Cameron Smith’s last LIV start was a seven-shot romp in New Jersey and last time he was in Chicago he hoisted his first trophy after making his shock move to the breakaway tour that could yet be scrapped for 2024.
Both elements bode well for the Australian star who, after two more LIV wins this season, has the chance to secure what could be the second and last season-long individual championship and a bonus payday in excess of $28m ($US18m).
It’s head-spinning stuff for most and even Smith, who signed a deal worth a reported $140m after being lured by Greg Norman to LIV, said it was hard not to think about.
With clouds still swirling over the future of the tour after financial backer, the Saudi government’s Public Investment Fund, made a deal with the PGA Tour, Smith could be LIV’s last individual champion too.
A decision from PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, who has the final say on whether LIV continues in to 2024, is set to be made by December 31 when full details of the new arrangement will be confirmed.
Watch every round of the PGA Tour LIVE & Exclusive on Fox Sports, available on Kayo. Join now and start streaming instantly >
Questions about what the future looks like have been casually swatted away by players including Smith who, having enjoyed a five-week playing break after his last-start win, conceded he spent some of that time thinking about the opportunity in front of him.
“Yeah, it‘s definitely in the back of the mind for sure. It’s hard not to really think about,” he said at the Rich Harvest Farms course in Chicago, a privately built and owned course that has just 50 members at any one time.
“I kind of wish this tournament had of come a little sooner. Five weeks off; it’s hard to say the momentum is really still there.”
Smith has 170 points after winning two of the past three LIV events, and he’s ahead of Talor Gooch (149), who has won three times in 2023, with another six players able to reel him in.
Smith’s all-Aussie Ripper GC team also tasted its maiden LIV team win last time out, and given that aspect was one of the world No.12’s major reasons for joining the breakaway tour, he’s not taking his eye off their ambitions either with a team title also up for grabs.
“It‘s probably prettying satisfying winning a tournament, but I think a year-long, it means you’ve done a lot of things right throughout the year and obviously had a good season, so there definitely will be a different sense there,” he said.
“But you know, it‘s what we were all out here to do is to win that season-long title. It would be nice to get the Ripper team up there in Miami as well, and hopefully get a double would be nice.”
Winning is the easiest way for Smith to seal the title, with events in Jeddah and Miami, where the team championship will be decided, to close out the regular season.
