Cameron Smith’s celebrations after taking out the British Open were soured when he clashed with a reporter who asked him about joining the rebel Saudi LIV tour straight after his incredible victory.
The journalist apologised for the poor timing before quizzing the Queenslander on rumours he’d join the controversial breakaway competition, which is headed by his fellow Aussie Greg Norman.
Smith – who’d been all smiles in his post-tournament press conference until that point – was clearly agitated when he shot back, ‘I just won the British Open and you’re asking about that?
‘I think that’s pretty, not that good.’
Smith’s beaming smile was replaced by a scowl when a reporter asked him if rumours that he’s joining Greg Norman’s breakaway LIV tour are true
The Queenslander (pictured kissing the Claret Jug after his win) refused to be drawn on whether he’s headed to the Saudi-backed tour after rumours emerged that Norman is trying to recruit him and Adam Scott to form an all-Australian team in the series
The reporter persisted, asking the new champion if he was keen to join the rival tour, to which Smith responded: ‘I don’t know, mate. My team around me worries about all that stuff, I’m just here to win golf tournaments.’
Rumours that LIV CEO Norman wants to recruit Smith and Adam Scott to form an all-Australian team in the rebel competition were aired by Britain’s Telegraph newspaper shortly before Smith shot a final-round 64 to take the Claret Jug at St Andrews.
The Aussie’s failure to rule out joining the series quickly made headlines, coming on the back of news that Henrik Stenson is set to be stripped of Europe’s Ryder Cup captaincy as he draws closer to finalising a switch to the Saudi-backed competition.
He looks poised to join fellow European stars Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Paul Casey, Martin Kaymer and record Cup points-scorer Sergio Garcia, who have all signed up. Garcia confirmed on Sunday he will be formally resigning from the DP World Tour.
Recruiting Smith would be a huge coup for Norman, who was barred from attending celebrations for the 150th Open at St Andrews due to his role with LIV
The 28-year-old’s astonishing round of 64 on the final day sealed a win for the ages and saw him break Tiger Woods’ mark for the lowest ever score at St Andrews
Smith shot a total of 268 across his four rounds to finish 20 under par – the furthest under par a winner has finished in majors history and the lowest ever score at St Andrews.
The Aussie beat Tiger Woods’ previous best mark of 269 set in 2000, when the American finished 19 under.
With a remarkable five successive birdies to start the back nine, Smith chased down home hope Rory McIlroy to become the first Australian to claim the famous Claret Jug since Greg Norman at Royal St George’s in 1993.
‘Ah, jeez, what a week. I’m going to fall apart here, I know,’ Smith said, choking back tears after being handed the coveted trophy.
‘All the names on there, every player that’s been at the top of their game has won this championship.
‘Yeah, it’s pretty cool to be on there. It really hasn’t sunk in yet. I don’t think it will for a few weeks. Yeah, it’s just unreal.’
Beer close by, Smith poses with the trophy on the balcony at the Royal & Ancient clubhouse after becoming the first Aussie to claim the title since Greg Norman in 1993
Showing nerves of steel, the 28-year-old closed with a record eight-under-par 64 on Sunday to capture his elusive maiden major championship after two near misses at the Masters.
He won by a shot from American Cameron Young, who eagled the last for a 65 to force Smith to hole a clutch two-foot birdie putt to deny the American a four-hole playoff.
McIlroy finished a further stroke back at 18 under following a final-round 70.
In etching his name in the history books after winning golf’s oldest and greatest championship, Smith also becomes the first player to complete The Players-British Open double since the legendary Jack Nicklaus in 1978.
He is Australia’s fifth winner of the Open after Norman, who also reigned at Turnberry in 1986, Ian Baker Finch (1991), Kel Nagle (1960) and five-times champion Peter Thomson (1954, 1955, 1956, 1958 and 1965).
Nagle and Thomson are the only other Australians to have won the Open on the Old Course at the home of golf.
But not even those two greats completed victory in such grand style.
Smith’s finishing 64 is the equal-lowest-ever final round from an Open champion and matched Norman’s 64 on the par-71 layout at Sandwich in 1993.
Convincing him to join the LIV tour would be a huge coup for Norman, who was snubbed by the Royal & Ancient club, which refused to invite him to the celebrations for the 150th Open because they feared his status as the face of the competition would hijack the event.
The ‘Great White Shark’ would usually have been an obvious invite under normal circumstances after winning the Open twice during his career.
