Cameron Smith laughs off bizarre question after first day of LIV Golf event in Chicago
Cameron Smith has shrugged off a bizarre question in a press conference after the first day of the LIV Golf event in Chicago.
After carding a six-under 66, Smith fronted cameras where he was shown a meme by a journalist who then asked "how many of Rory McIlroy's tears can you fit in the Claret Jug?" - the coveted trophy Smith earned by winning the British Open two months ago.
"I'm not answering that," Smith said with a chuckle.
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McIlroy is one of the most vocal critics of LIV Golf, and all those players who defect to the Saudi-backed tour from the PGA Tour.
Team captain Cameron Smith of Punch GC is interviewed during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational in Chicago. via Getty Images
Smith made only two birdies on his opening nine holes until he made a tweak to his putting approach, which saw him rediscover some kind of form toward the end of the round and finished with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 second hole for a 66.
“I made an adjustment out there the last five or six holes. I just wasn't quite hitting them into the back of the hole,” he said.
“A little speed adjustment and a few started to go in.”
Dustin Johnson ran off nine birdies - none from more than about three metres - on his way to a three-shot overnight lead with a 9-under 63.
Johnson is coming off a playoff win two weeks ago outside Boston, and with his team having won the last two events, his earnings in four starts already is already some $14.5 million - more than his best season on the PGA Tour over 22 starts.
Matthew Wolff had a 67, while the group at 66 includes Charles Howell III, whose round was marred by a double bogey, and Henrik Stenson, who missed the Boston event while coping with vertigo.
Dustin Johnson plays his tee shot on the third hole. Getty
Phil Mickelson had five birdies and might have been closer to Johnson except for one mistake - and it was a big one. He took triple bogey on the par-3 fifth hole, his sixth of the day in the shotgun start. He shot a two-under 70.
Johnson and Talor Gooch, who birdied his first three holes and was one-over the rest of the way for a 70. They are the only players to have finished in the top 10 in all four LIV Golf Invitational events.
Patrick Reed also struggled, posting a two-over 74 despite making three birdies and an eagle.
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