Aussie golf superstar Cam Smith slams critics after $6million win in LIV tournament in Chicago

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Cam Smith sends a VERY targeted message to his critics as Aussie earns a whopping $6 million for winning his first LIV tournament to continue his megabucks streak of wins in 2022

  • Smith’s $6 million was more than he earned for winning the Players Championship
  • Aussie Called Out Critics Who Said He Would Lose Competitive Advantage With LIV Golf
  • Big win continues what was easily Smith’s most successful year in the sport

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Australian British Open champion Cameron Smith has criticized critics who believed he would lose his competitive edge after signing a $140 million deal to compete in LIV golf after winning his first tournament in the Rebel series on Sunday.

Smith recorded a come-from-behind victory in just his second start at the lucrative Saudi Arabia-backed circuit with a three-stroke triumph over Dustin Johnson and Peter Uihlein just outside Chicago.

Smith, one of the 12 major champions in the 48-player field at Rich Harvest Farms, shot a three-under-par 69 in the final round of the 54-hole event on Sunday to reach 13 under and take home the $6 million first prize. to secure.

Smith earned more for his first LIV win than for taking the Players Championship earlier this year - which was the richest golf tournament at the time

Smith earned more for his first LIV win than for taking the Players Championship earlier this year – which was the richest golf tournament at the time

“I think I probably had to prove to myself and some other people that I’m still a great player, you know I’m still here to win golf tournaments,” Smith said.

“Proud of how I hung there today. I didn’t really have my best gear the first eight or nine holes, but I kept it tough and made some good putts coming in. It was fun.’

The win demonstrates the wealth the LIV tour has to offer, with Smith earning more for his Chicago win than for winning the Players Championship in March — the richest purse in the sport at the time at $5.36 million.

The stage was set for a final-round duel between two of the world’s top golfers as nighttime leader Smith started the day with two shots clear of playing partner Johnson (70), who fell back three shots after bogeying on the first hole.

The Aussie has targeted critics who questioned whether he would still have his competitive fire after signing a $140 million deal to defect to the Rebel series

The Aussie has targeted critics who questioned whether he would still have his competitive fire after signing a $140 million deal to defect to the Rebel series

The Aussie has targeted critics who questioned whether he would still have his competitive fire after signing a $140 million deal to defect to the Rebel series

Both players birdied on the second hole, but Smith bogeyed on the fourth and sixth holes when Johnson came in before the duo birdies on the par-five seventh.

Smith opened up a three-shot lead with a birdie on the par-four eighth, where Johnson mapped the first of two straight bogeys to make it back into Turn Four and his hopes of becoming the first multiple winner of the LIV Golf Series, almost gone. .

Uihlein (69) came into the mix and was briefly one shot back from Smith, who rode past the back nine to a bogey at the par-three 16th, but the Australian made the 18th three shots clear after birdie on the penultimate hole in combination with a late Uihlein bogey.

The Aussie shot a three-under-par 69 on the final round to add to his already incredible gains in easily his best year of competition

The Aussie shot a three-under-par 69 on the final round to add to his already incredible gains in easily his best year of competition

The Aussie shot a three-under-par 69 on the final round to add to his already incredible gains in easily his best year of competition

Smith is the highest-ranking player ever at LIV Golf, finishing fourth on his debut two weeks ago in Boston, where he missed a three-man playoff by one shot after bogeying his penultimate hole.

Compatriots Matt Jones (72) finished four under, Jed Morgan (71) and Wade Ormsby (72) four and Marc Leishman (78) six to come home last.

Although Johnson failed to catch Smith, he helped his 4 Aces teammates Patrick Reed, Talor Gooch and Pat Perez to victory in the team competition as the squad took home $3 million ($A5.4 million) first prize for the fourth consecutive event. divided .

The final round was interrupted for a scheduled moment of silence observed across the hall in honor of Queen Elizabeth, whose image was seen on screens around the track.