LIV’s Cam Smith has clearly thumbed his nose at PGA Tour administrators declaring it to be ‘the easiest decision in my life’ when confirming he will be staying with LIV Golf.
The champion Aussie wants nothing to do with the PGA Tour’s ‘Player Returning Program’ after now former LIV star Brooks Koepka’s agreed to probably one of the strictest programs ever enacted in sport.
We’ve learned the three-time major winning Koepka has agreed not only to missing out on financial benefits — including missing out on up to $US85 million and a charitable donation of $US5m but has had to agree with many other restrictions in terms of being back on the PGA Tour from later this month at the Farmers Insurance Open,
The former Open Championship winning Smith was asked by Australian TV Channel 7 if he would be sticking with LIV Golf.
BREAKING NEWS …
Aussie Cam Smith @camsmith9 says NO to @PGATOUR ‘Player Returning Program’ & will remain captain @livgolf_league all- @rippergc_ team
“Absolutely. You’ll see me in Adelaide. It was the easiest decision of my life (staying with LIV)” says
Cam.Full… pic.twitter.com/LAfbOnzah3
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) January 13, 2026
“Absolutely. You’ll see me in Adelaide,” Smith said.
“It was the easiest decision of my life.
“It wasn’t really a hard one for me, to be honest. I made a decision to come out here (to LIV Golf) and spend more time at home and I’m not giving that away so I’ll be on LIV for years to come.
“I’m really excited for 2026. I think our team is going to have one of the best years yet and I can’t wait to see what we’re going to do on the golf course.”
The golf world has been in a spin on Tuesday AEDT as Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour was confirmed via the announcement of the new ‘Returning Members Program’ which extended the olive branch to Smith as well as Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm due to them being major winners and/or a Players Championship winner since the men’s professional game split in 2022.
For Smith, returning to the PGA Tour was never a serious conversation as he added in speaking to media.
“No,” he replied when asked if the temptation was real. I’ve made by bed and I’m going to sleep in it.
“I feel like I’m in a really good place in my career and my life, family life, and I don’t need to change it.”
There have been reports by our friends at Ten-Golf in Spain that Rahm also is staying with LIV while DeChambeau seems to be having fun with the dilemma on social media, posting an Instagram story with the question ‘what would you do?”.
DeChambeau added: “I have no idea what’s going to happen in a year,” he said, “but what I can tell you is that we’ll do everything possible to make it make sense for both sides.”
Indeed the UK Telegraph newspare reports DeChampbeau is pushing for a $500M LIV extension through 2030, while the US based Golf Digest magazine is saying he’s at odds of +185 to stay.
