Cameron Smith suffers collapse at the Masters and sparks debate about LIV.

The phenomenon known as “The LIV Effect” is igniting the world of golf, and Cameron Smith is at the epicenter of this storm. Following a devastating collapse at the 2026 Masters in Augusta, the Australian has seen his reputation dramatically shaken, with six consecutive missed cuts in majors raising an unanswered question: is his connection to the controversial LIV League destroying his career?

In 2022, Cameron Smith seemed unstoppable. After a historic victory at the Open Championship in St Andrews, where he shone with a final round of 64, he was expected to remain one of the key players in majors. However, since signing a multimillion-dollar contract with LIV Golf, estimated between 140 to 150 million dollars, his performance in major tournaments has been disappointing. At this year’s Masters, Smith displayed erratic play with rounds of 74 and 77, finishing seven strokes over par and missing the cut by three strokes. This marked his sixth consecutive missed cut in majors, a troubling record that stands in stark contrast to his results prior to joining LIV.

Before the move to LIV Golf, Smith had a solid record at Augusta: three consecutive top-10 finishes between 2020 and 2022, including an impressive second place in 2020 and a third place in 2022. Once in LIV, his results started reasonably, with a 34th place in 2023 and a sixth place in 2024. However, from 2025 onwards, the downward trend became evident, with the Australian missing the cut in all four majors that year, an unprecedented feat for a professional of his caliber. The continuation of this poor form in 2026, with another missed cut at the Masters, only reinforces the idea that something is deeply wrong.

This case is not isolated. Jon Rahm, the 2023 Masters champion, has also felt the weight of the shift to LIV, failing to secure a third major since then. At the 2026 Masters, Rahm managed to make the cut, but was far from the lead, finishing with rounds of 78 and 70, 16 strokes behind leader Rory McIlroy.

The scene at this year’s Masters reveals a worrying picture for LIV Golf. Of the 10 players from the league present in Augusta, half failed to make the cut. The most emblematic case was Bryson DeChambeau, who arrived as a favorite after two consecutive victories in LIV, but collapsed with a triple bogey on the last hole on Friday, finishing the tournament six strokes over par. Among those who survived, only Tyrrell Hatton, at four under par, seemed capable of troubling McIlroy. DeChambeau’s early exit, the LIV player best prepared for Augusta, highlights the lack of competitiveness of the league on the big stages.

Golf analyst Brandel Chamblee had no doubts in criticizing LIV players: “They are not being challenged, they are not being tested, and therefore they are not prepared.” This brutal assessment is reflected in the numbers: Cameron Smith, despite struggles in the majors, remains competitive in LIV, with an 8th place finish in Adelaide, another in Singapore, and ranks second in scrambling for the 2026 season. The problem seems to be the inability to perform at the highest level when the pressure of major tournaments is at stake.

On social media, the outrage is palpable. Cameron Smith’s dark streak has not gone unnoticed by fans, who see a pattern that has persisted for two years. Comments like “Another player who would benefit immensely from returning to DP World and the PGA Tour” or “The LIV Effect” proliferate, suggesting that the connection to LIV is undermining the performance of its athletes. Brooks Koepka’s departure from LIV before 2026 only adds fuel to this narrative.

The discontent among fans is clear: “LIV has destroyed great players,” writes one follower. Many point to the lack of competitiveness inherent in the LIV format, which has no cuts during the weekend, removing the pressure of “making the cut” that defines the majors. “They took LIV’s money and stopped practicing, showing up on game day just to have fun, without any competitive edge,” comments another fan.

Cameron Smith now enters a decisive phase of his career and the 2026 major season. The question that remains is whether there will be a possible response without a radical change in his competitive schedule. The “LIV Effect” is proving to be a heavy shadow that threatens to overshadow players who were once absolute stars in the most prestigious golf competitions in the world. For Smith and others, the clock is ticking – the future of their legacy may very well depend on what they do next.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.