He’s an Aussie! He’s a LIV golfer! Yes, we are talking about Cameron Smith, the same athlete who had quite a season this year in LIV Golf. Aside from his group of Aussies winning the Team Championship in Dallas, Rippers GC had also clinched the top spot in Adelaide and Singapore. What about the golfer himself? Well, the 31-year-old had 3 podium finishes, not to mention the other 4 top-10 finishes he carded. But despite all of this, bad luck might follow him later this year. To be more specific, it’s when he ties off at the 2024 ISPS Handa Australian Open that the misfortune might strike him.

The 3-time LIV Golf champ has, as per ABC News, committed to the upcoming national event that will tee off on November 28 at Kingston Heath Golf Club and The Victoria Golf Club. Smith, however, won’t be alone at the event. The likes of Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, and Cam Davis are also teeing it up in the men’s field while Hannah Green will lead the women’s field.

Coming back to his misfortune. Interestingly enough, the LIV Golf Pro has played in a total of 11 Australian Opens. But as fate would have it, he has topped none of them. Quite unfortunate, yes… Such a track record makes it all the more important for Cameron Smith to clinch a win at the dual-gender event.

“I don’t know if it’s been a difficult tournament for me, but there’s been a couple of hard pills to swallow in the past,” said the athlete while alluding to the same. He then went ahead to convey how ready he is as a golfer while expressing the need to win the national title. “It’s one that I’ve always wanted to win,” said Smith. “One that’s always been on my radar, and I feel like I’ve prepped for a lot, and I just haven’t been able to do it yet.” 

But it’s not as if the golfer hasn’t come close at all to the top spot. Back in 2016, when the national event was named after Emirates, he had tied with Jordan Spieth and Ashley Hall on the final day of play. However, a playoff for the title resulted in the American athlete defeating both the Aussies, leading to another loss for Smith. Quite a bit of bad luck there for Smith when it comes to his own country’s Open, despite his insane contributions to Australia.

Cameron Smith, the unlucky yet talented golfer from Australia

“I’ve been close a couple of times, lost in a play-off,” said Smith before recounting his 2016 T2 finish. “So there’s definitely some motivation there to win it and get that trophy.” Well, his fans would hope the same since he is someone who has represented his country numerous times all over the world. Take the 2020 Olympics, for example, where he finished in the 10th position in the men’s individual stroke play event.

That’s not all. The 31-year-old Aussie was also a part of the 2019 Presidents Cup squad. During the same, he managed to win a singles match against Justin Thomas, 2&1 while losing and tying a match each at the biennial tournament. What’s more, not taking into account his amateur feats while representing Australia, Cameron Smith also teed off in the World Cup of Golf back in 2018.

But all of this hasn’t converted to a national title in his name, much to the disappointment of the LIV Golf Pro and his fans. And this would be something that the athlete would be hoping to break this time at the ISPS Handa Australian Open!