Cam Smith Explains Poor Major Results Since Leaving for LIV Golf

Australian and fan favorite Cam Smith was among the best players in the world during his final year on the PGA TOUR. 

He won a Players Championship, The Open Championship at St. Andrews, and was among the most popular players in the world.

Since then, his form has fallen off. Since leaving the PGA TOUR to go to LIV Golf, he is one of several players to have their performance essentially go down the tubes. But he appears to have an explanation.

In an interview with Australian Golf Digest, Smith said his issue is not technical; it is something else. He is the only player to play in all four Major Championships this year and miss the cut in each.

🚨📉⛳️ #MC — With his missed cut today, Cam Smith becomes the only golfer to play and miss the cut in all 4 major championships this season.

What has gone wrong for the LIV Golf star? pic.twitter.com/3vWKXXBMxF

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 18, 2025

He says it’s mental:

“Yes, it sucks to play bad in tournaments that probably mean a little bit more than others. I think it’s probably more of a mental issue than actual technique. But yeah, the major results weren’t good.”

Many would argue that Smith’s motivation to play well has been eliminated based on his move to LIV Golf. That does not explain the uptick in performance from other players, like Joaquin Niemann, Bryson DeChambeau, or Talor Gooch.

Other players might not have the same experience. The massive paycheck they received from LIV might have tempered their desire to play well. This could be part of Smith’s problem.

However, he believes it is something mentally that is holding him back, and it has been frustrating:

“Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I’ve been motivated, I think, all year, to try and get a result, and maybe that’s part of the problem, I feel like I’ve done everything right, and not really got much out of it. My swing feels the best it’s ever felt and to go out there and perform like that isn’t something I want to do, and it’s something that I shouldn’t do.”