Cameron Smith has felt the wrath of golf fans on social media after the British Open champion took LIV Golf’s AU$140million offer to play in the Saudi-backed competition.
Golf’s worst kept secret was confirmed on Tuesday with LIV announcing on Twitter that they had recruited World No 2 Smith, their biggest signing to date.
Smith, who won The Open last month, has been the subject of rumours about jumping to the upstart tour for weeks and has now finally been announced. He also won The Players Championship in March.
Cameron Smith has been blasted after he defected to the Saudi-backed LIV Series on Tuesday
The Queenslander has ditched the PGA Tour after accepting LIV Golf’s $140m proposal
Despite hearing pleas from Rory McIlroy to stick with the PGA Tour whilst still at the peak of his powers, Smith has ultimately opted to defect to LIV Golf and risks being suspended from competing on future PGA events.
And golf fans have taken to Twitter to blast Smith’s decision, with some suggesting his career ‘is over’ and that he has spurned any opportunity to cement his legacy as one of the game’s best to ever play.
‘Big loss. But then again that’s his career over really,’ one user posted. ‘No more majors any time soon, could have been more successful than [Greg] Norman but when you go for the money, the success doesn’t really mean anything anymore.’
Another wrote: ‘Such a shame will never be regarded as a great of the game now when history looks back. Top player don’t blame him, probably will be the biggest paid player in the game before prize money.’
Golf fans took to Twitter to claim that the 29-year-old’s career ‘is over’ after his decision
‘That sucks,’ a third fan posted. ‘A huge competitive talent gone to waste at boring events that no one watches. Super unfortunate to see Cam go.’
Other fans were more stinging in his response to the Smith news. ‘A shame he never plays a real competitive round of golf again,’ one said.
Another posted: ‘Could of [sic] been a great, now just [sic] a D league exhibition driving range pro. Shame. Love of blood money runs deep I guess.’
Smith is now at risk of being banned from competing in future PGA tournaments
As he deliberated over his decision, Smith had a conversation with McIlroy, who attempted to ‘inform’ Smith about what he would be quitting if he left the PGA Tour, but to no avail.
In disclosing his call to Smith, McIlroy said: ‘I had a conversation with Cameron Smith two days after the Open, and firstly, I wanted to congratulate him.
‘Guys that are thinking one way or another, honestly I don’t care if they leave or not – it’s not going to make a difference to me.
‘But I would at least like people to make a decision that is completely informed and basically know this is what’s coming down the pipeline. This is what you may be leaving behind.’