Winner’s Circle: Cameron Smith Claims Maiden LIV Golf Title at Chicago Invitational

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Cameron Smith Wins 2022 LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago
Cameron Smith of Punch GC reacts on the 18th green after winning the LIV Golf Invitational – Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms on Sept 18, 2022 in Sugar Grove, Ill. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

SUGAR GROVE, Ill. – Cameron Smith shot a 69 on Sunday to claim his maiden LIV Golf Series title at the Chicago Invitational.

The 29-year-old Aussie finished his final day at Rich Harvest Farms with three bogeys against six birdies, highlighted by closing gains on Nos. 17 and 18 to reach 13-under par, three clear of Peter Uihlein and Dustin Johnson.

For his maiden LIV Golf title, Smith took home a check for $4 million and 40 LIV Golf ranking points.


Winner’s Circle: LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago

This week’s Winner’s Circle is powered by the Amazon Titleist Golf Store.


Cam Smith Pro-File

Cameron Smith Wins 2022 LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago
Cameron Smith of Punch GC and caddie Sam Pinfold celebrate on the 18th green after winning the LIV Golf Invitational – Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms on Sept 18, 2022 in Sugar Grove, Ill. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

Name: Cameron Smith
Nickname: Cam
Height: 5′11″
Weight: 175 lb
Nationality: Australia
Birthdate: Aug 18, 1993 (age 29)
Native: Brisbane, Queensland, AUS
Residence: Jacksonville, FL
Turned Pro: 2013
Best World Rank: 2 (07/2022)
Equipment: Titleist
Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1x


Video: Cam Smith’s Winning Putt

Cameron Smith for the birdie, and the win!


LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago Leaderboard

Cameron Smith Wins 2022 LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago
Cameron Smith of Punch GC plays his shot from the 5th tee during Day 3 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms on Sept 18, 2022 in Sugar Grove, Ill. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey for LIV Golf via Getty Images)
Top-10 Finishers

Pos-Player-To Par (Final Rd)
1. Cameron Smith -13 (-3)
2. Peter Uihlein -10 (-3)
2. Dustin Johnson -10 (-2)
4. Sergio Garcia -8 (-5)
4. Joaquin Niemann -8 (-4)
6. Louis Ooshthuizen -7 (-3)
6. Charl Schwartzel -7 (-1)
8. Phil Mickelson -6 (-6)
8. Chase Koepka -6 (-5)
8. Bryson DeChambeau -6 (-1)
8. Laurie Canter -6 (E)

Top-3 Teams

Pos-Team-To Par (Final Rd)
1. 4 Aces -24 (-9)
2. Smash -23 (-10)
3. Hy Flyers -17 (-10)

Top-5 Money Makers

Pos-Player (Money)
1. Cameron Smith ($4.06m)
2. Dustin Johnson ($2.56m)
2. Peter Uihlein ($2.18m)
4. Patrick Reed ($1.08m)
5. Sergio Garcia ($1.02m)
5. Joaquin Niemann ($1.02m)
Including individual and team earnings.


Cameron Smith’s Winning Stats

Cameron Smith Wins 2022 LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago
Cameron Smith of Punch GC reacts on the 18thy green after winning the LIV Golf Invitational – Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms on Sept 18, 2022 in Sugar Grove, Ill. (Photo by Alex Goodlett for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

Driving: 300.2 yards (22nd)
Fairways: 22/42, 52% (T33)
Greens: 36/54, 67% (T28)
Putts/Avg: 26.33 (T2)
Birdies: 17 (T2)
Par-3 Scoring: E
Par-4 Scoring: -7
Par-5 Scoring: -6
Scores: 17 Birdies, 33 Pars, 4 Bogeys


3 Questions: Cameron Smith

Cameron Smith Wins 2022 LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman and Cameron Smith of the Punch GC pose for a photo after Smith won the LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms on Sept 18, 2022 in Sugar Grove, Ill. (Photo by Montana Pritchard for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

1. Cam, can you take us through the round? You had a couple of bogeys on the front, you got a little bit of pressure, but obviously at the end you got the job done.

CAMERON SMITH: Yeah, I think it was quite frustrating at the start of the day. My warmup wasn’t fantastic. I didn’t feel like I was striking the ball as well as I had the first couple of days.

Yeah, I just kind of stuck in there. There was a couple of really poor shots off the tee that led to a couple of really soft bogeys on quite easy holes, especially that start where you want to get off to a pretty hot start.

Yeah, so it was frustrating, but just stuck in there good.

I think after that putt went in on 7 and then 8, I started to feel a little bit better about myself and kind of got the round going again.

Cameron Smith Wins 2022 LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago
Greg Norman, LIV Golf CEO and commissioner, His Excellency Yasir Al Rumayyan, and Majed Al Sorour, CEO of Saudi Golf Federation, congratulate Cameron Smith of Punch GC after winning the LIV Golf Invitational – Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms on Sept 18, 2022 in Sugar Grove, Ill. (Photo by Joe Scarnici for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

2. Given that this is obviously the strongest golf event held this weekend in the world and you’re arguably the best player in the world and you just won an event, you’re not going to receive any world golf ranking points. How close do you think we are to a resolution to where players like you — you look at the field at Napa this weekend and I think you would have torn that up. How close do you think we are to a resolution here?

CAMERON SMITH: Hopefully close. I think for all the guys on the Tour, it would mean a lot to get World Ranking points.

I suppose there’s a lot on the line with the ranking points, getting into majors, stuff like that.

Yeah, there needs to be one quite soon, I think. The field here is strong enough and deep enough to where it warrants that, and hopefully it’s soon.

3. What’s the difference for you, winning an event like this in its first year versus winning events maybe on other tours with more established histories?

CAMERON SMITH: Yeah, I think once upon a time, everything had to start once upon a time.

I think for sure there is a history aspect that is for certain missing, but it doesn’t mean that the tournament is a bad tournament because of it. There’s 48 of the best guys out here trying to compete and trying to win. In 10, 20 years’ time, these could be the biggest events in the world. We’re just not there yet.


WITB: Cameron Smith

Cameron Smith Wins 2022 LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago
Cameron Smith of Punch GC plays his shot from the 5th tee during Day 3 of the LIV Golf Invitational – Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms on Sept 18, 2022 in Sugar Grove, Ill. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey for LIV Golf via Getty Images)

Smith secured his maiden LIV Golf title playing a full bag of Titleist gear, including driver, irons, putter and golf ball.

Cameron Smith’s Winning Golf Bag

Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10°)
3-wood: Titleist TSi2 (15°)
7-wood: Titleist TS2 (21°)
Long Iron: Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi (3)
Irons: Titleist T100 Black (4-9)
Pitch: Vokey SM9 (46°)
Gap : Vokey SM9 (50°)
Sand: Vokey SM9 (56Ëš)
Lob: Vokey WedgeWorks (60Ëš)
Putter: Scotty Cameron 009M Prototype
Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Hat: Titleist
Apparel: Penguin
Shoes: FootJoy


Credits: Getty Images, LIV Golf Media, GolfWRX


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