The PGA Tour headed to Royal Portrush golf club in Northern Ireland this week for the 2025's 'The Open (also known as the British Open in the United States)' as a familiar face, Scottie Scheffler, finished with a field-best -10 score after two rounds on Friday. Scheffler's success obscured the struggles of Cameron Smith, the six-time PGA Tour event winner who signed a $140-plus million dollar contract with Saudi Arabia (Public Investment Fund) funded LIV Golf in February 2023. Smith missed the cut after a frustrating performance that caused fans to doubt where his career is headed, and where his motivation lies heading down the stretch of the 2025 Tour.
6-Time PGA Winner Faces Criticism After Missing The Open's Friday Cut originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The PGA Tour headed to Royal Portrush golf club in Northern Ireland this week for the 2025's 'The Open (also known as the British Open in the United States)' as a familiar face, Scottie Scheffler, finished with a field-best -10 score after two rounds on Friday.
Scheffler's success obscured the struggles of Cameron Smith, the six-time PGA Tour event winner who signed a $140-plus million dollar contract with Saudi Arabia (Public Investment Fund) funded LIV Golf in February 2023.
Smith missed the cut after a frustrating performance that caused fans to doubt where his career is headed, and where his motivation lies heading down the stretch of the 2025 Tour.
Smith finished at +8 on Friday and did not make the cut. He has missed the cut at all four major PGA Tour events this year.
Fans pointed to his lucrative LIV Golf contract as a reason for his struggles.
🚨📉⛳️ #MC — With his missed cut today, Cam Smith becomes the only golfer to play and miss the cut in all 4 major championships this season.
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 18, 2025
What has gone wrong for the LIV Golf star? pic.twitter.com/3vWKXXBMxF
"Got a jillion bucks...Probably fishing 5-6 days a week except when he has to play," one reader said.
"LIV Golf ruined him," a second added.
"He got the bag (bag emoji) and checked out," a third said.
Knew he was the best he’d ever be and cashed in pic.twitter.com/panYRl4mOS
— NOLAtwinDAD (@NOLAtwinDAD) July 18, 2025
"Took the bag and lost motivation," another said. "For some one title is enough."
— John ProV1 👨💻 (@JohnProv1) July 18, 2025
Another said that the competitive side of Smith vanished after his move to LIV.
That's so surprising after success in recent years. Guys when you sign up to LIV you're getting paid a fortune regardless of the result so maybe the competitor in him isn't there anymore
— The Welsh Bull⚡️🔋 (@TheWelshBull) July 18, 2025
"Joining LIV is what went wrong," another said.
Related: Jon Rahm Has Meltdown at The Open on Friday
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
