“I didn’t sleep for a few months,” Cam Smith admitted, recalling the chaos swirling around his move to LIV Golf. “I was constantly thinking, ‘What will other people think?’”
This wasn’t your typical contract negotiation. This was a global firestorm — and Smith, fresh off lifting the Claret Jug at St Andrews, was right in the center of it.
But what really happened behind the scenes? Why did one of the game’s best walk away from the PGA Tour while sitting at No. 2 in the world — and what finally made him call it the best decision of his life?
Let’s rewind the tape.
The Decision That Nearly Broke Him
When Cam Smith left the PGA Tour in August 2022, fans were stunned. The timing, the backlash, the sheer size of the $100 million offer — it was all headline fuel.
But underneath the bold move was something a lot more human: doubt.
“It felt like I didn’t sleep for a few months,” Smith told the Sydney Morning Herald. He wasn’t worried about money. He was worried about legacy — and how his peers would see him. “I feel like I do most things by the book, and to be one to step away… was really tough for me.”
Even after winning The Open, he hadn’t signed yet. The decision was that raw, that fragile.
And it didn’t help that one of golf’s biggest voices picked up the phone.
Rory Called. And It Got Personal.
Just days after Cam’s win, Rory McIlroy called to say congratulations. But that wasn’t the only reason for the chat.
“There were maybe a couple of little jabs in there,” Smith later admitted. The two talked about the competing tours. Rory wasn’t trying to twist his arm — not exactly — but he made it clear what was at stake.
That call mattered. McIlroy was the face of the opposition. A leader. And a rival.
It didn’t stop Smith. But it sure made him think twice.
The World Ranking That Got Away
Cam Smith was on the cusp of being world number one.
Then he left.
At the time, LIV Golf didn’t offer any Official World Golf Ranking points. Which meant his #2 spot was already slipping. “For sure it hurts,” Smith later said. “That was definitely something I wanted to tick off.”
He didn’t just sacrifice ranking. He risked relevance.
Still, Smith tried to keep perspective: “When you rock up to a tournament, you know who you have to beat — whether there’s a World Ranking or not.”
But make no mistake — that sting never fully left him.
Public Backlash, Private Joy
In Australia, the headlines turned quickly. From “national hero” to “sellout.” Smith saw it all.
But while the press frothed, Smith found something he hadn’t had in years: freedom.
“I was able to spend eight weeks in Australia at the end of the year… and I haven’t been able to do that for eight or nine years.”
That hit different.
COVID had kept him away from his family for three years. That separation reshaped his priorities. “Life is short,” he said. “You need to spend time with the people you love.”
That wasn’t just spin. That was the real reason.
Not Just a Paycheck
Let’s be clear: $100 million is life-changing. But for Smith, it wasn’t only about the money.
When asked about it, he shrugged: “I do okay.”
The bigger picture? Time. Autonomy. Home.
He even embraced the strings that came with the contract — full-season commitments, promotional appearances, image rights. “No regrets,” he said flatly.
Smith wasn’t just richer. He was lighter.
Wins, Woes, and Learning Curves
Since joining LIV, Cam Smith has still played world-class golf. Three individual wins. Team success with Ripper GC. He’s still grinding — just in a different sandbox.
That said, not every part of the journey has been smooth.
“I wish I would have trusted what I was doing technically a little bit more,” he admitted in 2024. That’s not about LIV. That’s about golf — and the never-ending process of getting better.
He’s still wired that way. Still chasing sharpness. Still trying to put it all together.
The Emotional Flip: “No Regrets”
By the time 2024 rolled around, the man who once couldn’t sleep had flipped the script.
“It was the best decision of my life,” Smith told the Herald Sun.
He wasn’t just repeating talking points. He looked happier. Sounded lighter. Even joked more in interviews.
“At the start, it was definitely scary,” he said. “But I have absolutely got no regrets.”
He found what a lot of golfers spend their entire careers chasing: peace of mind.
And Yet… That One ‘What If’
The only lingering ache? Not becoming World No. 1. Not being part of the big moments on the old stage.
There’s no bitterness in his voice when he talks about it. Just quiet honesty.
But when he says he’s happier now? You believe him.
Because sometimes the best decisions aren’t the ones that make sense to everyone else — they’re the ones that finally make you feel whole.
Quote Highlight:
“It was the best decision of my life.” — Cameron Smith
Cam Smith on LIV Golf: “Best Decision of My Life”
