In a major blow to the PGA Tour's efforts to lure back its defectors, Australian golfing champion Cameron Smith has publicly and definitively rejected their offer, pledging his long-term future to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league.
The Definitive Decision
Appearing exclusively on Channel 7's Sunrise, the 32-year-old Queenslander needed just one day of the PGA Tour's 20-day decision window to make his stance clear. When asked if he would be taking up the tour's "one-time" offer to return, Smith's answer was blunt: "No."
"Absolutely. You'll see me in Adelaide," Smith declared, referencing the upcoming LIV Golf event in South Australia. "It was the easiest decision of my life. It wasn't really a hard one for me, to be honest. I made a decision to come out here (to LIV Golf) and spend more time at home and I'm not giving that away. I'll be on LIV for years to come."
The PGA Tour's Power Play and Financial Stakes
The PGA Tour's offer came in the wake of Brooks Koepka's high-profile return to the tour earlier this week. Koepka's comeback agreement involved stringent restrictions, including forgoing up to $US85 million (approximately $A126 million) in financial benefits and making a $US5 million (approximately $A7.45 million) charitable donation.
The tour framed this as a "Returning Member Program," explicitly designed as a potential path back for Smith, Jon Rahm, and Bryson DeChambeau, with "no promise" of another chance in the future. Smith's swift rejection underscores the deep divide in men's professional golf.
Form, Ranking, and the Road Ahead
Since his headline-making switch to LIV Golf in 2022 for a reported $US100 million (approximately $A150 million) deal, shortly after his triumph at The British Open, Smith's world ranking has plummeted to No. 207 due to LIV events not offering ranking points. His form has also been inconsistent since joining the breakaway circuit.
However, he showed promising signs of a resurgence with a strong performance at last month's Australian Open at Royal Melbourne, finishing just a shot behind winner Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
Smith confirmed he has not discussed the PGA Tour's offer with fellow LIV stars Rahm or DeChambeau. "I think we've got it pretty good out here so I can only assume, but I can't say anything (for sure)," he remarked.
The 2026 LIV Golf season, which will feature 72-hole tournaments for the first time, begins next month in Saudi Arabia. The circuit then arrives in Adelaide from February 15, an event Smith is eagerly anticipating.
"Really excited to get back out on the golf course," Smith said. "Had a really good end to the year at the Aussie Open, really nice way to finish the year. Can't wait to start in Riyadh in a couple of weeks and then make our way back Down Under in Adelaide the week after. We're pumped for Adelaide, can't wait to get down there."
