Back in Australia after 3 years away from his native land, Cameron Smith told a Sydney newspaper how Rory McIlroy tried to convince him not to go to LIV Golf hours after winning The Open at St Andrews. Last chance phone call.
That’s probably what Rory McIlroy thought as he dialed Cameron Smith 48 hours after watching the Australian steal the show at The Open at St Andrews as he tried to end an 8-year drought. in Major. There were a lot of things he wanted me to know before I made my decision.
I wouldn’t say he tried to talk me out of it directly, but he really wanted me to stay.
Cameron Smith Two days after lifting the Claret Jug, Cam Smith told the Sydney Morning Herald that he received a phone call from his unfortunate opponent.
Cameron Smith, statements
“I’ve always had respect for Rory and I appreciate the way he talks on a golf course. When he called me, he began by congratulating me on my victory. He slipped me a few valves and he was happy with my victory.
It was then that we talked about the PGA Tour and the LIV,” Smith said. Asked all week about the rumors of his departure on the dissident circuit led by his compatriot Greg Norman, the winner of the Players Championship in Ponte Vedra (Florida) a few months earlier had not stopped kicking in touch, explaining that he was there to play a Major tournament and that he would not answer these questions.
No one doubted the imminent departure of Cam Smith and Rory McIlroy hoped to be able to convince him to reconsider his decision. “There were a lot of things he wanted me to know before making my decision. I wouldn’t say he tried to talk me out of it directly, but he really wanted me to stay.
» The “mule” cut player also explains that he took the time to weigh the pros and cons. In particular, he called Jay Monahan, the boss of the PGA Tour, to ask him what he intended to do for golf in Australia.
Were there in the plans of the PGA Tour tournaments in his native country? Greg Norman had explained to him that he would organize a LIV tournament in Australia and that Smith would be the main player of a team made up of 100% “Wallabies”.
For his part, Monahan could not promise anything other than his desire to create a stage of the Korn Ferry Tour in Australia. “For me, the PGA Tour is a great platform. It’s a great circuit that does some very good things.
But looking back, when I see that with Adam Scott, who was one of the best golfers in the world for 20 years, there was nothing to organize here, I find it really weird. Then there were Jason Day and Marc Leishman. I just don’t think it’s profitable enough for the PGA Tour.
» Discussions between Smith and the LIV finally culminated in late August with a proposal of over $100 million that Cam Smith couldn’t resist. After a final tournament on the PGA Tour at the final stage of the FedEx Cup in Atlanta, the Australian joined the circuit financed by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. He won his second tournament and pocketed $4 million for his individual win.
