Six career wins on the PGA Tour? Check. Captain of LIV Golf Team Champion, Ripper GC? Double check. That’s Cam Smith—a golfer who’s made his mark in both leagues, from his impressive PGA Tour record to solidifying his place in LIV Golf with three individual wins. He’s a leading name in today’s golf, and naturally, fans are curious about the story behind this golf star.

At 32, Smith has reached milestones many only dream of, thanks to his sheer talent on the greens. But is that all to his story? Every great champion has a team behind the scenes, and Smith is no exception. Let’s look at the key people who have stood by him on and off the field.

Who are Cam Smith’s parents?

Cam Smith is a golfer who is an inspiration to many. But who is the greatest influence on his golfing career? Well, that’s his father, Des. Born in Brisbane, Australia, in August 1993, Smith discovered his love for golf through his dad, an accomplished golfer himself. It’s clear where that passion comes from, right?

Starting as young as two, Smith was swinging clubs at Wantima Country Club, a local course in Brisbane’s northern suburbs, where Des served as club captain and worked as a printer. The LIV golfer took up golf as a toddler when his father cut down a set of clubs and bolted some PVC pipe to the side of his pull cart so that Smith could put his junior clubs in it and walk around.

Smith Sr was a proud man when his son became the first Australian in 29 years to win The Open Championship in 2022. He was not at St. Andrews when his son won but they spoke on call as Smith walked off the 18th with Claret Jug in his hands, “I was bawling my eyes out speaking to him,” Smith Sr told Australian Golf Digest from Brisbane. “I’m so proud of him. All the hard work he’s done has paid off.”

Smith’s mother, Sharon, held a job at the local department store. Although Smith doesn’t often speak about his mother, his grandmother Carol was an inspiration for his third Australian PGA Tour win. After battling through chemotherapy, Carol was there with him, walking all 72 holes. Reflecting on the experience, Smith shared, “I can’t believe she did it; everyone told her to pace herself, but she was out there all day, every day. Pretty amazing, inspiring; I don’t know how she did it,” per The Guardian.

Smith also has a sister, Mel. While these are the people who have been with Smith since his childhood, his family was expanded by the addition of a new member, his wife Shanel Naoum.

Who is Smith’s better half?

Shanel Naoum, originally from Florida, officially became Mrs. Smith in a surprise ceremony on December 31, 2023. She is a chiropractic physician by profession. Shanel studied at the University of North Florida and the Palmer College of Chiropractic. Rumors had swirled for months about a wedding but the couple kept things intimate, tying the knot in a private gathering with only close friends and family. Known for maintaining a low profile, Shanel has stood by Smith throughout his rise, largely out of the public eye.

She speaks Arabic and enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends (and her dog Donny). She loves her boat days as well! While his family and Shanel are his rock of the course, there are even those who play an important role when it comes to building one of the best golfers.

Who is Smith’s coach and caddie?

One championship that Smith is most proud of is his 150th Open Championship at the Old Course, St Andrews, in 2022. The victory was something hard to forget, as he performed remarkably well.

But who’s the mastermind behind those brilliant swings? Enter Grant Field, a coach who has been by Smith’s side throughout the biggest moments in his career. He is more like a home friend, as both Field and Smith share the same home soil. As the head of coaching at Pelican Waters Golf Club on the Sunshine Coast, he brings a wealth of experience to the table.

Additionally, he serves as the head coach for Golf Queensland, specializing in the short game and holding qualifications in the AimPoint putting method. With a resume like that, it’s no surprise that Smith has one of the best short games in golf paired with a world-class putting game to match.

So far, Smith has had quite the journey in golf, and as we reflect on his greatest supports, how can we not mention his companion on the green, his caddie Sam Pinfold? Sam’s own journey began in Wellington, New Zealand, where he learned to play golf at Whitby Golf Club and later represented Wellington in junior and senior teams. But at age 22, Sam recognized his true calling wasn’t as a pro player but as a caddie.

After taking up a role at Royal Pines in Australia, he received an unexpected call from his friend Brad Iles in 2007, who invited him to caddie on the Nationwide Tour. Although, he had no plans to stick to that gig, but the experience—and the connections he built made his decision firm to continue it as a full-time career. By 2012, Sam had caddied for several notable players on the PGA Tour and international circuits, including Aron Price and Ryo Ishikawa.

When Sam and Smith met in 2014, neither knew their partnership would last through thick and thin, bringing wins like the Zurich Classic and even the prestigious Open Championship. Ever since then, Sam has been a constant presence on Cam’s bag, making them one of the longest-running teams on the LIV Golf circuit.

With these pillars of support by his side, do you think Cam Smith can add to his list of victories in the upcoming matches? Let us know in the comments.