Cameron Smith hopeful LIV Golf can survive without Saudi PIF backing, determined to end form slump at majors
Australian golf star Cameron Smith says he has no plans to retire and hopes the LIV Golf tour and its popular Adelaide tournament will continue in the future despite the loss of billion-dollar Saudi backer PIF.
Smith also expressed intense frustration at a dip in form in the majors over the past two years, where the 2022 Open champion has missed the cut in six consecutive tournaments.
“My goal is to get back to the style of play I had a few years ago and get even better,” Smith said. “So I’m training every day, going out and trying to get better.
“It’s coming. I know it’s coming. It’s kind of a tough time right now.”
Smith spoke to Australian media from Washington on Wednesday; LIV Golf here is holding its first tournament this week since news broke last week that its major financial backers, the Saudi PIF, would not continue funding the league after the current season.
The news has thrown the futures of LIV Golf and its star players into major doubt, but LIV Golf boss Scott O’Neill this week confirmed he was talking to potential new sources of funding to potentially resume the tour on a smaller scale and with revised formats.
Smith, who has invested an estimated $190 million in registration fees and prize money with LIV Golf since joining as a core player in 2022, is out of his contract at the end of 2026. He turned down the opportunity to rejoin the PGA Tour earlier this year.
Media officials asked Smith not to be asked to speculate on the future of LIV Golf, but the 32-year-old said he hoped the tour could find a way forward with new support.
“What I hope will happen is that we play, of course. I think we’ve done a great job of growing the game around the world. Bringing in new fans and getting people to enjoy golf,” Smith said.
“Personally, I love what we do and it’s a lot of fun to do. I know I haven’t played the best golf along the way, but I really love what we do.
“It’s very fresh. There’s really nothing to say. I know the team is working hard behind the scenes. They’re doing everything they can for us. I’m excited. I know Scott O’Neill is really excited for the challenge in the coming months.”
When asked if he was confident the Adelaide tournament would be played next year, Smith offered a brief but positive outlook: “Yeah mate. Absolutely. That’s the goal. 100 per cent.”
Asked if he hoped Australia would continue to see more international stars, no matter what happens at LIV, Smith said: “Absolutely. The more times we can get kids out to children’s clinics, all the other things we do there, the better it will be for the game in Australia. I would love to do 40 events there, I would play, but that’s not the case.”
Smith’s thoughts on the future of LIV Golf were shared by other stars on media duties in Washington, where LIV will play its first U.S. event of the year at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia. Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann said they hope the league continues, albeit on a potentially smaller scale financially and operationally.
‘If I could win one more major, I would be the happiest man alive.’
cameron smith
However, alternative futures in other rounds were also supported by some players.
A stunned Smith dismissed suggestions that he might quit golf, saying, “I’m 32, so I still have time.” While he won’t discuss where else he could go, Smith is determined to rediscover his best form and win more majors.
The Queensland player has had a fearsome run in four majors (The Open, US Open, Masters and PGA Championships) since the 2024 Open. Missing the cut at this year’s Masters was Smith’s sixth consecutive absence from a major over the weekend.
“It sucks to play golf like that and feel like that. It’s definitely been a tough time in the big leagues,” he said.
“Probably early in my career, I hung my hat on my performance in the majors and that wasn’t good enough. As I mentioned before, I’m just making a few changes and trying to get back to where I was and get better.”
“I can promise you the fire is in your belly. It’s just a matter of time.”
“I want to win tournaments. I want to win first place. I’ve done it before, and I think it’s been a long time since I’ve been truly competitive at the top of the leaderboard. The fire is really burning right now. To get back to that point where I know I can be.”
“If I could win one more major, I would be the happiest man alive.”
He admitted that although Smith has a past Champions exemption to play in the Open until he is 60, he is conscious that his five-year exemptions in other majors will expire next year. While LIV Golf tournaments did not count towards world ranking points until this year, the former world No. 2’s current world ranking is 225.
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Iain Payten is senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect with: X or email.
