Australian golf celebrity Cameron Smith gave a one-word response when requested if he’ll take into account returning to the PGA Tour – “no”.
The Ripper GC captain informed Australian media, together with Extensive World of Sports activities, of his emphatic choice on Wednesday morning.
His response got here barely 24 hours after Brooks Koepka was welcomed back to the PGA Tour after quitting his LIV contract final month.
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Smith, Bryson DeChambeau, and Jon Rahm have been given three weeks by the PGA Tour to take up the identical provide.
All 4 gamers have gained a significant in 2022 or since. Smith gained the 2022 Open Championship and was No.2 on the earth earlier than a surprising $140 million transfer to LIV.
Requested on Wednesday why he will not take into account the PGA Tour’s provide – which incorporates hefty monetary penalties – the 32-year-old was blunt.
Cameron Smith on the sixteenth gap throughout day one of many Australian Open 2025. Graham Denholm through getty Photographs
“I’ve decided to come back right here and I am standing by it,” Smith stated.
“I am actually excited for 2026, I believe our staff goes to have one in every of our greatest years but and I can not wait to see what we do on the golf course.”
When requested by one reporter “was the temptation actual to comply with Brooks?”, he replied merely, “no”.
“I’ve made my mattress and I will sleep in it,” he continued.
“I really feel like I am in a extremely good place in my profession, in my life with my household, and I need not change it.”
A Spanish information outlet on Tuesday reported Rahm has determined to stay with LIV Golf, whereas DeChambeau is in superior talks to increase his contract with the Saudi-backed league.
Smith believes each of them may even snub the PGA Tour’s provide.
“I can not communicate for the opposite guys to be trustworthy, I do not know what they will do,” he stated.
“I believe we have now it fairly good out right here (on the LIV tour) and I’ve made my choice. I can solely assume theirs will probably be very comparable, however I can not touch upon what they will do.”
Koepka has agreed to pay $7.45m to charity as a part of his conditional PGA Tour return.
The Tour’s boss additionally estimates the American celebrity will forfeit wherever between $75m and $126m in potential earnings after he agreed to a number of strict penalties upon his return.
Smith holds no grudge in opposition to Koepka for selecting to depart LIV.
“On one facet I am unhappy to see him go. He is an excellent pal, and it is not good,” he stated.
“However on the opposite facet I am actually trying ahead to what we’re doing out right here, and we will have the strongest discipline we have ever had.”
Smith’s full focus is now on main all-Aussie staff Ripper GC on this yr’s LIV Golf tour.
On Wednesday he was joined by countrymen Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert as a part of media duties selling the brand new season, which incorporates Adelaide in February.
Cameron Smith of Australia and the Ripper GC staff have fun a win in Texas. Getty
A significant shake-up of LIV this yr contains the tournaments transferring from 54 holes to a conventional 72-hole format.
The change means the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) could quickly enable LIV gamers to accrue rankings factors, which may in the end decide their qualification for majors and for the 2028 LA Olympics.
Gamers who moved to LIV have been sliding down the world rankings.
“Hopefully 72 holes helps our probabilities of getting rankings factors,” Herbert informed Extensive World of Sports activities.
“It has been a little bit of a difficult battle over the previous couple of years… it is the best choice for us qualifying for majors, and likewise being a part of the golf ecosystem. Having our gamers ranked appropriately on the earth rankings is a crucial factor.
“If we will get these world rankings factors can be thought.”
Rising Aussie golf expertise Elvis Smylie is rumoured to be making the transfer to LIV and will develop into Ripper GC’s fourth participant this season.
