TASTY RETURN AWAITS SMITH
BAKERS of Brisbane beware … Cameron Smith is coming home.
“I have not had a decent meat pie in three years … I cannot wait for that,’’ Smith said from his home in Jacksonville, Florida.
Smith’s status in golf – he’s the sport’s new $150m man and prize signing for Greg Norman’s LIV golf troupe – may have changed since he was last in Brisbane but his tastebuds haven’t.
The reigning British Open champ returns home for the first time in three years this week as the headline act for the Australia PGA championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club from November 24-27.
He will land as a global star, a more mature and superior golfer than the understated craftsman who slipped away pre-covid three years ago.
Amidst all the promotional mayhem there will be a less conspicuous reunion at the laid-back Wantima Golf Club, where he will greet members who have known him since he was a schoolboy.
He will be carrying the famed Claret Jug, the trophy from the 150th British Open at St Andrews this year.
“Honestly, I cannot wait for that moment – I am getting goosebumps thinking about it,’’ he said.
It’s been quite a ride for the player who started with his clubs in a plumbing pipe fastened to his father’s bag, with his watershed year including …
THE DECISION
Smith’s decision to sign with LIV in a contract speculated to be around $150m changed the balance of power between LIV and the traditional tours.
Before Smith the outfit was criticised as being stocked with former greats in decline. Suddenly they had a newly minted British Open champion.
“It was definitely a stressful time … I spoke to a lot of good people, my mum and dad a lot of good friends.
“I have absolutely got no regrets. At the start it was definitely scary making a career move like that, it being a fresh tour. But from what I have seen over the past five events it is going the right direction.”
LIV’S FUTURE
Critics of LIV have questioned whether the Saudi royal family that launched the project will stay in golf long-term.
Smith, however, believes the concept may continue for decades.
“I don’t think they are looking for a short-term thing. They have put in a fair bit of money. Over the course of 10, 20, 30 years they are definitely going to see a return.
“I played my first event in Boston and I was blown away by the number of people who were there … people love it.
“The music around the golf course. The DJ after the round. You get to see people having a really good time.
“That’s different to just sitting there and being quiet and having a beer and clapping every five or 10 minutes.”
THE FALLOUT
The traditional tours have been trading barbs with LIV but Smith says life has not been uncomfortable.
“I wouldn’t say it has been hard at all,” he said. “Definitely some of my mates are still out on the PGA tour and they are still my mates. They respect my decision.
“A few of them don’t agree with it but we still have a beer and a laugh and are really good friends. That is the most important thing to me.
“(PGA member) Billy Horschel lives just down the road from me. He has been a big spokesman for the (PGA) tour (yet) he is the one who sticks out for me the most.’’
THEN AND NOW
So what is the difference in Smith from the man who returns from the one who left three years ago?
“I would like to think I am still the same person. The old boy (father Des) would be the first to tell me if I am getting out of line. He is not afraid of a bit of confrontation with me. He hasn’t told me much lately which is nice.
“As a golfer I feel as if I have progressed a lot since I was last home. There has been a lot of hard work and maturing as a golfer and a person as well.
“I just think I don’t let things get to me as much as what they used to. That comes with age. … I realise the game of golf isn’t fair sometimes. Just take that on the chin and move on.’’
THE LEGACY
The whisper is that Smith is planning to reinvest some of his earnings into the Australian golf scene but at the moment this is a work in progress.
“I would say there is definitely stuff in the works. Big things like that definitely take time. The most exciting thing for me is to have a LIV event there.
“I have my golf scholarship program through golf Australia and we get the juniors over.
“There is definitely some other stuff in the works.’’