Open champion Cam Smith returns to ‘happy place’ of Augusta National Golf Course

AUGUSTA: Like a perfect goodwill ambassador, Australia’s reigning Open champion Cam Smith never once dissed the PGA Tour, and he never once questioned his own decision to join the Saudi Arabia-funded LIV Golf.

In a 21-minute-long press conference that was a model on how to handle a delicate situation, the 29-year-old from Brisbane sidestepped a few loaded questions and also met a few of them head-on.

The world No. 6 admits he came to Augusta National Golf Club — his “happy place” where he has four top-10s in his last five starts since 2018 — with some trepidations this year.

“I just think there’s too much rubbish going on, basically. I spent an hour out there and saw lots of familiar faces, lots of smiles and hugs, and it’s been nice. I don’t think there’s any kind of hatred going on between the players. We are all happy where we are. I’m just as happy for the guys winning out on the PGA Tour as I am for the LIV golfers,” said Smith, who will be playing his seventh Masters.

“I really wasn’t sure what I was going to expect walking on to the range. I didn’t want to expect too much. I think there’s a lot of stuff going on at the moment that doesn’t need to be going on, especially in the media.”

In no mood to confront, Smith said it was important for LIV Golf players to do well at the Masters, one of the few opportunities they have to match wits against the PGA Tour players.

Asked about the chances of LIV players — who play a unique team format and have 48-man field in 54-hole tournaments — producing a Masters champion, Smith was candid again.

“I think it’s just important for LIV guys to be up there. I think there’s a lot of chatter about these guys don’t play real golf; these guys don’t play real golf courses. For