Former Open champion Cameron Smith admits life on LIV Golf as opposed to the PGA Tour has made him ‘a much happier person.
Cameron Smith has revealed moving from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf was the ‘best decision’ of his life and one that has made him ‘a much happier person’.
Smith, 31, made his feelings be known during an interview with the Herald Sun ahead of competing in four tournaments in his native Australia.
He is the 150th Open champion and captain of the Ripper GC team which clinched the Team Championship for the first time last month.
The Ripper GC is an all-Australian unit which includes Smith, Marc Leishman, Matt Jones, Lucas Herbert.
Smith decided to jump ship to join the Saudi-funded LIV Golf tour only a few months after etching his name on the famous Claret Jug in the Old Course at St Andrews in July of this year.
It is understood the Australian accepted a fee in the region of $100m for his services.
Smith has since gone on to amass more than $40m in on-course earnings in just two and half seasons on LIV Golf.
That is nearly $15m more than what he earned in nine previous seasons on the PGA Tour.
But aside from an inflated bank balance, it is the physical and mental benefits of having much more freedom on LIV Golf that Smith has enjoyed most.
“It was the best decision of my life,” Smith told Herald Sun of leaving the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf.
“Not only from where the tour is going and where it will end up but also from a life standpoint as well.
“Days in Australia have far more value for me now than they used to, for the simple reason that I get to spend more time here.
Looking at the matter from this angle they had this to say “I think I am happier now than I used to be.”
Herbert was last week of the same opinion as sendiments expressed by his Ripper GC teammate.
“I played so much more in the 2023, but its just, you know, a perfect (schedule) now,” Herbert said.
Those were nice opportunities to be able to get off of my game and get your development blocks to get better, not just book a block of hitting balls for three or four days and then go to an event you can really work at refining your skills rather than just warming up.
This way simply the information I have been able to transfer from my teammates during different moments throughout the current year has been great and my game has greatly benefited from this.
Herbert also noted that decision process as helpful because, ‘‘Well, and the best is that travel and accommodation are provided with LIV.’’
“And not on our dollar, which is nice,” he said.
Smith is set for four successive games in the next month’s four tournaments back home before his fans.
The Australian linked up for the Queensland PGA (31 October), New South Wales Open (14 November), BMW Australian PGA (21 November) and the Australian Open (28 November).
Only half of the SiPGs are conducted in the PGA Tour of Australasia including Australian PGA and Australian Open which are co-sanctioned on the DP World Tour.
The Australian PGA and Australian Open are scheduled to be played in 2024 but in fact will comprise events one and two of the DP World Tour’s 2025 schedule.