LIV Golfers Return to August
One of the main storylines heading into the Masters weeks is how the PGA Tour fans and players will receive the LIV golfers that will be in the field this week. LIV Golf has 18 players under its membership participating in the masters, and fans can only wonder how well they will perform under PGA rules and regulations again.
The liv golf league has an annual schedule of 14 events per season. On top of this, the events are shortened to 54 holes. Fans and players alike are wondering if the LIV players will be able to pace the PGA players based on volume of play.
Cam Smith vs. Public Doubt
Cam Smith, the reigning Open Championship winner, said that the public doubt only motivates him to want to perform better.
“Obviously first and foremost for me, I’m trying to go there and play the best golf I can,” Smith told reporters after Thursday’s pro-am at Orange County National. “I think it is important for us to go there, really show a high standard of golf which we know we’re all capable of.”
“Most of us will get four cracks at it this year [in the majors], and hopefully we get maybe a win out of it. Maybe we just show a really hearty effort. I think for us, internally, there’s a lot of chatter going around about ‘these guys don’t play real golf anymore.’ And I think it’s B.S. to be honest. And we just want to show people that.”
Cam Smith at Augusta
Cam Smith is the fifth-ranked player in the world and he has finished in the top 10 at Augusta in four of his past five starts. “I feel like I’ve played my best golf I’ve ever played around there. I feel like I’ve got a pretty good record around there,” Smith said. Last year, Smith was in the hunt for the green jacket until the final few holes but ultimately finished in a tie for third, as Scottie Scheffler outlasted the field.
LIV Player Reception
Smith also voiced concern that he wasn’t sure how the players and fans would take to the LIV golfers participating in the Masters.
“I’m really not sure, to be honest I hope that it’s fine,” Smith said. “I’ve had a great career around Augusta, and I hope I haven’t pissed anyone off. I guess we’ll wait and see, there are a few guys who have a stronger stance [on LIV].”
Smith and the rest of the LIV golfers need to show up and show out with their play to gain the respect of their playing peers and maybe even the fans as well. I admit, I have never attended a LIV golf event or watched any of the broadcasts, but it is largely since I believe the PGA tour provides me a better product. If the LIV golfers play well and excel at Augusta, it may lead me to turning on an event or two in the near future to experience LIV golf.
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