Cameron Smith admits he had his fears about his huge move to LIV Golf, especially the shotgun start format, but feels he ultimately made the right decision to join the Saudi-backed outfit.
The Australian was a marquee signing for Greg Norman coming just after he pipped Rory McIlroy to win the Open Championship at St Andrews.
Smith, who reportedly banked well over $100 million from the Saudis to join LIV Golf, admitted that he felt some nerves about moving across, with the shotgun start a particular worry about how it would work.
However, although he revealed that it was a bit hectic getting all the players out on the course at the same time, he feels LIV Golf is certainly heading in the right direction.
“Probably one of the biggest things I was scared about was the shotgun start,” he told the Straight Down The Middle'ish podcast.
“It worked so good. We were off at the same time every day, everyone's playing in the same conditions [and] sure it's a bit of a s*** show before the round getting guys out to their tees and stuff but it's only 10 minutes."
And with the worry about leaving the PGA Tour over, he says the signs are looking good for the upcoming LIV Golf League with events already running smoother towards the end of last season.
“It was definitely a big decision, but I feel as though I definitely made the right decision,” he added.
“I've played five or six events out there and [and] the way I've seen it progress over that short period of time, it's going in the right direction. The fans love it. I think there's a lot more for people to do out there. It's a fun time. The way I would describe it is that it's more like going to a sporting event than a golf tournament."
The 29-year-old has also voiced his upset at missing the chance to become world number one as a consequence of him leaving the PGA Tour.
"I've tried to take it not that badly, to be honest," he said. "I think when you rock up to a tournament, you know who you have to beat, whether there's a world ranking or not.
"There's generally seven or eight guys that are in that field that you know are going to put up a pretty good fight. For sure, it hurts. I feel as though I was really close to getting to No.1, and that was definitely something I wanted to tick off."
-
Why The 16th Pin Has Been Moved From Its Traditional Spot For The Masters Final RoundThe 16th pin at Augusta National is in an different position that normal for the final round of The Masters, but why is that?
-
Seve Ballesteros And Brooks Koepka Among The Big Names That Rory McIlroy Would Join As A Five-Time Major Winner With A Masters VictoryRory McIlroy leads The Masters going in to the final round and, if he were to win, he would join an illustrious list of five-time Major winners
-
Rory McIlroy Explains His Extraordinary Pre-Round Routine (And It's The Complete Opposite Of Most Amateurs)McIlroy shares what goes into his usual pre-round routine at tournaments and what his timetable looks like before arriving at the first tee
-
‘You Kinda Did It To Yourself’ – When Bryson DeChambeau Needled Rory McIlroy Over US Open BattleMonths after Bryson DeChambeau’s defeat of Rory McIlroy in the US Open, the two met in Las Vegas, where the LIV Golfer had a lightning-quick response to a humorous comment from his rival
-
The Masters Crystal Rory McIlroy Has Already Won At Augusta National This WeekMcIlroy leads going in to the final round at Augusta National, with the four-time Major winner already bagging some silverware before he looks to claim the Green Jacket
-
Rory McIlroy Has Referenced Scottie Scheffler So Often In Recent Months… Is He Now Finally Ready To Surpass Him?For several months, Rory McIlroy revealed how he was aiming to be more like Scottie Scheffler in 2024 - and it now appears as though the World No.2 is doing it
-
Rory McIlroy Fires Back-To-Back 370-Yard Monster Drives In Birdie-Eagle-Birdie Start To Lead The MastersIt's safe to say that the four-time Major winner was full of adrenaline at the start of his third round, with McIlroy pounding two drives that measured a total of 740-yards
-
Who Is On Rory McIlroy’s Team? Coaches, Caddie, Wife And MoreRory McIlroy is one of the game’s biggest stars, but who are the key figures behind the scenes helping his career soar while he keeps his feet on the ground?
-
Why Rory McIlroy Is The Man To Beat At The MastersWe look at three reasons why Rory McIlroy is in the driver's seat for the Green Jacket this weekend
-
'When The Ball Was In The Air, I Was Like 'You Idiot, What Did You Do?'' - Rory McIlroy Happy To Ride Luck In Impressive Masters FightbackThe four-time Major winner posted a slightly fortunate bogey-free six-under 66 on Friday to fire himself up into the top-10 at The Masters
