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The Queenslander, who was the second ranked golfer just four years ago, decided after a disastrous Masters to move on from his coach Grant Field, the man who started shaping the major winner\u2019s game when he was a nine-year-old.<\/p>\n
As reported by todaysgolfer.com<\/a>, the 32-year-old is now working with revered coach Claude Harmon III, a son of swing guru Butch Harmon, as he seeks to find a way to reel in his wayward driving and reclaim his status as a contender.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a terrible, terrible conversation to have,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been seeing Grant since I was like nine years old, and he\u2019s a really good friend as well, so it was tough, but I feel like I have done the right thing for my golf. I think what I\u2019ve done is right.\u201d<\/p>\n Alarm bells have been ringing about Smith\u2019s slump for some time now.<\/p>\n The 2022 Open champion was the only player to fail to reach the weekend at all four majors last year, but the uncertainty surrounding LIV Golf\u2019s future has thrust Smith\u2019s plight back into the spotlight.<\/p>\n The recent news that Saudi Arabia\u2019s Public Investment Fund will remove its funding for LIV at the end of the season has thrown the breakaway league into an existential crisis.<\/p>\n Right now there are more questions than answers, but one of the biggest lingering questions is what will LIV\u2019s stars do if their tour is no more?<\/p>\n The resulting speculation led to rumours Smith may retire. It made a bit of sense. <\/p>\n READ MORE <\/b><\/p>\n WRAP: Rookie\u2019s life-changing $5m win as Aussie sends PGA warning; Rory worry emerges<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n Emotional breakthrough as Aussie downs Bryson in $5.5m statement amid LIV turmoil<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n Cameron Smith of Ripper GC reacts from the 9th green during day two of LIV Golf Mexico City.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n The Queenslander has long made it clear that he loves LIV\u2019s reduced schedule because it affords him more time at home in Brisbane.<\/p>\n After jumping ship for a reported fee of $150 million shortly and also have earned roughly $50 million more in prize money on LIV, the keen fisherman could be forgiven for taking the cash and sailing off into the sunset with his young family.<\/p>\n Smith had already knocked back the PGA Tour earlier this year.<\/p>\n When the window was opened to he, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm after Brooks Koepka returned, Smith emphatically responded by saying \u201cI\u2019ve made my bed and I\u2019m going to sleep in it\u201d.<\/p>\n The dots were joining, but Smith insists that whatever happens he will not be calling it quits anytime soon.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m 32 so I\u2019ve got a while yet,\u201d he replied when a reporter asked about any retirement plans during a press conference with Australian media last week.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t been asked that question before, that\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith is more interested in a career renaissance and insists that the \u201cfire is in the belly\u201d.<\/p>\n He wants to silence critics like former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, who said \u201cit\u2019s a shame\u201d that Smith is \u201cnot now a factor at these majors\u201d.<\/p>\n But more importantly, the Australian is eager to restore his own personal pride.<\/p>\n He gained a little bit of confidence at December\u2019s Australian Open even if it did end in heartbreak.<\/p>\n Smith missed out on his first home open crown by a shot as he three-putted on the final hole, while Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen made a freakish up-and-down to save par and claim victory.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is what I needed, a bit of a morale boost,\u201d Smith said of the runner-up finish earlier this year.<\/p>\n But his form at Royal Melbourne did not necessarily flow into the new year.<\/p>\n Top ten finishes at LIV\u2019s Adelaide and Singapore events were promising, but a second round meltdown at Augusta National seemed to undo the good work.<\/p>\n \u201cProbably just really disappointed mate, to be honest,\u201d Smith reflected on his second straight Masters missed cut.<\/p>\n \u201cIt sucks to play golf like that and feel like that. It\u2019s been a rough time in the majors for sure.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like think probably early in my career that I hung my hat on how I performed in the majors and it\u2019s just not good enough.<\/p>\n \u201cMaking a few changes to try and get back to where I was, and better. I can promise you the fire is in the belly. It\u2019s just a matter of time mate.