Cameron Smith opens up on huge coaching change after ‘devastating’ performance at The Masters as he sets sights on the PGA Championship
Just four years ago, Cameron Smith was the toast of the golf world—ranked second in the world and looking as if the only way was up.
The 32-year-old held The Players and The Open Championships at the time, two of the five biggest titles in golf.
However, the Aussie’s performances have fallen off a cliff since the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst.
He has missed the cut in six consecutive majors, most recently recording rounds of 74 and 77 at the Masters.
That left the Queenslander completely disillusioned with his game and searching for something to help him get back to anywhere near his best.
And with the PGA Championship almost underway, Smith has made a drastic change in an attempt to make it to the weekend.
Cameron Smith has endured a torrid run at golf’s Majors for the last two years, missing the cut at the last six
In an attempt to fix his swing issues he has made the decision to change coaches, now working with Claude Harmon III
Smith is already a Major champion, having won the The Open four years ago
Despite critics suggesting his move to LIV Golf has had a real impact on his performances at the majors, Smith was quick to deny these claims. ‘It’s frustrating because I don’t think if I was playing anywhere else, the results would have really changed,’ he said during a LIV Golf season preview event in Florida.
‘I think people see average play aligned with changing a tour or not working hard enough. It really couldn’t be more the opposite.’
Adamant it has nothing to do with his current choice of tour, Smith has changed coach in a bid to find his spark again.
He has turned to revered coach Claude Harmon III to try to fix his swing issues. Harmon, son of Butch Harmon, also works with fellow LIV star Dustin Johnson.
‘I was pretty devastated,’ Smith told Today’s Golfer, reflecting on the Masters after finishing his first practice round at Aronimink. ‘I feel like I’ve put in a lot of hard work over the last year and a half and I’ve just got absolutely nothing out of my game, so it’s just time for a change.’
‘It’s just a bit of a different outlook,’ Smith explained. ‘It’s not rocket science. I got to a point where I was thinking so many things in my golf swing that I couldn’t hit the golf shot, which is never a fun place to be.
‘He just really simplified it and made me think of one thing rather than a thousand.’
‘It’s starting to feel good and starting to feel like I can actually commit to some shots and hit different shots, so it’s coming along nicely.
‘Claude spends a lot of time out on LIV with DJ. He’s obviously got a wonderful reputation.’
In linking up with Harmon, Smith had to make the difficult decision to split with long-time coach and friend Grant Field.
A decision he has not taken lightly: ‘It was a terrible, terrible conversation to have,’ he said. ‘I’ve been seeing Grant since I was about nine years old, and he’s a really good friend as well, so it was tough, but I feel like I’ve done the right thing for my golf. I think what I’ve done is right.’
Smith will get the chance to prove the decision was the right one with the challenging task of the PGA Championship at Aronimink this weekend.
