Cameron Smith opens up on split after PGA Championship near-miss

Cameron Smith admitted the decision to sack his long-time golf coach on the eve of the PGA Championship still lingered after his near-miss at the second men's major of the year. 

Smith arrived at Aronimink Golf Club facing serious questions about his game having missed six consecutive cuts in the majors. 

But the Australian, 32, ended the shocking run by finishing in a share of seventh in Pennsylvania alongside Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele, five adrift of champion Aaron Rai.  

"It feels great to play nice," the LIV Golf recruit told reporters after a wildly entertaining 68 that saw him only hit three of 14 fairways.

"You don't work hard to play crap. The last couple of years have been frustrating. I feel like I've been putting in the work and not really getting anything out of it."

Reports emerged last week Smith had sacked his long-time coach Grant Field in an attempt to turn around his poor form. 

Smith had been with the instructor since he was nine years old. 

He confirmed ahead of the PGA Championship that he had begun working with Claude Harmon III, son of Tiger Woods' legendary coach, Butch Harmon.

"We've managed to clean up a few things that were perhaps a little bit off," Smith said. "I feel like I've got a lot more confidence in my swing."

Opening up on the decision to part ways with Field, Smith said: "It was a hard call to make to my coach. I had been seeing Grant since I was nine years old. So I'd been with him for 23 years.

"It was probably one of the most difficult phone calls I've ever had to make."

He added: "It's still kind of lingering, but I feel like I've made the right call. I can see it in my golf and my strike of the ball and seeing some different shots. It's been nice."

Smith was among the first wave of players to be recruited by LIV Golf in 2022. 

He joined the breakaway tour three months after winning the landmark 150th Open at St Andrews. 

At the time, he was also the reigning champion of the coveted Players and was regularly challenging Scottie Scheffler on the PGA Tour. 

Although he has won three individual LIV titles, Smith's performances in the majors since 2024 have been underwhelming. 

With LIV Golf facing an uncertain future, it led to speculation that Smith would join the likes of Mito Pereira and retire from the sport early. 

Smith told reporters before LIV's event in Virginia two weeks ago that he had been given "every assurance" the league will survive in 2027. 

He previously laughed off talks he could step away from the sport. 

"I'm 32, so I have got a while yet," he said. "Gee, I haven't been asked that question before.

"I can promise you, the fire is in the belly, it's just a matter of time. I don't think time is running out on my major career by any means."

Smith was one of 11 LIV Golf players that teed it up at golf's second major of the year. 

Jon Rahm performed the best and topped the LIV Golf leaderboard at the PGA Championship. 

Bryson DeChambeau was among the surprise names to miss the 36-hole cut, along with Tyrrell Hatton, Thomas Detry and Tom McKibbin. 

Smith will now take a short break from the sport.

He will return to competitive action at LIV Golf's eighth event of the 2026 season in Korea over 28-31 May. 

LIV were expected to head to Louisiana in late June but the tournament was postponed. 

The $30m event was initially scheduled for June ‌25-28 at Bayou Oaks at City Park. 

LIV officials cited concerns over the impact the FIFA World ‌Cup could have on attendance and viewership, as well as issues ​such as high temperatures and course conditions as the primary reasons to postpone it.