‘Fifth major’: Smith revels in Open change

Table of Contents

Cameron Smith and his group of Australian LIV teammates let out a collective cheer after Golf Australia finally gave in after three years of complaining and strongly criticising the 2024 event, including taking aim at the course layout that had been designed to suit the women's field.

Arriving at the near perfect Grange Golf Club in Adelaide this week brought smiles to the faces of Smith, Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones who declared it the "benchmark" standard the GA boss James Sutherland should be looking at to return the Open to the "fifth major" status that Smith reckons it's entitled to.

“Not only do we want to come down and have a crack and obviously support our event, I reckon it lends itself to having a stronger field, having more blokes come down here and play the Australian Open, and make it the event it's always been,” Smith said.

“You look at the names on that trophy from the '80s and '90s, it's pretty incredible, and it's like a bit of history that's gone missing. I definitely want it to be the best event it can be and be the fifth major. It would be bloody unbelievable.”

Adam Scott jumped on the bandwagon of criticism, saying there's a time and place for golf innovation, but "our national Open is not one of them" after he gave last year's lacklustre event a miss, which was won by relatively unknown American Ryggs Johnston.

Smith said he asked a lot of questions, but hadn't got "many answers" with the hope that this shift back to tradition would make a difference.

“We've got to have a beginning, and hopefully this is it.”

Herbert, a winner on both the European and PGA Tours before joining LIV, elaborated further on the extent of concerns players had and how the move has sparked renewed optimism for a resurgence.

"We would've been rapt to see an Australian Open venue operate a bit differently than it did, and I reckon we're a bit limited, as well, with the women playing alongside us," he said.

I reckon you shouldn't set up the courses the same way, 'cause it's not fair to either gender and their skills don't get showcased properly when you do that.

“I reckon splitting them up is ultimately going to be a top decision for the Australian Open in the long run, and I think the event is really going to go from strength to strength because of it.”

The dates and venue for the men's and women's 2025 Australian Opens are yet to be confirmed, with negotiations between Melbourne's "big four" set to determine the future arrangements.