Cameron Smith side-stepped a rather brutal question about Rory McIlroy following the first round of last week's LIV Golf event, which he ended up winning.
At the close of play at Rich Harvest Farms on Friday, Smith was on six under par, three off leader Dustin Johnson. But in the 36 holes that followed, it was the Australian star who overhauled the American to seal his first LIV win and with it, a huge £3.5 million.
Back in July, Smith, 29, captured his first major championship when a searing final round of 64 sealed him The Open at St Andrews. It meant more major disappointment for McIlroy, who was four clear of his rival after the third round.
Just weeks later, Smith dealt a staggering blow to the PGA Tour when he defected to the Saudi-backed series for a reported fee of £118 million. McIlroy, a prominent voice in golf's civil war, admitted afterwards he'd attempted to dissuade Smith from signing.
And after his first day 66 at Chicago, Smith was asked a bizarre question by Akili Johnson, of DrunkByTheTurn, regarding his win at The Open: "I just wanted to reflect on you being the 150th winner of The Open," he said.
"I know you'd spoken about how many beers you could fit in the Claret Jug. I think it was two. I just want to know, how many of Rory McIlroy's tears were you able to fit in it after it?"
Smith laughed before responding: "I'm not answering that." Fellow LIV players Matthew Wolff and Phil Mickelson were also in attendance, and appeared amused by the question.
After sealing his win on Sunday though, Smith was in no mood to joke around as he took aim at the critics who suggested he'd lose his hunger amid the money on offer: "I think I had to prove to probably myself and some other people that I am still a great player, you know I am still out here to win golf tournaments," he said.
"Proud of how I hung in there today. Didn't really have my best stuff the first eight or nine holes but stuck it tough and made a few good putts coming in. It was nice."
