Cam Smith takes LIV Golf title ahead of The Open in Liverpool

With a final-round 68, the World No.7 finished 15-under, a shot ahead of countryman Marc Leishman and America’s Patrick Reed.

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It was Smith’s second win on the LIV tour, and wasn’t without some late drama as the Australian bogeyed the last after putting his third shot in a green-side bunker.

Having gone into the final day in the lead, Smith never let it slip but he still had to scramble at times to ensure the pack didn’t overhaul him.

There were chip-in birdies after wayward tee shots, long-range putts sunk and some fine recovery play, particularly on the back nine.

Standing on the tee at the Par 5 15th, Smith still had a two-shot lead but then promptly hooked his drive so deep into the trees there was a chance he’d need a provisional.

As it was, he found his ball and then came within centimetres of a birdie.

With a $4m cheque in his pocket for the victory, Smith said: “This course is so fiddly, it's tough to play with a lead.

“You're almost trying to place it on the fairway and on the green rather than just hitting your shots. It can get to you. This is the best the putter has felt for a long time, and I think that definitely saved today's round.”

Cameron Smith with the LIV Golf London trophy (Image: Action Images)

With The Open at Hoylake less than two weeks away, it was the perfect time for Smith to hit form after a winless seven months.

“I think it's more of a confidence thing there, just winning again I think is nice,” he said.

“It really hasn't been that long since my last win, but it feels like forever. Especially the way I've been playing the last couple months, I've been knocking on the door.”

Smith isn’t playing in this weekend’s Scottish Open, and is instead staying in England.

“Probably no golf for me. I’ll hang out in London, see all the sights, and have a good time and relax,” he said.

“I'll be heading up to Hoylake on Saturday, so I'll have a bit of a longer prep than usual.”

Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter played in the LIV Golf London tournament at The Centurion Club in Hemel Hempstead. (Image: Action Images)

The best of the Brits at The Centurion was Russell Bland, who finished on 9-under, a shot ahead of Ian Poulter.

Golf fans who attended the three-day tournament in Hemel Hempstead also saw the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Sergio Garcia.