Cameron Smith confirms shock split at PGA Championship: "Terrible conversation to have"

Cameron Smith has confirmed he has parted ways with his long-time golf coach ahead of the PGA Championship. 

Smith arrives at the second men's major of the year hoping to turn around his fortunes in the major championships. 

The Aussie, 31, has missed the cut in his last six major championship appearances. 

Smith was spotted on the range last week at LIV Golf's stop in Virginia working alongside Claude Harmon III. 

It was unclear if the Australian had decided to sack his long-time coach, Grant Field, in a bid to turn around his fortunes. 

Bu Smith confirmed to Today's Golfer on Monday that the switch is permanent, explaining that he felt so upset after missing the cut at last month's Masters that he knew a change was necessary. 

"I was pretty devastated," he told the publication. "I feel like I've put in a lot of hard work over the last year and a half and I’ve just got absolutely nothing out of my game, so it’s just time for a change."

"I got to a point where I was thinking so many things in my golf swing that I couldn't hit the golf shot, which is never a fun place to be. He just really simplified it and made me think one thing rather than a thousand.

"It's starting to feel good and starting to feel like I can actually commit to some shots and hit some different shots, so it's coming along nicely. Claude spends a lot of time out on LIV with DJ. He's obviously got a wonderful reputation."

Opening up on his decision to split from Field, Smith added: "It was a terrible, terrible conversation to have.

"I've been seeing Grant since I was like nine years old, and he's a really good friend as well so it was tough, but I feel like I've done the right thing for my golf. I think what I've done is right."

Smith is one of 11 LIV Golf players in the field this week. 

The Aussie was among the first wave of players to be recruited by the breakaway tour in 2022. 

He was persuaded by compatriot Greg Norman to join LIV shortly after capturing the landmark 150th Open at St Andrews. 

At the time, he was also the reigning Players champion and was second to Scottie Scheffler in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).

He has since fallen to 239th in the OWGR.

Of course, it's worth noting that LIV did not offer any form of world ranking points until this January, but DataGolf still illustrates Smith’s decline, placing him as low as 146th. 

Two weeks ago, Smith insisted that he still has fire in the belly. 

He laughed off talks of retirement should LIV Gol not survive beyond this season, adding: "Early in my career, I hung my hat on how I performed in the majors.

"And it's just not good enough. I am making a few changes and trying to get back to where I was and better.."

"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."

The aforementioned Scheffler is the pre-tournament betting favourite for the PGA Championship.

Scheffler, 29, is looking to defend his title and win a fifth major title. 

Keep checking GolfMagic for regular updates of the second men's major of the year.