LIV GOLF INVITATIONAL SERIES: BOSTON

August 31, 2022

Marc Leishman

Cameron Smith

The International

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Hello, everybody. Welcome back to the 1:00 PM press conference for the LIV Golf Invitational Boston. We are joined by our final two LIV signees today, Cam Smith and Marc Leishman both playing for Punch GC.

First of all, welcome, guys. Thank you so much for being here. First question I have for you guys is: What does this mean for Australia? You guys have an all-Australia team. You are two of Australia's biggest stars in golf. What does this mean for Australia?

CAMERON SMITH: You want to do this one?

MARC LEISHMAN: Go for it.

CAMERON SMITH: Yeah, I think it's great. I think it will be exciting to bring another event down to Australia. You know, showcasing some of the world's best golf at great golf courses down in Australia.

You know, me personally, I can't wait to tee it up every week with one of my best mates, Marc. The team format I think is great. We are going to have heaps of fun out there, and yeah, I can't wait for this next chapter.

MARC LEISHMAN: I think it's great for a lot of reasons. Obviously Australia golf to, have some great players heading back there playing, and selfishly, it's cool for me. It's been three years since I've been home and to be able to spend more time in my home country, see friends again, play on golf courses that I know, it's certainly exciting. Like I say, it's a pretty cool day for us.

Q. You're coming to a tournament in which 13 of the Top-50 players in the world are here and yet there are no ranking points available. Just wanted to get your thoughts on the whole ranking process and where you think we're headed with that.

CAMERON SMITH: Yeah, I think it's really a shame that we are not getting World Ranking points out here. To have 48 of the best, you know, guys around the world playing, and not to get World Ranking points, I think is perhaps a little bit unfair.

You know, it's still super competitive out here. I think, yeah, I just really think it's a little bit unfair.

MARC LEISHMAN: I think as a golf fan, personally, I think it's going to -- you know, it's early days. Hopefully things change not too far down the track. As far as the majors and all that go, I think it could potentially hurt them having some guys potentially miss out because they are not offered World Ranking points here.

You know as a golf fan, that's hard for the top tournaments, but like I say, hopefully it sorts itself out.

Q. I did want to ask you about being captain. How are you going to keep Marc in line?

CAMERON SMITH: Yeah, I was just speaking about that this morning. I'm the captain of the team and I'm the youngest, so I think the older boys will be putting me back in line to be honest. You know, I'm just super excited for it all. To have an Australian team, playing for mates and out there having fun with them, it's super exciting for me.

Q. When you were making the decision to come across to LIV Golf, how much did the majors factor in, the uncertainty going forward? Cam, as The Open Champion, you may have more clarity than Marc does but how much did you think about that stuff?

MARC LEISHMAN: Yeah, I think Cam is at a very different stage of his career than I am. Certainly factored that into the decision. Didn't come over here for one reason or another. There's many reasons why I decided to being a part of this tour: Three young kids at home; obviously to see them more. Yes, the money was a factor. Just to spend more time at home -- well, home being Virginia Beach and also in Australia.

So there was a lot of factors for me. The majors was one of them that maybe was a little bit of a down point but like I said, hopefully things can sort itself out and I can get into those in the future.

So yeah, there's so many positives about this.

Q. Cam, do you feel a similar thing? While your certainty is locked up for the next five years, is it something that you had to factor in maybe after that?

CAMERON SMITH: Yeah, absolutely. I think like Marc said, we are at different stages in our career. I probably have a little bit more time on my hands than Marc does. Yeah, I hope that these World Ranking points will sort themselves out before my exemption is up.

You know, I think to the fans of major championship golf, it may be a little bit unfair on them. I think majors is about having the best guys in the best field on the best golf courses. You know, hopefully we can sort that out.

Q. Just a teams question, if I can. How much different is professional golf going to be week-in, week-out for you guys now that you are not just playing for yourself? Can you go through what you enjoy and hope to improve about the teams aspect?

MARC LEISHMAN: Yeah, Cam has not had to worry about this too much lately but when you get to Friday afternoon and missing the cut, there's not a whole lot to play for.

There's always going to be something to play for with this team aspect. If you're having a bad day but one of your other teammates is having a bad day as well, you're going to try your butt off to try and beat him and might cut a shot or two off that team, which could be huge at the end of the week.

So yeah, the team aspect was also a big reason for me to come over here and be a part of it.

Q. There has been criticism and backlash; how does that sit with you, Cam? How do you take that criticism? How does it play into your preparation for your debut LIV event?

CAMERON SMITH: You know, I think there has been a lot of stuff up in the air over the past month or so but you know, for me personally, I'm here to play the best golf I can. Now I'm not only playing for myself; I'm playing for three of my mates, the other team members.

