03 April 2023 , 21:00
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Open champion Cam Smith has revealed he has brought an extra set of clothes without LIV logos to the Masters in case he is ordered to change by Augusta National.
The Aussie insisted he has no regrets about joining the Saudi-backed rebel tour even though he admitted “the fields aren’t as strong” and he misses some big events.
LIV Golf players are wearing shirts with their team badges on this week with the world No. 6 wearing his Ripper Golf Club logo as a contractual obligation.
But Smith admitted: “We haven't really heard much from Augusta National about the logos, and for me personally, I'm really proud of where I'm at and what I'm doing. Unless it's a problem for these guys, I'm going to wear it. I have another set of clothes made up this week without them.”
Smith is the highest ranked of the 18 LIV players teeing up in the first Major of the year. “I'm confident that I can win,” he said.
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Boss Greg Norman has claimed LIV players are planning a joint celebration if any of them dons the famous Green Jacket on Sunday evening. “There definitely hasn't been a conversation with me,” Smith laughed. “If there was one, I definitely got left out of that one!
I'm not sure what's going to happen, mate, I guess we'll see how the week unfolds. For sure I'd love to see one of us guys get up to the top of the leaderboard and really give it a nice shot.”
But Smith, who is now banned from the PGA Tour, claimed there was “too much rubbish going on” about the conflict between the two tours and revealed his relief at his reception back at Augusta.
“I spent probably an hour out on the range already this afternoon,” he said. “It was good to see some familiar faces. Lots of laughs and lots of handshakes, and it was really nice. I really wasn't sure what I was going to expect walking on to the range but it was good to see some familiar faces and lots of smiles.
Preparations have begun ahead of the 2023 Masters (Getty Images)“I'm really happy with how it's going at the moment. I don't know how the rest of the week is going to unfold. I haven't really seen much of the crowd. That's another thing for me. But Augusta National is first class, and that's what we kind of expected this week.”
After winning the LIV Orlando event, Brooks Koepka admitted he was looking forward to playing against the likes of Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler this week.
“For sure there's been a couple of tournaments that I really have enjoyed in the past that I feel like I've missed out on,” Smith added.
“But at the same time, I've made my bed and I'm happy, very, very happy where I am. I'm happy to sleep in the bed I'm in basically.
“Yeah, I do miss certain tournaments, certain golf courses. I'm looking forward to this week playing against the guys for sure. But I don't know if I necessarily miss playing against any certain guys. As the LIV Tour grows and the fields get deeper and stronger and all that stuff unfolds, it's just going to be better and better. I can't wait to see it unfold personally.”