LIV Golf's poster boy Cameron Smith: "I actually had a lot of sleepless nights"

LIV Golf's Cameron Smith has revealed the thing that gave the Australian sleepless nights.

20 Apr 2023

LIV Golf's Cameron Smith reportedly signed a deal worth $143m when he bolted from the PGA Tour.

It was a decision that likely appalled the game's traditionalists, given that he had just won the landmark Open at St. Andrews and was closing in on becoming the number one ranked player in the world.

His critics argued that he was risking his future and his legacy. What would happen with the majors? What would happen to his form as he decided to play in a new golf league that only plays 54-hole events?

Speaking before the 87th Masters, Smith did concede the fields in LIV Golf events aren't very strong in comparison to their North American rival.

That being said, he maintained he was very happy with his decision to join LIV. It's a position that he has always taken.

To be honest, that's not exactly surprising given that per his contract he's not allowed to say anything detrimental about his new employer.

But speaking before LIV's Australian debut in Adelaide, Smith did claim that there was one issue that caused him sleepless nights.

Apparently, it was over what he should re-name the all-Australian LIV Golf side that he is the team captain of.

In the debut season, Smith was part of the team called Punch GC. It's now called Ripper.

Smith said:

"I was actually very involved in that process. I actually had a lot of sleepless nights thinking about what I could come up with. I wouldn't say I'm a very creative person off the golf course, so it was tough.

"We spoke about it a little bit, I think, as a team, but yeah, basically I wanted to get the Southern Cross in there somehow, some way, that's on our flag, and it's basically I'd describe it as like a fast Southern Cross. Looks like it's going somewhere.

"Yeah, no, it was awesome to do that. It's something I've never done before. It was cool to be a part of."

"I think Ripper for us is kind of like a slang word. I think you'll hear it a lot out there, probably on TV a lot this week, as well, so yeah."