It was just a few years ago when Cam Smith was undisputedly one of the truly elite players in the game. Lifting the Claret Jug at the spiritual Home of Golf on the 17th of July 2022, the Australian had conquered the legendary Old Course with an extraordinary back-nine of 30 to shatter the dreams of Rory McIlroy and secure the milestone 150th Open Championship.
This was no flash in the pan either, as Smith had earlier that season claimed the Sentry Tournament of Champions and the prestigious Players Championship on the PGA Tour. His triumph at St Andrews took him to a career high of second in the Official World Golf Ranking, but there was a cloud hanging over the skies of Fife that Sunday as speculation was widespread that the Queenslander was set to join the newly established LIV Golf.
Following the Tour Championship that August, Smith’s move to the Saudi-backed circuit was announced, where he banked a reported $140m contract, although the exact terms of that deal and payment structure haven’t been publicly confirmed.
In November of that year, Smith won the Australian PGA Championship for a third time, which followed his maiden individual LIV success in September, with two further lucrative wins coming during the following summer.
The question keen observers had was whether he would still remain relevant in the majors, and Smith did post top ten finishes in both the PGA Championship and US Open in 2023 and later a sixth place at the Masters in the April of 2024. His record at Augusta National had been impressive – including being a slightly distant runner-up behind Dustin Johnson at the surreal Masters of November 2020 – but things would markedly decline from there.
Smith’s last LIV title came at the Bedminster event in the August of 2023, although he has lost several playoffs since, including to Joaquin Niemann at the PIF Saudi International of 2024.
After featuring on the leaderboard down Magnolia Lane in the April of that season, Smith finished T-63rd in the PGA Championship, T32nd in the US Open, and he missed the cut by a mile at Royal Troon after rounds of 80 and 74.
In 2025, Smith missed the cut in all four majors, the only player this year to post that ignominious feat. He ultimately finished a dismal 18th in LIV Golf’s individual rankings for their most recent season and missed the cut in both the weather shortened Alfred Duhnill Links Championship and the PIF Saudi International.
The Data Golf Rankings, which follows a unique methodology to accurately determine the ranking of all golfers, currently has Smith at 133rd behind Steven Fisk, Charles Howell III and Haotong Li.
It’s a far cry from being the Champion Golfer of the Year.
What has happened to Cam Smith?
But why has this happened? Some would point to the vast riches he received softening his passion and resolve to contend, but it’s not like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have empty bank accounts. There are others who would cite the structure and competitive balance of LIV Golf itself, but Bryson DeChambeau has still found a way to be a factor in the biggest events.
Life away from the golf course has changed too as Smith is now married with a son, Remy, who was born in April, but the 32-year-old simply believes that he hasn’t scored as well as he has played.
“It’s kind of been the story of the year, I guess I thought I’ve played better than what I’ve scored,” he said ahead of the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland in Brisbane.
“The work has been there and those poor rounds creeping in … it’s been very frustrating.
“That’s really bothered me this year, whereas in the past it probably hasn’t.
“Looking back on stuff has been good. So I’m looking forward to getting in and getting into the groove this week.”
Smith will also compete in next week’s Australian Open at Royal Melbourne, participating in a fortnight on home soil that rates among the best on the golfing calendar. Whether he can restore himself to former glories is a complicated equation to solve, but if that’s to occur anywhere, it’s likely to be here.
He wouldn’t be the first golfer to reach the top and soon after slump into relative obscurity. For differing reasons, the likes of Bill Rogers, Sandy Lyle, David Duval and Smith’s compatriot Ian Baker-Finch all enjoyed brief spells at the absolute peak.
Etching his name on the Claret Jug guarantees a place in history but should those laser-accurate irons and that mesmerising putting stroke reappear, there could yet be another positive chapter or two to be written in the story of Cam Smith.
Kieran Clark is the Digital Editor of Golfshake. He oversees editorial content, community engagement, forums, and social media channels. A lifelong golfer from the Isle of Bute in Scotland who has now lived in St Andrews for a decade, he began playing at the age of five and maintains a passion for exploring courses, with a particular affection for historic layouts. Kieran regularly contributes in-depth opinion pieces and features, drawing on his enthusiasm for the game and its culture.
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