New Open champion Cameron Smith says absent dad will be 'kicking himself' as he responds to LIV golf rumours

Cameron Smith said his dad Des will be “kicking himself” after missing out as he became the 150th Open champion and third Australian to win golf’s oldest major at St Andrews.

The 28-year-old followed in the footsteps of both Peter Thomson (1955) and Kel Nagle (1960) as he got his hands on the Claret Jug at the home of golf.

A brilliant closing 64, which included a burst of five birdies in a row on the back nine, saw Smith win by a shot from American Cameron Young as he set a new winning total of 20-under-par at St Andrews.

The one disappointment for the Champion Golfer of the Year was that none of his family had been there to see him become just the fifth Australian to claim that title and first since Greg Norman in 1993.

“I don't have any family here,” said Smith in his press conference, during which he declined the chance to dismiss rumours that he’s set to join Norman’s LIV Golf circuit. “My dad was actually meant to come over and he pulled out at the last minute, basically.”

Explaining why, he added, laughing: “Just kind of the thought of doing all that travel for one week basically. Yeah, he's definitely kicking himself now.

“I really wish he was here too. It would have been such a cool week, even without this, to be at the home of golf. Dad loves his golf as well. It would have been awesome.

“I haven't looked at my phone yet. When you win golf tournaments, you have friends that you didn't even know were friends. So I'm sure it's going to be busy!”

In addition to Thomson, Nagle and Norman, Smith joined 1991 winner Ian Baker-Finch in landing the coveted prize.

“That's pretty cool,” he said of adding his name to the list. “It really hasn't sunk in yet. I don't think it will for a few weeks. Yeah, it's just unreal.”

“I