Cameron Smith delivers LIV verdict after barnstorming finish to maiden tournament

Cameron Smith’s debut on the controversial Saudi-backed LIV golf tour almost ended in spectacular fashion — and he had offered his appraisal of the new format.

BOLTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 01: Cameron Smith of Australia during the pro-am prior to the LIV Golf Invitational - Boston at The Oaks golf course at The International on September 01, 2022 in Bolton, Massachusetts. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

A barnstorming final round by world no.2 Cameron Smith was not enough to pull off a come-from-behind victory in his maiden event on the controversial Saudi-backed LIV golf tour.

The Australian fired a brilliant seven-under par 63 at Boston’s The International, only to come up one shot short of a three-way playoff between Dustin Johnson, Anirban Lahiri and Joaquin Niemann.

Smith started the tournament with a sharp six-under par 64 but fell off the pace with a messy second round. It took an eagle on the last hole to keep him five shots back with 18 holes remaining.

But the Australian looked a different player in the final round, flying out of the blocks with two birdies and an eagle in his first six holes to begin climbing up a congested leaderboard.

Smith holed a brilliant chip shot on the 14th hole to move to 13-under for the tournament, one back from the lead in a four-way tie for second place.

Cameron Smith fell just short in his maiden LIV tournament at The Oaks golf course in Bolton. Picture: Getty Images

Two more birdies on the 16th and 18th holes put him in a tie for the lead with Johnson and Lee Westwood, sparking cheers of “Cam, Cam, Cam” from the Boston crowd.

Under LIV rules, the players move around the course after a shotgun start, leaving Smith to play the difficult par four first hole as his second last hole.

And that was where he came unstuck, finally missing a drive into the trees.

“I’ve got no idea how this is going to come out,” Smith told his caddy, as he was forced to chip out and ended up making a bogey.

Speaking after the round, Smith said it was a “good week” despite his disappointing second round.

“I thought I was really out of it yesterday, I played pretty poorly,” he said.

Cameron Smith had a “good week” in Boston for his maiden LIV tournament. Picture: Getty Images

“Today, to do what I did was pretty cool, but just an unfortunate bogey there … cost me a spot in the playoff.

“I played really solid today, gave myself plenty of looks which I needed to do. I probably left a couple out there but that’s golf.”

The world no.2, who defected to LIV in a reported US$100m deal, said the new format was “fantastic”.

“It’s loud, it feels like the course has a heartbeat – I love that and I can’t wait to keep going,” Smith said.

Smith plans to play the remainder of the LIV tour for the year — featuring tournaments in Chicago, Bangkok, Jeddah and Miami — and said he wanted to “win as much as I can”.

Johnston, the powerful American, holed a massive eagle putt on the par five 18th hole to win the three-way playoff.

Johnson, a two-time major champion, said the LIV victory was “up there for sure” in his career.

Asked if his competitive juices were flowing as much as they ever had, Johnston said: “Absolutely, if not more, especially with that cheque that you get.”

“You can feel it. Your butthole puckers up a little bit coming down the last few holes for sure,” he said.

Johnson claimed US$4m for his victory.

Smith tees up for biggest risk in the prime of his career

The first thing you notice – indeed, the first thing Cameron Smith notices – is the music.

The breakaway LIV league promises “golf, but louder”, and that’s what it delivers with speakers dotted around Boston’s The International. Smith, Australia’s world number two, reckons it makes his sport “not so uptight”.

Standing on the first tee to kick off his LIV career, days after defecting in a reported US$100m deal, Smith is welcomed by the Beastie Boys hit “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)”.

That’s when you notice the second thing: an ex-Navy SEAL parachute team flying down to the fairway with an American flag, a LIV flag and … is that Greg Norman? The Shark returns to land to welcome his prized recruit, and with that, Smith’s rebel career begins.

Walking the fairways, Smith is met with friendly crowds and no sense of the controversy surrounding LIV, bankrolled as it is by Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund. Protesters with signs saying “Saudi money is blood money” are kept at a carpark offsite.

But if you look closely, the impact of the Saudi splurge is obvious. Across the course, there is not a sponsor’s sign in sight – no branded beer tents, food stalls or merchandise shops.

The only logos are for LIV’s 12 teams, one of which is an all-Australian group captained by Smith.

The only logo you will see at one of the rebel tournaments is for LIV or it’s 12 teams - no sponsors or brand names anywhere. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

His affection for the inventive if complicated format is undoubtedly genuine. His first victory on the PGA Tour back in 2017 was a team event – the first held by the tour since 1981.

At his introductory press conference, Smith’s face lit up at the prospect of playing alongside his countrymen, having represented Australia at the Olympics and the Presidents Cup. But those events are – at least for now – closed off to LIV players.

While Smith might enjoy playing with his mates, there is a question mark over whether the LIV format will deliver the same fulfillment for players as the prestigious Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup, even though they are only held every two years.

The same goes for golf fans. Will they follow the Niblicks or the Cleeks or the Majesticks (yes, those are real LIV team names) with enough passion and loyalty that these squads could be turned into profitable individual franchises?

It’s difficult to imagine. Then again, cricket traditionalists wondered how the Scorchers and the Strikers and the Renegades would develop fan bases when the Big Bash League began. Look at them now.

Smith is honest enough to admit money was a key factor in his decision to defect. But he does seem to believe LIV can make golf more appealing to younger fans. The loud music, the parachuters, the colourful teams – these gimmicks are all designed with that in mind.

With his flowing mullet, Smith might be just the player to lead this revolution. But leaping to LIV is a risk the 29-year-old’s youthful peers at the top of the rankings have largely avoided taking.

Many of the LIV golf defectors are closer to the end than the beginning of their careers. Not Cameron Smith though. Picture: Getty Images

While LIV spruikers highlight the 12 major champions in this weekend’s field of 48, eight of those are aged 37 or older. It is no secret that defectors such as Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson are closer to the end than the beginning of their careers.

Smith has acknowledged as much, saying he has “a little bit more time on my hands” in his career than fellow Australian Marc Leishman, who is 38.

Nevertheless, Smith has chosen to spend his prime playing 14 rebel tournaments a year, plus majors if they still let him tee it up. He can only hope the music doesn’t stop.