Cameron Smith calls out critics of LIV players competing at Masters
Cameron Smith has taken a bit of fire at critics who think the LIV convert hasn’t played enough “real golf” to continue his stellar record at Augusta and contest next week’s Masters.
The reigning British Open champion will play his fourth event this year at the LIV event in Orlando this week. This event is another 54-hole, uncut tournament on the Orange County National Course.
Considered one of the less challenging layouts on the LIV circuit, Smith finished a tie for 24th in the last event at Tuscon.
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Still ranked 0.5 in the world, Smith started 2023 after failing to qualify in Saudi Arabia and finished tied for fifth in the opening event of LIV in Mayakoba, nine shots behind the winner. .
He will return to Augusta as the British Open champion after finishing tied for third at last year’s Masters. His three other top-10 finishes in the last four years, including a runner-up finish to Dustin Johnson in 2020.
Smith played in the final group last year as well, with Scotty Schaeffler taking the win.
Final tune-up ahead of the opening round in Orlando 18 LIV players heading to the MastersSmith said he wants to “show people” that his new tour mate is still good enough to compete against the best players in the world.
He affirmed that the six former Masters champions at LIV are all capable of playing a “high standard of golf” and that their presence will be felt in Augusta.
After playing Pro-Am, Smith said:
“(But) I think it’s important that we go out there and really show the high standard of golf that we all know is capable of.
“Most of us will get four cracks[at the major championships]this year. I just exist.
“There’s a lot of chatter about ‘these guys don’t play real golf anymore.’ And I honestly think that’s BS. And I just want to show people that.”
Smith was one of five Australians to appear in this year’s Masters, a decade after Adam Scott’s famous victory, and even went so far as to say the best golf he’s ever played was around Augusta. I’m here.
The Queensland native has enough to keep him confident that he can fight again.
“I feel like I played the best golf I’ve ever played here,” he said.
“I feel like I have a pretty good record around here.”
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https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/cameron-smith-is-adamant-he-and-the-liv-players-can-contend-at-next-weeks-masters/news-story/4109b3c53f4529bd428a567efa6b8c79 Cameron Smith calls out critics of LIV players competing at Masters
