Cam Smith was one of LIV Golf’s best performers at last week’s Masters Tournament, and has hit back at criticism pointed towards those competing on the breakaway circuit
Cam Smith has described claims that PGA Tour players have a competitive edge over their LIV Golf rivals as ‘BS’, after the former Open champion impressed at last week’s Masters.
Smith was the joint-top performer from the 13 LIV stars in action at Augusta, after finishing in a tie for sixth alongside Bryson DeChambeau at two-under-par for the week. One other member from the breakaway circuit broke their way into the top-10, as Tyrrell Hatton finished the tournament in a tie for ninth at level-par.
It is fair to say however that the LIV roster failed to stamp the same authority on the Masters leaderboard as they did last year, which saw three of their members in Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed rank among the top-five players.
Whilst in action at the iconic Georgia course Smith rubbished the claims, having seen his fellow LIV stars thrive on the major stage for the most part. Just weeks after their impressive showing at the 2023 Masters, the breakaway league banked its first major title as Koepka won the PGA Championship at Oak Hill, with Smith and DeChambeau also inside the top-10.
“No. No, that’s BS,” Smith said when asked if LIV had less competitive advantage than PGA Tour rivals, according to FOX Sports Australia.
Question marks had been raised by six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo, who doubted Jon Rahm’s ability to defend the green jacket last week having made the move to LIV for 2024. “I think he feels that [lack of intensity],” Faldo told the Sky Sports Golf podcast in the build-up.
“I know that he made comments about watching Riviera [Genesis Invitational] and thought he wished he was there. I thought The Players was good and I bet he wished he was in there. He has been playing resort courses in shorts for the past couple of months and hasn’t really been tested yet.