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018Feeling sick\u2019: Aussie clinches breakthrough $5.5m LIV win as major berth awaits<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n PGA Tour Wrap \u2014 Rookie\u2019s life-changing $5m PGA win as Aussie sends major warning, Rory worry emerges<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018Trying to figure that out\u2019: Smith responds to shock rumour as star breaks silence over LIV crisis<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n Cameron Smith of Australia waves to the fans on the 17th green during the final round of the Australian Open at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club.Source: AFP<\/p>\n History counts against Smith\u2019s time being this week, and not just because he is in the infancy of his partnership with Harmon III.<\/p>\n In addition to his poor recent form, the PGA Championship has not necessarily been a happy hunting ground.<\/p>\n Smith has a better finish at every other major than his tie for ninth at the 2023 PGA Championship. But that does not mean it cannot be a turning point.<\/p>\n Although he has never truly been a contender, the Aussie has only missed the cut twice in ten appearances at the second major of the year.<\/p>\n That is not surprising as many Australian golf insiders, who have known Smith since he was child, have long said his game was built to win the claret jug and green jacket.<\/p>\n Smith\u2019s weakness has always been off the tee.<\/p>\n His lack of distance compared to other professionals and his waywardness with the driver is not a great combination at the PGA Championship and the US Open where often knee-high rough swallows up golf balls.<\/p>\n That problem is why he informed Australian reporters last week that he had \u201cmade a few changes in my team the last couple of weeks\u201d.<\/p>\n Cameron Smith of Ripper GC plays his shot from the first tee during day one of LIV Golf Mexico City.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cWorking on something different with my swing. It feels nice. It feels like I\u2019m getting a lot of confidence out on the golf course again, which I\u2019ve struggled with the last year and a bit,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel a lot freer on the golf course. I haven\u2019t really played a tournament since the change, so I\u2019m excited for what the future brings. It\u2019s been a while so I\u2019m pumped with where I\u2019m at.\u201d<\/p>\n Over the weekend, those changes became more clear as Smith finished tied 26th at LIV\u2019s Virginia event, won by Ripper GC teammate and compatriot Lucas Herbert.<\/p>\n Harmon III has worked with the likes of Adam Scott, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson over the years and Smith said what they are working on is \u201cnot rocket science\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just a bit of a different outlook,\u201d he told golfer.com.<\/p>\n \u201cI got to the point where I was thinking so many things in my golf swing that I couldn\u2019t hit the golf shot, which is never a fun place to be. He really just simplified it and made me think one thing rather than a thousand.\u201d<\/p>\n There is no doubt what will be at the top of their priority list as they try to get things back in order.<\/p>\n \u201cHe came off a good Australian Open and got a lot of his game back. He played okay this year on the LIV events and got to the Masters and played just okay, really struggling with keeping the ball on the fairway,\u201d Fox Golf expert analyst Paul Gow told foxsports.com.au.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd hopefully (he has) worked on really straightening the ball up, because that was the thing. He was just a little bit across and shut off with his golf swing, shut off across the line of his swing. And I think they\u2019re working on that and it is getting a bit better. And when he gets that better, we know that he\u2019s really good with his irons. <\/p>\n \u201cIt depends on the putting week for Cam, doesn\u2019t it? Because it\u2019s not a short game that is an issue. If it\u2019s hard and fast, the golf course and trickier the greens are, that brings Cam right into play.\u201d<\/p>\n When he was at his best in 2022, winning the Sentry Tournament of Champions, The Players and The Open on his way to the world No.2 ranking, Smith\u2019s driver was not a problem.<\/p>\n He was more accurate, but his stellar short game and approach play would bail him out when things went awry. Not unlike Rory McIlroy, part of Smith\u2019s appeal was that he took fans on a rollercoaster ride.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n Aus Open news \u2014 Historic shift for jewel in Aussie golf crown as $45m LIV fear sparks huge coup<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeffHe\u2019s going to do WHAT? Bryson\u2019s wild LIV reveal as star\u2019s facade finally cracks over big \u2018regret\u2019<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n