Cameron Smith won’t have the opportunity to defend his Players Championship title this week after defecting to LIV Golf, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t be at TPC Sawgrass taking in the action.
The Australian, who becomes the fifth Australian to win the PGA Tour’s flagship event, sunk 10 birdies en route to posting a six under par 66 to win on 13 under and claim the whopping $3.6m cheque for first place last season, before going on to win the Open Championship at St Andrews later in the year.
One month after putting the lights out of the Old Course’s back nine, Smith signed for LIV Golf for a reported $100m+, putting to bed his chances of defending this week’s Players Championship.
So, what will Smith be up to this week, given the fact he lives in the area?
“I’m a little bit unsure,” Smith told golf.com,
“That’s where I live now so I don’t know. I’ll definitely be watching on TV, I think it’s a great event to watch. I grew up my whole childhood watching the event.
“I’d love to get out there. I don’t know how it would be received but even getting out there watching, walking around in the crowd might be pretty funny.”
If Smith is to turn up at the Pete Dye-designed track we don’t expect he’ll receive the warmest of welcomes. Following his move to LIV GOLF, the 29-year-old had his winner’s parking spot removed at the club.
It was also reported the club purged a replica bag with Smith’s winning clubs, plus photos, from the pro shop and clubhouse.
This week’s tournament will not only be missing it’s champion but also the second and third place finishers with Anirban Lahiri and Paul Casey also banned from the PGA Tour following their move to LIV Golf.
