Masters 2023: Open champion Cam Smith says 'important' for LIV golfers to play well at Augusta

Cam Smith gave up his PGA Tour presumption erstwhile helium joined the LIV Golf set-up successful precocious 2022

It is "important" for LIV Golf players to situation for the Masters rubric this week to stamp retired the conception "they don't play existent golf", says Cam Smith.

"I'm the archetypal to accidental the fields aren't arsenic strong," said Smith, referring to LIV's 48-man, 54-hole no-cut events.

"But we've inactive got a batch of guys that tin play immoderate truly superior golf."

LIV brag Greg Norman, a two-time large victor and three-time runner-up astatine the Masters, has said that if a LIV subordinate wins the Green Jacket connected Sunday, "the different 17 volition bent astir and beryllium determination to congratulate him astir the 18th green".

Smith said that helium "definitely got near retired of that" speech but added: "I'd emotion to spot 1 of america guys get up to the apical of the leaderboard and truly springiness it a bully shot.

"I deliberation it's conscionable important for LIV guys to beryllium up there. I deliberation there's a batch of chatter astir these guys don't play existent golf; these guys don't play existent play courses.

"We vie against each different hard. It's a bully feeling to person that competition, and it's bully to spot Brooks [Koepka] triumph past week. He's playing immoderate truly bully play again."

Koepka, a four-time large victor has, similar Smith, a champion decorativeness of associated 2nd astatine the Masters. After winning the astir caller LIV lawsuit successful Orlando, Florida, helium agreed with Norman that determination would beryllium amusement of unity down the 18th green.

"If 1 of the LIV players does win, it'll beryllium decidedly a immense connection for LIV," Koepka said. "If 1 of the guys does, I would beryllium shocked if each of america aren't there."

The LIV contingent person a large Masters pedigree with six champions successful their midst. Three-time victor Phil Mickelson, two-time champion Bubba Watson arsenic good arsenic Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed and Charl Schwartzel person each secured beingness exemptions astatine Augusta National.

And Smith is keen to articulation them. "I consciousness similar I'm tourney ready," said the 29-year-old who has 4 top-10 finishes successful six appearances astatine the archetypal large of the year.

He besides insisted that determination is nary "hatred" betwixt the LIV players and those who remained loyal to the PGA Tour, contempt the disfigured divided that has formed successful men's nonrecreational play implicit the past year. The PGA Tour has banned LIV players from competing connected its circuit, nevertheless those rebels eligible to bash truthful tin vie successful the yearly 4 majors.

"It was bully to spot immoderate acquainted faces," helium said of his travel to the driving scope connected Monday. "There were tons of laughs and tons of handshakes, and it was truly nice.

"I didn't privation to expect excessively overmuch but astatine the aforesaid time, I benignant of wanted that, not lone for myself but conscionable for the crippled of golf.

"There's a batch of worldly going connected astatine the infinitesimal that doesn't request to beryllium going on, particularly successful the media. I deliberation it's decidedly coiled up a small spot excessively much.

"I don't deliberation there's immoderate benignant of hatred going connected betwixt the players. We are each blessed wherever we are, and I'm conscionable arsenic blessed for the guys winning retired connected the PGA Tour arsenic I americium for the LIV golfers arsenic well."

It was a thought echoed by his chap LIV players Johnson and 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau.

Johnson said: "All my buddies are inactive my buddies and we play and it's inactive golf. So it doesn't substance wherever you play."

DeChambeau, who hugged defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, said the reception from players was "unbelievable."

"The fans were awesome," helium added. "They were saying the aforesaid worldly they would accidental if I was connected the different side."

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