‘Hate to see it’: Smith’s admission amid LIV uncertainty
Aussie golfer Cameron Smith says he will return to the PGA Tour if LIV Golf were to go under, though he remains hopeful the breakaway league will survive.
Acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding the tour’s future, the former world No.2 said returning to the PGA Tour would be an inevitable move.
Cam Smith said he will return to the PGA Tour if needed. Asanka Ratnayake
“If it was the only option, I think that’s where everyone would want to be for sure, 100 per cent ... it would go back to old times,” Smith told media in New York.
“I want it to work, really, to be honest. It’s great fun out here. The team that we’ve got, I feel like we make each other better, better people and better golfers.
“I’d hate to see it go away. We’ll see what happens.”
A major concern for Smith is the potential loss of LIV’s momentum in Australia.
The annual Adelaide event has been a massive success, drawing 115,000 fans to become the highest-attended golf event in the country’s history.
For the popular Queenslander, he believes the league’s presence has sparked a resurgence in the sport back home.
“What we’ve been able to do for golf in Australia is really quite important to me, junior golf, the Little Rippers, the event that we have down there, the people it brings out to showcase our great league,” Smith said.
“It would be a shame for all that to go away, and I feel like we’ve worked really hard over the last three or four years to kind of make that all happen.
“Australian golf is important to me. I think it [LIV] improves it. I think all the numbers are up. The memberships are up. Social play is up. I think that’s in part because of us. So I think it would be a shame for Australian golf if it did go away.”
Smith conceded that players are still largely in the dark regarding where they will land if LIV Golf does not continue into the 2027 season.
Saying players “don’t know” anything about the series’ future, Smith revealed won’t be making any decisions on his future right now, choosing instead to stick behind his current contract.
Ripper GC has created momentum back home in Australia. Getty
“I don’t really understand what is going to happen - it’s all up in the air,” he said.
“I feel like we’re well-informed, but I feel like a lot of it is still up in the air.
“We don’t know. I’m contracted to the end of next year, so I was expecting to play until the end of next year and renegotiate and hopefully go on.
“I’m a positive guy, so I’ve made no effort to go seek anything else.”