Open champ Smith optimistic about LIV’s future

HOYLAKE, England — A number of moments after reigning Open champion Cameron Smith obtained emotional when returning the Claret Jug he has had for a yr, the Australian delivered a message on the way forward for LIV Golf within the wake of the PGA Tour’s framework settlement with the Public Funding Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF).

“There’s clearly quite a lot of issues which might be up within the air that nobody actually is aware of for the time being,” Smith stated at a information convention Monday previous to the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Membership. “There’s quite a lot of uncertainty however I am optimistic LIV shall be round sooner or later.”

It was this time final yr that Smith put collectively a final-round 64 to surpass Rory McIlroy and outlast Cameron Young to win the a hundred and fiftieth Open at St. Andrews solely to, shortly after the event, change into LIV Golf’s greatest signing since its inception.

Earlier this month, at LIV’s London occasion, which Smith received, he stated he thought his win on the Previous Course was barely “overshadowed” by questions on his future that he obtained on the post-championship information convention. On Monday, Smith appeared again on the final 12 months and reiterated that the choice to go to LIV was “irritating” however one he doesn’t remorse.

“It does appear to be a very long time in the past, final yr,” Smith stated. “I’ve stated up to now the PGA Tour is a superb place to play golf, and it is going to be for a really very long time. I do not suppose there was any a part of me that made me suppose I made the flawed resolution all through any a part of the final eight or 9 months.”

Whereas the golf world has been consumed with the facility battle between LIV and the PGA Tour and, now, the U.S. Senate’s investigation into their proposed partnership, Smith has as a substitute chosen to focus extra on preserving the Claret Jug in his possession.

“I wasn’t part of all of the lawsuit stuff,” Smith stated. “I attempted to remain as far-off from that as doable.”

The 29-year-old added that he believes no participant is aware of precisely how the continued framework settlement will shake out however, past remaining assured in LIV’s future, Smith additionally stated he would love present LIV CEO Greg Norman to stay concerned within the league.

Norman, who has been the fiery voice behind LIV’s push to upend golf, has pale from the highlight in current months as PIF chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan has been the face of the fund’s ongoing negotiations to accomplice with the PGA Tour. PGA Tour officers pushed to oust Norman because the CEO of LIV through the tour’s negotiations with the DP World Tour and the PIF, in accordance with paperwork launched by the U.S. Senate Everlasting Subcommittee on Investigations.

“I feel I’ve sort of change into a little bit of a good friend of Greg the final eight or 9 months,” Smith stated. “Personally I feel he is doing an ideal job for our tour. He is looking for our greatest pursuits. That is all you may ask of a man that is operating the present. I might like to see him carry on.”

Regardless of his opinions on the rivalry, Smith stated it doesn’t give him any additional motivation in attempting to defend his title this week at Royal Liverpool. As an alternative, he stated it could be “a cool story” to have a rematch of kinds with the PGA’s Rory McIlroywho completed within the high three of the Open final yr and is coming off a win Sunday within the Scottish Open.

Smith stated that after profitable LIV’s occasion in London and paying extra consideration to element on the course not too long ago, he has the correct quantity of confidence and momentum heading into this week’s Open Championship.

“It is a little bit little bit of a piece in progress,” Smith stated. “I feel as a golfer, I feel I am really a greater golfer now than what I used to be final yr.”