MEMPHIS, Tenn. – If Cam Smith is $100 million richer because of the LIV Golf series, he isn’t ready to say so yet.
Appearing at a press conference ahead of the start to the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs in Memphis Tuesday, Smith declined to comment when asked whether he is about to become the latest Tour star to leave for LIV Golf.
Smith did not, however, deny multiple reports Tuesday suggesting his departure is imminent.
The Telegraph newspaper in London reported Tuesday Smith has signed a $100 million contract to join the LIV series less than a month after winning the The Open Championship at St. Andrew’s and ascending to No. 2 in the world golf rankings.
It came on the heels of another report earlier in the day that Smith and fellow Australian Marc Leishman are “gone,” according to countryman and PGA Tour golfer Cameron Percy.
“My goal here is to win the FedEx Cup playoffs. That’s all I’m here for,” Smith said. “If there’s something I need to say about the PGA Tour or LIV, it’ll come from Cameron Smith, not Cameron Percy. I’m a man of my word and whenever you guys need to know anything, it’ll be said by me.”
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When pressed to elaborate on if he had already signed a deal with LIV, Smith insisted he had “no comment.”
“I’m here to play the FedEx Cup Playoffs,” he reiterated. “That’s been my focus the last week and a half. That’s what I’m here to do. I’m here to win the FedEx Cup Playoffs, and like I said, it’ll come from me. It won’t come from Cameron Percy.”
Smith did note that he still plans to play in the Presidents Cup on September 20-25. If he were to join LIV before then, he would be ineligible to compete there.
Upon winning The Open Championship last month, Smith was also asked about rumors that he would soon join LIV and became annoyed at the questioning in the immediate aftermath of his first major win. His non-committal remarks before the FedEx St. Jude Championship were delivered as a federal judge in California denied three current LIV golfers a temporary restraining order to play in Memphis this week.
You can reach Commercial Appeal columnist Mark Giannotto via email at mgiannotto@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter: @mgiannotto
