Cam Smith calls for LIV Golf change after raising concerns over major disappointment

Former Open champion Cam Smith has pleaded with to make dramatic schedule changes to give players a better chance of success at the majors.

The Aussie claimed his first major title in 2022, edging and Cameron Young to cement his status as one of the elite players in the game.

But his performances at have suffered since his move to LIV two years ago, finishing in a tie for 33rd at Royal Liverpool in 2023 before missing the cut at Royal Troon this year. LIV players en masse struggled in Ayrshire in July, with the week before proving to be less-than-ideal preparation for a classic links test.

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PGA Tour players, however, had the opportunity to play in the Scottish Open – a co-sanctioned event with the DP World Tour – the week before The Open. Xander Schauffele, was part of the field for the event at the Rennaisance Club and arrived at Troon with his game tuned to links .

Smith, 31, has urged and the decision-makers on the breakaway tour to introduce a links event to the schedule in the lead-up to The Open – which will be held at Royal Portrush in 2025 – to ensure its members are adequately prepared for the major.

“It was really two polar opposites of golf,” Smith said of the challenge of adjusting from Valderrama to Troon in just a few days. It was really hot [at Valderrama], the ball was going a long way up in altitude, and then getting on to links [at Royal Troon] where it’s quite cold and windy, it’s probably not the best prep.

“It’s definitely something that we spoke about. They (LIV) are well aware of that. I don’t know if it’ll happen next year, but definitely in the future it’s something that we want to do.”

Smith had a disappointing season at the majors by his high standards, with only a tied-sixth finish at The Masters to reflect on positively. But he believes LIV's 2025 schedule, which is yet to be publicly announced in full but takes in stops in Saudi Arabia, , Hong Kong and Singapore by mid-March, will leave him better prepared for the start of major season a month later.

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“The schedule we got next year, we’re playing a little bit more before that first major,” he said. “That was the change that was made for us players, and they’ve done a really good job of acknowledging that and making some changes.

“We’re here back in Australia a bit earlier next year [for LIV Adelaide in February], and a lot of time in Asia as well, so there’s a few big tournaments before the Masters and then going into major season.”