Cameron Smith answers the phone from Versailles, where the Australian golfer is contesting the French Open on the European Tour.
asserted
golfer → answer → Tour
“Bonjour,” he says, breaking into laughter.
asserted
he → say → laughter
The 2022 British Open champion joined former US Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood this week at Le Golf National, an hour from Paris.
asserted
champion → join → Paris
Smith was a late and surprise addition to make his event debut.
asserted
Smith → make → debut
“Mate, I had never even been to France before this week,” Smith said.
asserted
Smith → say → week
It’s among a handful of late-year events to help Smith stay competitive until December, when he hopes to win a maiden Australian Open crown after two second places, including a crushing, final-hole bogey at Royal Melbourne last year.
asserted
he → ’ → Melbourne
There will be a three-month gap between the end of the LIV Golf season that finished in late August and the 2026 Australian summer schedule.
asserted
that → finish → August
“I put the clubs down for a couple of weeks, then had a couple of really solid weeks practising,” Florida-based Smith said.
asserted
Smith → put → weeks
“Now, I’m trying to get in competition mode for Australia.
asserted
I → try → Australia
I’ve said it a hundred times, but I’d love to knock off the Aussie Open.
asserted
I → say → Open
That’s kind of why I’m here [in France].”
asserted
I → ’ → France
Unfortunately for Smith, he went on to miss the cut in the French Open, finishing on two-over after two double-bogeys from his last three holes.
asserted
he → go → holes
Meanwhile, 7000 kilometres away in Chicago, the International team that Smith starred for in 2019 is taking on the US at the Presidents Cup.
asserted
Smith → star → Cup
LIV golfers such as Smith and Lucas Herbert are banned from the PGA Tour, which runs the biennial cup.
asserted
which → ban → cup
Smith’s close mate Adam Scott is making his 12th appearance for the Internationals, while another friend, British Open champion Ryan Fox, is making his debut.
asserted
friend → make → debut
“I’ve definitely accepted it,” Smith said about not playing the Presidents Cup since joining LIV in 2022.
“I knew that was one of the, I guess, downsides to going to LIV, and I’ve fully accepted that.
asserted
I → accept → that
I sent Scotty a message congratulating him on a great week [equal second at the BMW PGA] at Wentworth, and wishing him the best for the Presidents Cup.
asserted
I → send → Cup
I’d love to see him win one.
asserted
him → love → one
There are some upsides for Smith leaving the PGA Tour for LIV.
asserted
Smith → be → LIV
Having won the British Open at St Andrews and Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in 2022, Smith’s LIV signing bonus was reportedly more than $200 million.
uncertain
bonus → win → 2022
LIV, then led by Greg Norman, built a successful tournament in Adelaide around the popular Smith.
asserted
LIV → lead → Smith
Smith also poured some of his money back into Australian grassroots golf, including his annual scholarship, where he flies two junior players to the US for a week of training with him.
asserted
he → pour → him
Smith fell into a slump on LIV’s 54-hole events with their 48-player fields and shotgun starts.
asserted
Smith → fall → fields
He managed career-best results at the 2023 US Open (fourth) and PGA Championship (tied ninth), but after that, missed six cuts in a row at the majors from the 2024 British Open to this year’s Masters.
The 33-year-old, now a father, has been called out for his performances in the majors.
asserted
old → manage → majors
Often, his LIV move is cited as a key reason.
asserted
move → cite → reason
Smith believes it would have been a slump on any tour.
asserted
it → believe → tour
“Every sportsperson in history has been criticised for something,” the world No.142 said.
asserted
No.142 → criticise → something
“I know I haven’t played my best golf the last couple of years.
asserted
I → know → years
It eats at you a little bit, and you try to get out of the slump.”
asserted
you → eat → slump
In May, Smith was in contention deep into the PGA Championship outside Philadelphia, but tied for seventh.
uncertain
Smith → tie → seventh
There are some signs his game is returning.
asserted
game → be → ?
Now, Smith has a decision to make.
asserted
Smith → have → decision
His five-year exemption into the majors from his British Open victory ends in 2027.
asserted
exemption → end → 2027
Smith needs to play on a tour with direct pathways into the big four.
asserted
Smith → need → four
When Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund withdrew its financing of LIV Golf in April, the league filed for bankruptcy.
asserted
league → withdraw → bankruptcy
It is restructuring for 2027, including trying to convince golfers such as Smith, Bryson DeChambeau and others to stay for “LIV 2.0” using a player equity and a 10-event schedule as lures.
asserted
It → restructure → lures
LIV reportedly has found an investor willing to inject $US300 million ($426 million) if enough big names sign on.
uncertain
names → find → million
Asked where he stands on LIV, and whether he would continue should the new version go ahead, Smith wasn’t sure either way.
asserted
Smith → ask → LIV
“[We’re] in a bit of a limbo … we don’t really know,” he said.
asserted
he → ’re → limbo
“It’s hard to make a decision when you don’t have at least some of the answers to make the right decision, or [any] decision.
asserted
you → ’ → decision
…and 11 more, not listed.
The Aporia
