Cam Smith’s bold LIV Golf claim sees ex-Open champion completely ignore tradition

Cameron Smith got his hands on golf’s most historic title at the 2022 Open champion, but the former world No. 2 has ranked LIV Golf’s Adelaide tournament as his favourite event

Cam Smith has ranked LIV Golf’s Adelaide-based event as his all-time favourite, despite being crowned Champion Golfer of The Year at St Andrews at the 150th Open Championship in 2022.

Smith and his Ripper GC teammates were lauded at The Grange on Sunday, as the all-Australian team were crowned champions on home soil after winning the breakaway league’s first ever team playoff. Smith returned to the course alongside Marc Leishman to take on Louis Oosthuizen and Dean Burmester.

And after two playoff holes, it was the Aussies who prevailed to the delight of the Adelaide crowd, as Smith and co got their hands on their first team title of the 2024 LIV campaign.

For Smith, the week was one to remember, having got the opportunity to both compete and win in front of his fellow Australians. So much so, the former world No. 2 revealed the 54-hole Aussie-based tournament ranks as his best ever, despite winning the iconic Claret Jug at the Home of Golf less than two years ago.

“This week has far exceeded my vision for what was ahead,” he said post-tournament. “I think I always knew internally that Australia would really embrace LIV with the culture, with the music, with the entertainment, everything that goes on around it. I always felt like this was the place where it was going to make it big, and how it’s been the last couple of years has been just insane.

“Last year I said, I’m biased, this is the best tournament I’ve ever played. I think this year it’s done it again. It’s so cool. We just don’t get to experience this. And being the home team makes it so much more special. What these guys have done this week even makes it better again. Yeah, it’s really cool.”

Thousands of fans followed Smith throughout the week, in a record-breaking three days for the LIV Golf setup. In the aftermath the breakaway league revealed a whopping 94,000 fans were in attendance at the Adelaide course across the three rounds, as the Saudi-backed league continues to be embraced down under.

Clearly pleased with the week, LIV CEO and Aussie national Greg Norman said: “I am extremely proud. In our league’s short history, LIV Golf Adelaide has become a can’t-miss event on Australia’s calendar of major international sporting events and this week, we raised the bar once again.

“I want to thank the Australian fans and those who travelled afar to be in Adelaide. For decades, I was blessed to play in front of so many who supported Australian golf and now, by bringing LIV Golf to Australia, the country has clearly embraced our league and what it represents: team golf – a new and needed product that is delivering for the sport’s future.

“Thank you, Adelaide, Australia, and all those who played a part in this tremendous week. See you all next year.” On the back of the success in Australia, the breakaway league will be back in action next Friday as Norman and co make the trip to Singapore