What Happened to Cameron Smith?
Cameron Smith is an Australian professional golfer who achieved significant success on the PGA Tour, including winning The Players Championship and The Open Championship in 2022, before making a high-profile move to the LIV Golf League in August 2022. As of April 2026, he continues to compete on the LIV Golf circuit as captain of Ripper GC, though he experienced a challenging 2025 season with missed cuts in all four majors and recently missed the cut at the 2026 Masters.
Quick Answer
Cameron Smith, the Australian professional golfer, is currently competing on the LIV Golf League as the captain of Ripper GC, a move he made in August 2022 after a highly successful 2022 season on the PGA Tour, which included winning The Players Championship and The Open Championship. While his financial trajectory has significantly increased with LIV Golf, he faced a form slump in 2025, missing the cut in all four major championships, and continued this trend by missing the cut at the 2026 Masters. He is currently ranked 222nd in the Official World Golf Ranking.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Turned Professional
Cameron Smith officially turned professional, beginning his career on the PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour.
First PGA Tour Win
Partnered with Jonas Blixt, Smith won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, marking his first career PGA Tour victory.
First Individual PGA Tour Win
Smith secured his first individual PGA Tour title by winning the Sony Open in Hawaii in a playoff.
Historic Masters Performance
At the Masters, Smith became the first golfer in tournament history to shoot four rounds in the 60s, finishing tied for second.
Won Sentry Tournament of Champions
Smith started his stellar 2022 season by winning the Sentry Tournament of Champions with a PGA Tour record 34 under par.
Won The Players Championship
He claimed his second victory of 2022 by winning The Players Championship, considered golf's 'fifth major'.
Won The Open Championship
Smith captured his first major championship, the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews, with a sensational final-round 64.
Joined LIV Golf League
Following extensive speculation, Smith announced his move from the PGA Tour to the LIV Golf League, reportedly signing a nine-figure deal.
First LIV Golf Individual Win
In only his second start on the LIV Golf circuit, Smith won the individual prize at the LIV Golf Invitational Chicago.
Married Shanel Naoum & Two LIV Wins
Smith married Shanel Naoum in Brisbane and secured two individual victories on the LIV Golf League at the London and Bedminster events.
Ripper GC Wins Team Championship
As captain, Cameron Smith led his team, Ripper GC, to victory in the 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship.
Major Championship Slump
Smith experienced a challenging year in major championships, missing the cut in all four majors in 2025.
Missed Cut at 2026 Masters
Cameron Smith missed the cut at the 2026 Masters, shooting 7-over par through two rounds, extending his streak of missed major cuts to six.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Cameron Smith's professional golf career saw a meteoric rise, culminating in a standout 2022 season on the PGA Tour. After turning professional in 2013, Smith secured his first PGA Tour victory at the 2017 Zurich Classic of New Orleans and his first individual title at the 2020 Sony Open in Hawaii. His breakthrough year came in 2022, where he captured three major titles on the PGA Tour: the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January, The Players Championship in March, and most notably, the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews in July. His Open Championship victory, where he shot an incredible final-round 64, marked his first major championship win and propelled him to a career-high world ranking of No. 2.
A significant turning point in Smith's career occurred in August 2022 when he announced his departure from the PGA Tour to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League. This move was reportedly driven by a lucrative nine-figure contract, estimated between $100-140 million, and the desire for a lighter playing schedule that would allow him more time at home in Australia with his family. He quickly found success on the new circuit, winning his second LIV Golf event in Chicago in September 2022, and adding two more individual victories in 2023 at the London and Bedminster events. As captain of Ripper GC, his team also secured the 2024 Team Championship.
The consequences of his move to LIV Golf have been multifaceted. While financially rewarding, with over $47 million in LIV prize money alone by late 2025, Smith's Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) has significantly dropped due to LIV events initially not receiving full ranking points. This has impacted his ability to qualify for major championships, though his Open Championship win grants him exemptions. His form in major championships has seen a notable decline since joining LIV. After consistent top-10 finishes at the Masters prior to 2022, Smith missed the cut in all four major championships in 2025.
As of April 11, 2026, Cameron Smith's current status reflects a continued presence on the LIV Golf League. He entered the 2026 Masters with some renewed confidence after a runner-up finish at the Australian Open and two top-10 finishes on the LIV Golf league earlier in the year. However, he missed the cut at the 2026 Masters, shooting rounds of 74 and 77 to finish at 7-over par, extending his streak to six consecutive missed cuts in majors. This performance has reignited discussions among fans and analysts about the impact of the LIV Golf schedule on players' major championship readiness. Smith is currently ranked 222nd in the Official World Golf Ranking. He is married to Shanel Naoum, whom he met in late 2021 and married in 2023.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Cameron Smith made different choices?