what a shame
If Cameron Smith is tempted by LIV Golf, Rory McIlroy duel at St Andrews should knock sense into The 150th Open champion
For about 67 holes, St Andrews was caught up in a fairytale.
Rory McIlroy, the man who makes us feel things, was about to give golf the story it needed at the place where it matters most.
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But in the end, Cameron Smith’s astonishing victory was a lesson in what really matters.
Sporting excellence, the kind which pushes the greatest to the edge of what is possible. Check.
History, the past defining the present, as players compete for immortality. Check.
That makes the roars sound different. It makes people escape and live vicariously through the competitor. It is the entire basis of sport.
And it is why everyone loves McIlroy: the player who has taken a public stand for integrity as others try to buy it and use it.
As Smith turned up the electricity and McIlroy desperately searched for a spark which could not be found, did anyone think about the pay cheque?
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The winner gets £2,111,000. Second place gets £1,790,000. Third gets £1,260,000.
In other words, McIlroy’s desperate attempt for eagle at the last hole cost him £530,000.
With Smith two shots ahead in the clubhouse, and Cameron Young one stroke in front of him, McIlroy needed to hole out his chip from the 18th fairway to force a play-off, or make birdie to tie second place.
It seems absurd to suggest that he would do anything other than try to hole his second shot, ending an eight-year wait for another Major in a moment that would be replayed for the rest of time.
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Facing the iconic town of St Andrews, at the same place he watched his hero Tiger Woods draped in glory just two days prior, this was worth more.
It is McIlroy's agonising pursuit of glory that makes him so popular - and the same reason why St Andrews also got behind the brilliance of Smith.
LIV Golf is akin to McIlroy going for the money over the glory - and the organisation wants to think fans are into that kind of stuff. Many believe it is only about cash-grabbing and sportswashing.
Just like the impossible thought of McIlroy trying to get up and down for £530,000 with The 150th Open on the line at the Home of Golf, there are rumours Smith will jump to LIV.
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If true, it would be a stunning gamechanger for fellow Australian and LIV chief Greg Norman, who could welcome the first top-ten player and the Champion Golfer of the Year to his controversial, Saudi-backed project.
There are, of course, pressing questions about exemptions for the LIV rebels who competed this week, and how they will qualify in future with Official Word Golf Ranking points currently up for debate.
As St Andrews instinctively searched for stardust, a reason why this particular Open was special, there was suddenly a horrible realisation that its champion might not care.
Smith delivered one of golf’s great displays to shoot 64, including a record-breaking back-nine 30, with five straight birdies, to snatch the most coveted title from McIlroy in thrilling fashion.
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For most of the press conference, that was enough. McIlroy did not throw it away, he was beaten by the better man and that is how it ought to be at the Home of Golf.
But then came the question: “Cam, apologies for having to bring this up in these circumstances, but your name continues to be mentioned, has been mentioned to me this week about LIV Golf. What's your position? Are you interested? Is there any truth to suggestions that you might be signing?”
Smith responded: “I just won the British Open, and you're asking about that. I think that's pretty not that good.”
It was the fact he just won The Open which made it such an important question. Henrik Stenson, Team Europe's next Ryder Cup captain, is expected to all-but resign the role by joining LIV immediately after this event - why should timing suddenly matter?
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The journalist hit back: “I appreciate that, but the question is still there. Are you interested at all? Is there any truth in that?”
And the Champion Golfer of the Year said: “I don't know, mate. My team around me worries about all that stuff. I'm here to win golf tournaments.”
Make of that what you will. With hundreds of millions on the table and legacies at stake, decide for yourself how much Smith knows about the offer from his friend Norman.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews tried their best to make LIV irrelevant this week - because it stands against everything which had the potential to make the championship special - and it was the last thing anyone wanted to talk about.
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In the end, their efforts might be in vain. Smith defeating poster boy McIlroy at the event Norman was disinvited from? The R&A would have to accept defeat.
That is, unless Smith felt it. Unless he heard the boos for Ian Poulter on the first tee, absorbed the adoration from the crowd for both him and McIlroy, and got high on the thrill of elite competition.
As he stares at the Claret Jug, crying on the 18th green, it certainly did not look like a millionaire weeping over the joys of £2,110,000 instead of £1,790,000.
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But ask him to be honest about what he wants in the future, as a gloom set across golf's most important venue, and it was enough to question the 469 years that built this victory.
Listen to more on Cam Smith's win at St Andrews on talkSPORT 2's review show from the Old Course with Russ Hargreaves, Bob Bubka, Rupert Bell and Sean O'Brien at 12pm on Monday
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