Up Close with Josh Sens Cameron Smith

For the defending Players champion, the LIVing has been easy-even if that means he won't be competing in his own backyard this month at Sawgrass

MID-JANUARY, ON THE CLUBHOUSE PATIO OF THE DYE PRESERVE GC IN JUPITER, FLA.

Josh Sens: We’re coming up on a year since your big win at the 2022 Players Championship. What are your most vivid memories from that week?

Cameron Smith: What stands out for me was that it was the first time I’d seen my mom and sister in about two and a half years, so it was a very emotional time when golf really took a back seat. But all the stars aligned, and I played really good golf, even though I wasn’t expecting to. I had a pretty hard history on that course.

JS: You didn’t practice much leading into the event? 

CS: I’m probably known as being a bit lazy on the practice range, so a lot of people didn’t think anything of it. But, yeah, I was trying to spend quality time with family, and I already knew the course well [because I live] in the area. 

JS: Now you’re the defending champ, and you won’t be there because LIV players have been banned from the event. How much does that bother you?

CS: It stings a bit. But with my decision to come over to LIV, that was one of the things I had to give up, and I’m at ease with it. I’d love to be playing there, but there are a lot of other great tournaments and venues and countries that I’m looking forward to this year.

JS: You give off the impression of someone who doesn’t have to work very hard on your game. On a scale of one to 10, how much of a grinder are you?