Cameron Smith makes pointed remark to golf's major chiefs
LIV Golf's 2022 marquee signing Cameron Smith says the move to award exemptions into majors could have come a lot sooner.
Former Open champion Cameron Smith says LIV players should have been offered direct pathways into the major championships from the very beginning of the golf wars.
The R&A said yesterday the leading LIV Golf player not already exempt for this year's Open Championship will gain entry into the field at Royal Portrush.
The announcement came five days after the USGA confirmed the top player in LIV's individual standings following the conclusion of their event in Dallas will get a spot in the U.S. Open at Oakmont.
Smith won the landmark 150th Open at St Andrews and bolted to the breakaway tour four weeks after getting his hands on the claret jug.
He told the West Australian a number of LIV golfers have missed out on deserved spots in the majors since 2022.
"I think it would have been nice to have that as soon as we moved over here but obviously things take time," Smith told the publication.
"I think it definitely needed to happen. I feel like there are some guys out here who have missed out on spots in majors over that past couple years that deserved them so it's good to see that they are acknowledging us.
"It's hard to win out here and it's hard to compete and I think we have the strongest fields in golf week in and week out. I think it will be the best thing for the game."
The Masters and the US PGA Championship have previously awarded special exemptions to certain LIV players.
Joaquin Niemann and Sergio Garcia have accepted invitations from the PGA of America to compete in this year's major at Quail Hollow.
Niemann has also accepted an invitation from Masters officials to compete at Augusta National in April.
Smith has played in every major championship since his reported $120m switch to LIV.
The closest he has come to landing a major title since came at the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club where he finished fourth.
Smith had a disaster at last year's Open at Royal Troon.
The Aussie carded an opening round of 80 and followed it with a 74 to miss the cut by six strokes.
Smith is back home this week as LIV plays its second event of 2025 in Adelaide.
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