Cameron Smith has played down the perceived rift between LIV Golf players and their PGA Tour counterparts, saying he still has the same friends he had before he joined the Saudi-backed tour.
The Australian joined Greg Norman’s new venture shortly after winning the Open Championship at St Andrews, in one of the biggest captures for LIV Golf.
Joining LIV also cost Smith the chance to defend his Players Championship title at Sawgrass recently, but he’s always insisted he is comfortable with his decision – and the consequences that come with it.
We’ve seen players falling out over LIV Golf, most notably Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia ending their long and close friendship after the Spaniard decided to make the move.
Bit Smith says that he still has the same friends he had before the move, and insists nobody has come to him to air any grievances about it to him.
“All the guys I was mates with are still my mates. No one has told me to p*** off or not talk to them ever again,” Smith told Mark Howard on his Howie Games podcast.
“I’d like to think that I’m a pretty easy person to talk to and if anyone ever wanted to confront me, I’m all about talking about it and making sure they’re comfortable with it as well.
“It’s not my spot to step on anyone’s toes and that’s the last thing I wanted to do. It’s just a move I felt was right for my career.”
Despite being one of the biggest LIV captures, with the Australian reportedly signing a deal worth over $100+ million, Smith has not been among the players to lay into the PGA Tour with any parting shots.
And Smith also seems happy to take the associated consequences of his actions, such as missing out on the Players, and is among those who would like to see the golf divide healed in some way moving forward.
