Cameron Smith after Phil Mickelson shocker: "I wasn't expecting that"

Cameron Smith admitted he was surprised after Phil Mickelson had a nightmare final round chasing his first LIV Golf win in Bedminster, New Jersey.

Ben Smith

14 Aug 2023

Cameron Smith after Phil Mickelson shocker:

Cameron Smith admitted he was shocked at Phil Mickelson's collapse after picking up his second LIV Golf victory of 2023.

Smith began the day with a four-shot lead in Bedminster and was being chased by a rejuvenated Mickelson, 52, who played in the final group on the breakaway tour for the first time.

Mickelson collapsed like a pack of cards and his challenge was undone by an horrendous quintuple bogey eight.

Lefty's challenge went up in flames on No. 7 at Trump National Golf Course in New Jersey.

His tee shot at the par-3 was wet. Mickelson reteed but then found the water once again. His third found dry land but he couldn't get up and down and in the end slumped to a T-9 finish at 1-under, 11 strokes behind champion Smith.

Smith was once again in supreme form with his putter and in the end his margin of victory, over India's Anirban Lahiri, was as many as seven shots.

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He put together rounds of 66, 67 and 68 to collect his second $4m cheque of 2023 on the breakaway.

His victory was his third overall having previously tasted success at LIV's event in 2022 in Chicago.

Smith told the media:

"For how Phil played those first five or six holes, it was really -- it was just out of the ordinary. I wasn't really expecting that. I don't think anyone was.

"He's obviously still probably three or four back at that point and trying to make birdies.

"It's a weird golf course. You can't play defensive and play for pars, but you can't play too aggressive and try to make birdies. You've almost got to let the birdies come to you.

"I can understand why that happened, because you're behind and you want to win. It's as simple as that."

Watch Phil react to the shot here:

☠️⛄️Phil Mickelson dunks two balls in the water on #7 at LIV Bedminster. He’s now 8 shots back of leader Cam Smith. @CamSmithLegion
pic.twitter.com/Huxb906ox0
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) August 13, 2023

Smith said he wasn't happy with how he won at Centurion Club. He said he played poorly on the final day a week before the 151st Open.

"I think I'm a long way off the greatest of all time," joked Smith. "But I did play good this week. The game felt good."

Smith's Ripper team, comprising of Jed Morgan, Marc Leishman and Matt Jones also scooped a commanding, 11-shot team victory over Bryson DeChambeau's Crushers.

The South African side, Stinger, finished third.

Next up for LIV Golf is a trip to Chicago to play Rich Harvest Farms over September 22-24.

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