest. He was asked about appearance money at the Australian Open and, more to the point, if he was getting any. He shrugged and squinted as if his inquisitor was off his rocker by even suggesting it and said: “I don’t care about that stuff, mate.”

Back in the day, in 2018, he was going by the name of Cameron. That meant he wasn’t just down the pecking order of Australian golfers, he was down the pecking order of people called Cameron Smith, forever being asked if he had met the Melbourne Storm captain.

He was ranked mid-30s in the world, major-less but not exactly penny-less, miles behind countrymen Adam Scott and Jason Day for acclaim and column inches and galleries and promotional worth. There was kerfuffle about appearance money because Day had reportedly received $500,000 to contest his national championship. Scott was thought to have been offended by a smaller offer, declining to play but stirring the pot by holidaying in Sydney anyway.

Which was why Smith was being asked how much loot he’d received to chase the Stonehaven Cup. He said his hotel and flights had been taken care of. Sweet deal, he reckoned. There was an awkward and almost comical pause. That’s it? Hotel room and flights? What, 10 grand’s worth? He was adamant it was all he needed. Glad to be here, he said. Just want to win the open, he said. When it was suggested he was being short-changed, he gave a happy-go-lucky laugh that reminded you of Alfred E Neuman on the cover of Mad magazine. What, me worry?

Now Smith is home again for the Australia PGA Championship in Brisbane and next week’s Australian Open in Melbourne. His short game is so exquisite he’s lopped a few letters from his preferred moniker. Cam Smith showing off his British Open trophy like a kid with his first athletics ribbon.

It’s the most magnificent tour of silverware since Rogan Josh won the Melbourne Cup and owner Wendy Green took three months to drive it home to Darwin, stopping at virtually every pub on the way. Smith knows he’s no longer everyone’s cup of tea after accepting the Saudi-backed LIV Golf’s kind offer of flights and hotels for the foreseeable future but he doesn’t seem especially fussed by the reputational hit. What, Smith worry?

Cameron Smith during the final round of the Australian Open at The Lakes in 2018. Picture: AAP.

I don’t think he’s a tradition-killing money-hungry villain now. Because he definitely wasn’t a tradition-killing, money-hungry villain before Greg Norman came along with his bags of cash.

What I remember most about the 2018 Open was Smith’s intense desire to win his national championship for all the right reasons.

“I’ve grown up watching it,” he said. “Always dreamt of it. It’s one I really want to tick off the list.” He’s yet to do it, adding delicious intrigue to next week’s event. Having already won The Open at St Andrews, he resembles a mountaineer who’s scaled Everest before trying again to get to the top of Kosciuszko.

He’s in a curly position, reputation-wise. An elderly, respectable, intelligent, golf-loving mate of mine has declared himself “off Smith forever” because the 29-year-old took the $150m — plus flights and hotels — to join LIV and leave the establishment that helped make him who he is. I’m not off him at all. I think Smith has been pretty honest about it all. He freely admits the money was too good to refuse. One-fifty mill can’t make him happy but it can definitely help him buy a bigger fishing boat. Additionally, I believe him when he says LIV can and will boost Australian golf by bringing huge tournaments and marquee players here. The PGA Tour has never given a stuff about international growth.

Smith can still play the majors, he can still defend his British Open crown, he can still have another crack at the US Masters, he can be home more often, he can live the life he wants to live. Good on him.

He’s a tap-in to win the Greg Norman Medal on Tuesday night for being Australia’s premier player of the year. He should share it with Minjee Lee, who won the Women’s US Open. What a funny old photograph that will be, crying out for a captions competition for the comedians among us, Smith getting his award from Norman, of all people, the polarising and slightly bizarre figure at the helm of LIV.

He will begin his day by receiving the keys to the city and finish it by having a cold one with Norman. Greg’s shout. Not that Smith cares about that stuff, mate.