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Australian star Cameron Smith criticizes fellow LIV golfer Phil Mickelson for his slow play at $25Million tournament: ‘It was painful’
- Cameron Smith says it was ‘painful’ playing quarters against Phil Mickelson
- Smith led the Punch GC team and now has a chance to win the $16 million first prize
- Mickelson, 52, wore out on Smith’s inexperience earlier this week
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Australian superstar Cameron Smith has lashed out at veteran major-winning golfer Phil Mickelson for his ‘painful’ slow play, as the 2022 Open winner clawed his team to the semi-finals of the LIV golf team championship.
Punch GC, which flies the flag for Australia, is now in the final against co-captains of big names Dustin Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen and Brooks Koepka.
Australian golf champion Cameron Smith talks to LIV media after Punch GC enters team final
But it was before the semi-finals where 29-year-old Smith made a cheeky remark to his opponent Mickelson, seen during the match play event.
The top eight match-up came down to the final hole, where Smith dropped a stylish 10-foot putt to take out the Hyflyers.
After the round, Smith said Mickelson was loitering through the final holes.
“Yeah, it was a good game,” said the 2022 Players Champion.
“I think Phil might have had some playmanship there. It seemed like an eternity today. I think we were three or four holes behind, so that was a little painful.’
Hyflyers team captain Phil Mickelson (R) talks to the LIV media with teammate Matt Wolff (L) and Punch GC skipper Cam Smith (C)
Earlier in the week, the two had a hilarious dig at each other before going head-to-head.
“The way Phil hits his driver around here, I think he’s going to drop a few balls there,” Smith said, who had bitten Mickelson’s (sometimes) wayward driver.
‘I can’t say much. But I won here [in 2009], just sayin’. Cam have you ever played here with Doral?” the 52-year-old American replied.
“I think you were at that clinic I gave. It’s nice to see you’re paying attention.’
On Sunday, Smith and compatriot Marc Leishman, Wade Ormsby and Matt Jones will have the chance to take home a whopping $4 million.
2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson (L) congratulates 2005 Masters Champion Tiger Woods on his fourth Augusta National title
The four compete in stroke play, where as a team they must score the lowest score (of all individual strokes combined) to win the scholarship and the inaugural LIV team gong.
If Smith is crowned LIV team champion with his Punch peers, it would close out a great year abroad before going down to play in the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship.
Phil Mickelson and Cam Smith laugh on the first tee during the first day of the inaugural LIV golf team championship
The Queenslander has six PGA career titles to his name in a 2022 breakthrough, winning the 150th Open and pocketing $2.5 million.
In an unprecedented golf deal, Smith then moved to the Saudi Arabia-backed league and signed a $140 million contract.