Cameron Smith, Australia’s premier golfer, faces uncertainty after Saudi Arabian investors pulled funding from LIV Golf. The 32-year-old, who joined the tour in 2022 for a reported $100 million deal shortly after winning The Open, now contemplates his options as the league’s future dims.
Smith’s Recent Struggles and Decisions
Smith has missed the cut in his last six majors, though he notched eighth-place finishes in two LIV events this year. Earlier this year, he opted to stay with LIV despite a PGA Tour pathway that included financial penalties. Brooks Koepka, a five-time major winner, accepted the offer, while Patrick Reed eyes a PGA Tour return after DP World Tour play.
Gavin Kirkman, chief executive of the PGA of Australia, reveals Smith plans discussions with his management soon, followed by a meeting with PGA officials. “He’s too young to retire, and then, where he made that decision based on where LIV Golf was at that stage, he may be rethinking with his management,” Kirkman states.
Australian Golf’s Deep Ties to LIV
Australia’s golf community grapples with LIV’s potential downsizing, despite immunity from its collapse. Golf Australia’s junior program receives sponsorship from Smith’s Ripper GC team, and local tournaments depend on top players. The South Australian government invests $45 million to upgrade a course set for a LIV event in 2028.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas confirms LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil assured him Adelaide hosts next year, with a deal extending to 2031.
Kirkman urges majors and tours to prioritize elite fields. “They’ll have to come together and work out how they’re going to get the best golfers in the field, and then we want the best golfers to come to Australia because we know we’ve got the courses, the capabilities,” he says. He highlights key Australians like Marc Leishman, Elvis Smylie, and Lucas Herbert, all vital to the sport.
Golf Australia’s Forward Vision
James Sutherland, chief executive of Golf Australia, acknowledges LIV uncertainties around Adelaide developments. Yet, he praises LIV’s fan engagement model, blending sport, lifestyle, and music like the Australian Open tennis.
“LIV’s done that really well,” Sutherland notes. “We look really closely at what the Australian Open tennis does in creating a great spectacle… just trying to find a way to have a varied offering and improve that and get bigger crowds at our major events.”
Ahead of a board meeting in Adelaide, Sutherland eyes more elite events statewide. The 2025 men’s Australian Open in Melbourne drew Rory McIlroy, who returns soon. The women’s edition in March occurred at Kooyonga Golf Club, with future deals at the renovated North Adelaide course through 2028. Golf now thrives on enhanced fan strategies, attracting government support for majors.