You know, I'm just really excited to be here. This is a new kind of chapter in my life. I think this is the future of golf. I love how it is out here. It's a little bit more laid back on the range, the music playing. I love that stuff. I play with music at home and yeah, I just can't wait to be a part of this.

Q. Would you say it was first and foremost a business decision?

CAMERON SMITH: Not particularly. Yes, I think it was a business decision but like Marc said, there's so many positives to come out of this thing. For me, I haven't been back in Australia for three years, as well. To spend more time at home, not missing out on friend and families' weddings and a couple of my friends have had kids over the last, you know, four or five years that I still haven't met. That's going to be a part of my life that I can't wait to get back.

Q. You've both confirmed you are back home playing at the end of this year, is that right? Do you worry or there will be back lack to this decision when you get back home?

MARC LEISHMAN: I think any big decision you make in life there's a potential to get criticism, and with that, I mean, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. There's no right or wrong to their opinion and they have their opinion for their own reasons.

As much as they are entitled to that, we are entitled to make a decision that's in our best interests. So you deal with that criticism the best you can and try and block it out to be honest. But yeah, I mean, coming home, that's going to be exciting. I mean, I think overwhelmingly, it's going to be pretty positive in Australia. I'm definitely looking forward to the challenges that it will bring, and we're going to enjoy it no matter what.

Q. Your comment earlier, Cam, can we take a confirmation that there will be an event back home?

CAMERON SMITH: Yeah, we are working on it. I think it would be awesome for Australian golf. I think Australian needs another event. A few years back, we lost the Aussie Masters, and to bring this new, exciting format to Australia I think will be embraced, and yeah, I can't wait to get back down there for another few weeks.

Q. What is your status on the PGA TOUR now? Did you resign or are you considered off the circuit? And then No. 2 is, since you won the British Open about five weeks ago, what's life been like off the course? Have you been receiving calls from other players and officials from the PGA TOUR such as Jay Monahan about staying on board?

CAMERON SMITH: Yeah, I'm still -- I haven't resigned my membership as -- on the PGA TOUR.

I think, yeah, my life has definitely changed over the last, you know, couple of months after the British Open. I've had a few phone calls with players. I sat down with Jay. We had a good conversation. It has been a little bit different.

But this for me was the right decision. You know, I think this is the future of golf. I think it's been the same for a very, very long time, and it needs to be stirred up a little bit.

Q. Are you expecting big crowds out here, and if you don't get the kind of crowds that you're used to seeing, will that be somewhat surreal to you to play in that atmosphere?

CAMERON SMITH: Yeah, I think we should see a pretty good showing out here. I think it will be good out here. I think with the music, with the fans, it will be embraced. Particularly with the younger fans. I think speaking to the kid that drove me back from the driving range before, he loved the fact that there was music on the course, music on the range. He loved to see how relaxed the players were, how not so uptight I guess it was.

Yeah, I think it's going to be great.

Q. As you know, Tiger has been critical of people who have jumped. The competition out here will be a little different. If you win -- you haven't beaten J.T., Rory and Scottie Scheffler. Did that weigh on your mind at all making this move?

CAMERON SMITH: Perhaps a little bit. But like I said, I think this is the future of golf. I think it needs to change. Particularly as our golf fans become younger, I think we need to do something to make it exciting for them. I think it's the right move for sure.

I think not having those top guys is a little bit of a shame, but hopefully I can see them four times a year and be able to compete against them and show them I've still got it.

Q. First off, gentlemen, welcome to the LIV Tour. Now this question is for Cam. A lot has been made of your hair but I'm going to talk about your facial hair for a moment. When LIV does get Official World Ranking points and you do hit world No. 1, do you think your body will finally allow you to grow a full beard?

CAMERON SMITH: I don't know. Perhaps. I think the beauty about the mustache is when I shave it, it only takes about eight or nine months to grow back (laughter).

Yeah, I think -- I don't know, mate, I haven't been asked that one before.

Q. A lot of golfers success depends on their market ability in this world. You know, Ian has got the pants; Cam has got the hair; Phil has got the coffee. Do you have any quirks that us media guys can run about you?

MARC LEISHMAN: One of the abilities that I have is to grow grass and a bit of the stuff I do put on the grass might help with his mow, a bit of fertilizer, pick it up a bit. (Laughter).

Most people know about my grass obsession.

Q. I also have a grass obsession (laughter) different type of grass. They don't grow it out here.

MARC LEISHMAN: I think part of that reason I have that grass obsession is so that I can actually earn a beer at the end of the day. Grass and beer are two things that are close to my heart.

Q. You are now my favorite golfer. Thank you, Marc. One more question. Big fan, Cam and Marc. With your haircut and your new bank account, will you try to buy Florida?

CAMERON SMITH: No. I think the haircut definitely fits in well down there, though, for sure.

