AUSTRALIA’S highest-profile professional golfer Cameron Smith has confirmed he will be at Murray Downs Golf & Country Club for November’s NSW Open in a coup for the region.
The 31-year-old, who plays alongside some of the world’s best in the LIV Golf League, will hit the region’s top golf course between November 14 and 17.
Smith has reportedly earned more than $35 million during his career but will now play in the $800,000 competition in regional NSW.
Golf NSW and the NSW Open confirmed on Wednesday night Smith would take part in the NSW Open, Smith telling NSW Golf he wanted to give back to golf in Australia.
“I love supporting Australian golf and when the opportunity arises to play, I want to be there,” Smith said.
“The NSW Open is growing into a major event, and I’m excited to be able to play in the tournament this year, which will be part of a great summer of Australian golf.
“It’s fantastic it is being played in a regional area and I can’t wait to see how many fans are at Murray Downs.”
Club chief executive Greg Roberts said the announcement was “an amazing result for our region”.
“I have to give huge thanks to Golf NSW’s chief operating officer Graeme Phillipson and the New South Wales Government and Destination NSW for bringing these types of events out into region,” he said.
“But importantly we also need to give a huge thank-you to Cameron Smith himself for this show of support for Australian golf.
“For someone with such a high profile to be prepared to come back and support golf in this country is simply amazing.
“He’s the 2022 British Open championship winner, with six PGA titles and three LIV Golf titles – the guy is a superstar of the sport.
“To get him to come back to support Australian golf is just amazing.”
Roberts said with the addition of Smith, the NSW Open was shaping to be “the biggest thing the Murray River has seen in a long time”.
“To have an event like this in southern New South Wales and on the Murray River is just huge,” he said.
“We put the idea out there earlier this week and had a bit of fun around it, but to have it actually come off now is fantastic.
“The opportunity to have Smith attend our tournament gives everyone in the regional and country areas the chance to see the absolute best.
“I can’t wait to see the enthusiasm for golf and the engagement with the crowds, those things will only see the sport grow in the region.
“People will travel from all across the nation to see the best golfers in the land participate in a championship layout, on a high-quality course within our region.”
Phillipson said Smith would bring a even more attention to the prestigious championship, which began in 1931.
“His presence will undoubtedly elevate the level of competition and create an incredible atmosphere for all attendees,” he said.
“We were anticipating large crowds this year, but the numbers will be massive thanks to his star power.”
This year will be the first time Smith plays the NSW Open as a professional, as he looks to join the likes of Greg Norman, Kel Nagle and Peter Thomson as winner.
The Brisbanite, who now resides in Jacksonville, Florida, hit the heights of No.2 on the official world golf ranking in July 2022 and now ranks at No.91.
Smith last played in Australia in April’s LIV Golf Adelaide event, where he and his Ripper teammates won the team competition in a playoff.
He tied for sixth place in the 2024 Masters in April, finishing his four rounds at two under at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.
