Amidst mass speculation that he will soon sign for the LIV Golf series, earlier this week Cameron Smith insisted, “My goal here is to win the FedEx Cup Playoffs. That’s all I’m here for.”

• Related: Greg Norman delivers swaggering response to Rory McIlroy after recent PGA Tour wins jibe

That has not stopped the recent Open Championship winner being on the receiving end of continuous questioning by reporters, despite fellow Aussie Cameron Percy backing down on his initial claim that Smith and Marc Leishman were ‘gone.’

After a first round 67 at the first of the FedEx play-off events at Sedgefield, Sky Golf presenter Nick Dougherty asked the 28-year-old if he understood why there was so much reporting on the subject.

• Related: The Cam Smith, Scottie Scheffler green ‘incident’ in Memphis isn’t what people think it is

As has been his way, Smith continued to bat away the notion that he was on his way after the Playoffs, but accepted why it was big news for the golf reporters.

“That’s just their job – that’s what they’re there to do. They’re there to sell stories, and I’m sure they’ve had a few looks at it the last few days.”

He recognised what may happen in the immediate future, “You know I’m ready to cop some heat … but like I said I’m here to win the FedEx Cup Playoffs – that’s my number one goal and whatever happens after that will come from me.”

The heat continued on the course during his third round of the FedEx St. Jude, with Memphis News’ Mark Giannotto tweeting the reaction of some of the crowd, with the Aussie on the end of some heckling during the opening Playoff event.

The reality of PGA Tour golf right now. Cam Smith, hitting his tee shot on 14, has a pretty large gallery following him. One man says “Let’s go Cam.” Another calls his mullet “pretty.” A third shouts “$100 million man.” Then yet another yells “sellout” loudest of all.

— Mark Giannotto (@mgiannotto) August 13, 2022

Reaction differed between support and distrust, feelings summed up by one reply that read, “If he goes to LIV, it shows $ are his main motivation rather than titles & standing in the game. As an Aussie, it’s disappointing. But let’s not forget, the PGA tour does nothing for golf in countries like Australia. Some effort to develop a world tour may have helped counter LIV.”

However, according to Australian news site nine.com.au the 28-year-old world number two could turn the episode into one where he becomes a hero from the jaws of villainy.

Talking to Sports Sunday, Nine’s regular roundup of world sports, former Aussie cricket captain Mark Taylor suggested Smith could turn this into a force for good for his homeland’s golf programme.

“There’s no doubt there’s a bit of reputational damage at the moment … but I want to go in and bat for him,” Taylor said.

“It’s a lot tougher for the non-Americans with this LIV Golf. As an Australian golfer or a South African golfer, you’ve got to make the big move to the (United) States to become a PGA Tour regular.”

“That’s what Adam Scott has done, that’s what Greg Norman did many years ago, so it’s tougher for those guys to commit full time to the PGA Tour when there’s another option which is also talking about moving events to Australia.”

“If Cameron Smith moves to LIV, yes, there will be some reputational damage, but I think he can make it work for him.”

Seeing the upside to the ‘investment’ into Australian golf, Taylor suggested the player himself takes advantage.

“LIV are already talking about having three tournaments in Australia and the Australian golf tour is nowhere near what it used to be. This influx of money from LIV will be great for Australian golf. I’d love to see Cameron Smith buy into it.”

“If I was his manager, I’d say, ‘Well if you’re going to sign up for this amount of money, put 10-20 per cent of it into Australian golf and buy in and get Australian golf back to where it used to be.”

“If he does that, it’ll be a win for him and a win for Australian golf. I think eventually LIV, the PGA, they’ll get back together in some form or another and I think it’ll be a win-win for him and Australian golf.”

More from the 19th Hole

• ‘Your tee times at Augusta are numbered’ – Wife of Masters legend lashes out at Bryson DeChambeau
• Why Phil Mickelson’s Open playing partner told Lefty that he’s hated him for 11 years
• YouTube sensation ejected by Brooks Koepka at Open Championship party