Q. Will you and Greg attempt to buy Australia then?

CAMERON SMITH: I'm not -- I think the Australians are coming around to it. I know it's big, the footy back home. The rugby boys and a AFL boys like a good mullet, so I'm just trying to keep up with them to be honest.

Q. You have gone through a very tough time when you almost quit golf. Was this decision anywhere near as tough as the moments you had to go through or after that it has been so easy that you can just do anything now?

MARC LEISHMAN, well being I think it was certainly a different decision. I wasn't making the decisions when Audrey got sick. Having to trust doctors; having to trust other people and I certainly trusted a lot of people's opinions on this, this decision.

But at the end of the day, it was a difficult discussion but one that I'm really comfortable with and excited about. This is already -- I only flew in yesterday, but the camaraderie, it feels like a team room. The restaurant, the hotel where I'm staying at, everyone is talking to everyone and it's really enjoyable and something that I had not experienced for a fair while.

Yeah, it was a tough decision but obviously would rather not go through what I went through with my wife again.

Q. When you started, you played a few events on The Asian Tour in the start of your career before you moved on. One of the things that you can still do if you can't play on the PGA TOUR and the other tour is play on The Asian Tour during the year. Is that something that you want to consider, and secondly, can you talk a bit about those days, the year or so that you were on The Asian Tour? Did you enjoy it?

CAMERON SMITH: I think during our season now, if it works in the schedule, for sure it's something that I would think about.

I think back to the days of The Asian Tour, I had such a great time. I was only 18, 19, probably 20 years old, traveling around Asia, most of the world, playing the sport that we love. There was so many good times, so many good people, and it's something that I've missed I think, travelling and playing golf. As you know, on TOUR, we don't get to spend much time outside of the United States. For me, that's another exciting thing; playing the best courses around the world, and bringing golf to new places is something that I think I'm really going to love.

Q. So Cam, you talked a lot about playing to this kind of younger demographic -- and this is for both you guys by the way, not just for Cam -- playing to a younger demographic, the music, all that kind of stuff. In the last few weeks, I would guess in a response to LIV, the PGA TOUR has kind of announced a lot of its own initiatives towards playing towards a younger demographic. You know, the TGL [sic] virtual golf event, whatever. So I guess just what I want to know is, what are your thoughts on that and how do you think LIV's offering is going to compare with that when it eventually gets going?

MARC LEISHMAN: I don't know enough about all that stuff to make a real educated comment on it.

But I think competition is good for everything. You want to play against the best golfers in tournaments, and you know, competition is a good thing. I think as far as the LIV Tour and the PGA TOUR goes, I've not going bad to say about the PGA TOUR. I think what they are doing is great. I've made a decision for my best interests, but I think the competition that LIV is providing is going to be really good for everything.

I'm really looking forward to watching this TOUR grow into something really special, which I think it will, and, you know, provide competition for years. It's not like this TOUR wants to take over or anything like that. They can both exist.

So I think it's going to be good for the game. Good to bring people to watch golf that may not otherwise watch it, so, yeah.

CAMERON SMITH: You took the words out of my mouth really. I'm about the same. I really don't know enough about what the PGA TOUR is doing to, you know, comment on that. But I'm really comfortable with this decision to be out here. I think this is the new thing. I'm excited about it, and it's going to be awesome. I can't wait for this to grow.

Q. Since we always brought up the LIV thing and you were unwilling to discuss it before, and you're now here, can you tell us when you first started talking to LIV?

CAMERON SMITH: I really don't know. Probably a couple months to be honest.

Q. Was it before The Open Championship?

CAMERON SMITH: Yeah.

Q. And was the offer that you first received, is that the offer that you accepted, or did you end up negotiating a different deal?

CAMERON SMITH: I think the offer that I first received I didn't really see. I think it was the team around me that kept the negotiations going and ultimately came to an agreement.

Q. And lastly, since you said you talked with Jay -- and Marc, I think you can maybe speak to this as well -- the TOUR is trying to do different things, which you've just talked about. Was there anything in your mind that the TOUR could have done that might have kept you as a PGA TOUR member?

CAMERON SMITH: Not particularly, mate, to be honest. For me the biggest attraction was spending more time at home. Getting that part of my life back. It's something that I've really missed.

I think obviously the pandemic that we've had over the last couple years didn't really help out, but you know, for me to be able to go home, see my family, and play golf there more often, that was a really big up for me.

MARC LEISHMAN: I think having a young family at home, I really wanted to play less, and I think if -- I think it's hard to compete for that -- for the FedExCup if you play less. You have to be playing to do that.

This was a great opportunity for me to play less golf but still be competitive, and on top of that, I mean, it's a really big business opportunity. Not only the golf but the stuff outside of golf, like Cam spoke about with the tournament that might be in Australia next year. Wherever it is, I'm not sure, Cam and LIV know more about that.

