The stage was set for an epic showdown at the TPC Sawgrass property for the Players Championship, but one name was conspicuously absent from the leaderboard. The defending champion, Cameron Smith, was nowhere to be seen at the prestigious Stadium Course, where the world’s top golfers were vying for supremacy.

But this wasn’t just a case of a golfer taking a day off. Smith’s absence was the result of a bold and controversial decision he made after his win at The Open. In a move that shocked the golfing world, he joined LIV Golf. Moreover, Smith was suspended from the Tour, and he hasn’t played in a PGA event since August.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan didn’t mince words when he spoke about Smith’s absence, expressing his unease with the situation. But in the end, he had to acknowledge that Smith had made his bed and now he had to lie in it. What do the fans feel about the LIV Golfers’ absence at Sawgrass?

What was Cameron Smith doing at TPC Sawgrass?

The 29-year-old Australian teed off at the Yards. This is a golf course approximately a mile away from the destination of the esteemed unofficial 5th major. Cameron posed for pictures with fans and seemed to have a great day with his friends.

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However, fans online had no sympathy for the defending champion. They think he made a calculated choice while moving to LIV Golf, so now he should adjust to the same. Moreover, someone even defended the PGA Tour’s decision to ban him because LIV Golf will also never allow a PGA Tour player to just casually compete on their Tour.

Although Smith didn’t get to defend his Title at TPC Sawgrass, he will be able to compete in his quest for a second consecutive win at the Open. Following the US Open and the Masters’ lead, the third major has agreed to allow LIV Golf players to participate.

R&A CEO Martin Slumbers put to rest any rumors of banning LIV Golf players, stating that The Open needs to remain true to its principle of having the world’s best players competing, regardless of any ongoing disagreements.

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Moreover, Smith made history as the first Australian in almost thirty years to win The Open in July 2022. But that’s not all, as former winners Phil Mickelson, Louis Oosthuizen, and Henrik Stenson will also automatically qualify for The Open.