Cameron Smith has made his position on a potential PGA Tour return increasingly clear, but the Australian star could face a difficult path back after the collapse of LIV Golf.
The 2022 Open Championship winner previously turned down an opportunity to return to the PGA Tour, choosing to remain with LIV despite the strict conditions attached to the offer.
However, with LIV Golf now shutting down following the withdrawal of its Saudi financial backing, Smith’s future has become a major talking point.
Speaking in August, the former world number two admitted that he would return to the PGA Tour if LIV Golf failed to survive.
“I mean, if it was the only option, I think that’s where everyone would want to be for sure, 100 per cent. It would go back to old times,” Smith said.
Despite that admission, Smith made it clear that he would prefer LIV Golf to continue, pointing to the relationships he had built and the team format that had become an important part of his career.
“I want it to work, really, to be honest. It’s great fun out here. The team that we’ve got, I feel like we make each other better, better people and better golfers as well,” he added.
Smith had previously rejected the PGA Tour’s Returning Member Program in January, despite being among the four players eligible for the one-time offer.
Brooks Koepka was the only player to accept the opportunity, which came with significant financial and competitive restrictions. He agreed to make a $5 million charitable contribution, forfeit potential player equity for five years and give up eligibility for the 2026 FedExCup bonus pool. He was also required to earn his way into Signature Events rather than receive sponsor exemptions.
Smith, Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau all declined the offer.
At the time, Smith was particularly firm about his decision, insisting that he was happy with his career and personal life at LIV.
“I have made my bed and I’m going to sleep in it,” he said.
The PGA Tour has since made its position on another special reinstatement programme clear. CEO Brian Rolapp confirmed that there were no current plans to revive the Returning Member Program, meaning former LIV players cannot rely on the same arrangement that allowed Koepka to return.
Rolapp has also stressed that players seeking to compete on the PGA Tour must earn their place, comply with its rules and accept the importance of accountability and discipline.
Recent reports indicate that the Tour will delay decisions on potential return pathways until LIV Golf’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings are concluded, which could extend into January 2027.
For Smith, the situation presents a significant challenge. Although he has openly acknowledged that he would return to the PGA Tour if LIV ceased to exist, there is no guarantee that he will receive an immediate reinstatement or the same terms offered to Koepka.
The Australian has also previously highlighted the importance of LIV’s contribution to golf in his home country, particularly through the Adelaide tournament and its support for junior golf.
His preference was clearly for LIV to continue, but that option has now disappeared.
Smith’s next move remains uncertain, with the PGA Tour’s return policy and the possibility of alternative routes through other professional tours likely to play a major role in determining his future.
