Cameron Smith, once Australian golf's shining light, may be reconsidering his decision to remain with LIV Golf after Saudi Arabian investors withdrew funding from the upstart tour, according to the head of the PGA of Australia.
Smith's uncertain future
Smith, who joined LIV in 2022 weeks after winning the Open in a deal reportedly worth over $100 million, has missed the cut at his past six majors. Despite two eighth-place finishes at LIV tournaments this year, his career has found the rough. At just 32, he stuck with LIV earlier this year when the PGA Tour offered a way back involving a financial penalty, but five-time major winner Brooks Koepka took that offer, signaling a shift in momentum.
Gavin Kirkman, CEO of the PGA of Australia, said Smith will discuss his future with his management in the coming weeks before meeting with Kirkman later this month. "What we're hearing, 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 said.
Impact on Australian golf
The entire Australian golf sector is grappling with a future without LIV or with a fiscally restrained version. While Australia's golfing institutions are immune to a LIV collapse, the links within the sport run deep. A junior entry program run by Golf Australia is sponsored by Smith's LIV team Ripper GC, and the sport's governing body celebrates the nation's best golfers performing at their peak. All rely on big names playing local tournaments.
Kirkman urged golf officials with majors and international tours to remember the best interests of the sport. "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 said. He noted that LIV has several esteemed Australians on its books who are full members of the PGA Tour of Australasia, including Marc Leishman, Elvis Smylie, and Lucas Herbert.
Adelaide's LIV commitment
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said LIV Golf's CEO Scott O'Neil assured him Adelaide will host a LIV tournament next year. The city has a deal to host until at least 2031, and the state government is spending $45 million to upgrade a course for a LIV tournament from 2028.
James Sutherland, CEO of Golf Australia, said the organization is not blind to uncertainties around LIV and golf course developments in Adelaide. However, he highlighted how LIV's popularity in South Australia has unlocked a new formula blending sport, lifestyle, and music, similar to tennis's Australian Open transformation. "LIV's done that really well. I'm not sure that we will be able to afford the sorts of artists that they attract to their events, but just trying to find a way to have a varied offering and improve that and get bigger crowds at our major events," Sutherland said.
Sutherland is preparing for a board meeting in Adelaide this week, where the future of the LIV tournament remains a source of consternation. He said there will be more opportunities to attract elite golf to South Australia, though competition may increase. "We want all of our states to be vying for major events," he said.
Looking ahead
The 2025 men's Australian Open in Melbourne was boosted by Rory McIlroy's appearance, who will return later this year. The women's edition in March was hosted by Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide, the first under a three-year deal with South Australia concluding with the 2028 edition at the renovated North Adelaide public course. Sutherland said golf's new recipe for fan engagement, thanks in part to LIV, leaves it well placed for state governments to covet hosting rights.