But I think if this team aspect of it, the franchises of it, could become pretty lucrative, and I think that was very exciting. Something that could be after golf. Like I don't know how many years I can play golf for. But after that, I would -- it's something I would love to continue to be a part of and continue to be able to travel doing something I love but potentially not with golf clubs, with something else.

Q. Harold Varner was in here earlier and I asked him about yesterday, and he said it was kind of a hard day for him after like it went public that he joined LIV. What have the last 24 hours been like for you guys?

CAMERON SMITH: For me, I flew up yesterday morning. I think the announcement was made in the morning. It was a pretty crazy day to be honest. I come out here, hit some balls.

Myself, I don't spend a lot of time on social media, if any. And you know, had a nice dinner with dad and a friend, and went to sleep. It was much the same.

MARC LEISHMAN: I mean, I think it's easy to make a transition when you're excited about something, whether it's from one golf club company to another one or from one tour to another. If you're excited about it, I feel like it's a fairly easy transition.

With the people I've met so far that are involved with LIV, it's been really good. Like I spoke about, last night at the hotel, just the camaraderie is amazing, and certainly made me feel very comfortable about my decision and excited about the future.

Q. Off the back of that, I wanted to ask you, you're both so excited to go home to Australia. Who did you call first and have you told friends and family, and what's the reaction to saying that you will be able to spend more time back home?

CAMERON SMITH: I called my mum first. I haven't been able to see her very often. She was just pumped that I could come home to be honest. Spending a longer period of time at home; being able to have Christmas at home, yeah, it's going to be awesome.

My friends and family have been right behind the decision. They love it. They think it's exciting as well. Apart from the golf bit, just having more time at home.

MARC LEISHMAN: Yeah, they are as excited as we are about it. But they are very, very excited. This is a cool thing. Yes, it's different but this is like a life change. It's not a career change but a different path, and it's -- I mean, I feel like I've said exciting about a hundred times but I'm like really excited about it.

Q. I wanted to ask both of you, what does Greg Norman mean to you, growing up and now in this period in the last few months, what has he meant to you guys?

MARC LEISHMAN: I mean, he was my idol growing up. We used to go down to the Australian Masters and watch him with my parents. They are some of my best childhood memories. I remember watching him, got a couple of golf balls off him a couple years running. You know, a phone call from him about this made a huge, huge difference.

Yeah, it's amazing to be a part of something that he -- I guess it's been in the pipeline for him for 20 or 30 years, maybe longer. So for it to come to fruition is pretty cool and to be a part of it is great.

CAMERON SMITH: Yeah, I played in the Greg Norman Junior Foundation basically my whole -- basically my whole life until I turned 18. He's been a big part of Australian golf. I think he will be forever a part of Australian golf.

Yeah, we spoke a few times about this, and I mean, yeah, he's the idol. He's someone that I would always listen to and would always have open ears for. Yeah, I can't wait to help him out in this next chapter of everyone's life.

Q. You guys are obviously both excited about the team concept. The first event was won by the South Africans and the next two by DJ and the Americans. Curious how important it is to have that common Aussie bond, and how will it manifest itself on the leaderboard?

CAMERON SMITH: Yeah, we saw that DJ and the team there have won the last couple of events. Certainly something that we want to putt a stop to. I think we have got a really solid team this week. For me I'm playing some of the best golf of my life at the moment.

I know for the other boys, this is a pretty exciting time and hopefully we can get all behind each other's backs and get a win for Australia, and yeah, keep continuing to do that.

Q. You've won The Open and you're now here at LIV. Can you speak to the differences in your approach, if any, to the pre-round hair care routine?

CAMERON SMITH: For me -- I thought you were going to ask a serious question there.

But for me, I think it's always remained pretty much the same. Get out of bed, brush it a few times and this is what it is.

Q. Any favorite product?

CAMERON SMITH: Saltwater is my favorite product. I love getting out in the saltwater and letting it kind of flourish.

Q. Obviously the Presidents Cup is coming up in a couple weeks. Did that in any shape or form come into your mindset to wait till now or after the Presidents Cup?

CAMERON SMITH: Absolutely. I have spoken to Trevor, and Marc has, as well. We are still willing to compete in that. I hope we can.

Trevor has become a really good friend of mine over the last couple years, him being on the broadcast team out there. But I hope we can get to Charlotte and represent Trevor and the Internationals.

MARC LEISHMAN: Certainly disappointing on a few different levels. The team; missing out on Cam and Jaco, among others, it's going to hurt the product and I don't know if it's a true International Team. I guess you have to be in good standing with the PGA TOUR to be a member of that team; and that's their rules and we abide by them.

But I don't know if that's the best thing for the Presidents Cup going forward, having to be in good standing. I think if it was a true International team, you could be playing on any tour.