Cameron Smith finishes fourth on LIV Golf debut but still pockets over $1m

Cameron Smith has fallen just short of victory in his maiden LIV Golf tournament but still banked over $1m for his efforts in Boston.

Australia’s world No 2, who became the highest-profile golfer to join Greg Norman’s Saudi-funded league last week, shared the lead with two holes to play but sent his tee shot into the bushes, with his first bogey of the round a costly one.

It meant Smith dropped out of contention for the three-way sudden-death playoff, which was won by Dustin Johnson who nailed a 35 foot eagle putt to seal the win.

The victory was the American’s first in 19 months, finishing ahead of two other LIV Golf debutants in Chile’s Joaquin Niemann and Indian Anirban Lahiri.

Smith’s final round of seven-under 63 saw him finish in a tie for fourth at 14 under alongside Englishman Lee Westwood, who carded a 62.

The Queenslander started with a bang in the opening round, posting a six-under 64 that included a 45-foot eagle putt. But the Open champion dropped down the leaderboard on day two when he signed for a one-under 69 to share eighth spot.

“I thought I was really out of it after the second round as I played pretty poorly but to get out here today and to do what I did was pretty cool,” Smith said. “It was just an unfortunate bogey there on the second last hole and it cost me a spot in the play-off.”

Upon signing deal worth a reported $140m to join the rebel tour Smith said he was excited about the music and vibe at LIV tournaments and wasn’t disappointed by his first outing.

“It was great out there – the competition is fantastic,” he said. “It’s loud and it feels like the course has a heartbeat. I love that and can’t wait to keep going.”

Johnson, who closed with a five-under 65, needed a birdie on the par-5 18th to