Cameron Smith has given the biggest indication yet he’s joining the rebel LIV Golf tour, declaring he’s “ready to cop some heat” during a TV interview.
Following his first round three-under at the St Jude Championships in Memphis – the first tournament in the FedEx Cup Playoffs – Smith was doing an interview with Sky Sports when he was asked if he had any sympathy for journalists on the tour asking him about LIV.
“That’s just their job – that’s what they’re there to do. They’re there to sell stories and I’m sure they’ve had a few looks at it the last few days,” he said,
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“You know I’m ready to cop some heat … but like I said I’m here to win the FedEx Cup Playoffs – that’s my number one goal and whatever happens after that will come from me.”
Currently the world No.2, Smith has repeatedly been evasive when pressed on the matter, and got prickly with a journalist who posed the question to him after his Open Championship victory in July.
The deal to get Smith to the Saudi league is reportedly worth $143 million. He is expected to make his debut in Boston next month, however confirmation of his defection isn’t expected until after the conclusion of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
Smith’s compatriot Cameron Percy told RSN Radio on Tuesday that Smith and fellow Aussie Marc Leishman were both “gone”.
Smith played his first round of the St Jude Championships with world No.1 Scottie Scheffler. The American may have been making his feelings about a potential LIV defection known when he appeared to break a core piece of golf etiquette, walking straight across Smith’s line while he was lining up a putt.
Smith shot Scheffler a look, but didn’t appear to say anything further.
Si Woo Kim and JJ Spaun share the overnight lead having both carded blistering eight-under 62s. Smith currently sits in a tie for 30th at three-under 67. Scheffler will have some work to do to make the cut after shooting a one-over 71.
Other Aussies in the field include Jason Day at five-under, Adam Scott at four-under, Cam Davis at three-under, Leishman at one-under, and Lucas Herbert at three-over.
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