“Party Camp”: LIV Golf Captain Gives an Inside Scoop on What Happens at the League’s Boot Camps
COLLEGE GROVE, TN - JUNE 23: A general view of LIV Golf signage during the final round of LIV Golf Nashville on June 23, 2024 at the Grove Golf Course in College Grove, Tennessee. Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire GOLF: JUN 23 LIV Golf League Nashville EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon062324163
COLLEGE GROVE, TN - JUNE 23: A general view of LIV Golf signage during the final round of LIV Golf Nashville on June 23, 2024 at the Grove Golf Course in College Grove, Tennessee. Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire GOLF: JUN 23 LIV Golf League Nashville EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon062324163
LIV Golf's training camps might sound intense, but Ripper GC's leader offered a candid look into the team's off-season, revealing a mix of hard work and laid-back attitudes.
Speaking from Jacksonville, Florida, on Feb 3, 2026, Cam Smith talked about what really happens during LIV Golf’s boot camp sessions. The Australian golfer made it clear that the training is tough and intense, but there's room to breathe, too.
"I would say it's more of a boot camp for me and more of a party camp for the other guys," Smith joked while appearing on The Rick Shiels Golf Show.
"No, I'm joking. No. We did a lot of competitive practice. I feel like it's good to have a break... But at the end of the day, you got to compete, and that's what you miss when you have a long time off. So, just compete against each other," added the LIV Golf member.
GOLF AUSTRALIAN PGA, Golf Herren PREVIEW, Golfer Cam Smith is seen talking to the media ahead of the 2025 Australian PGA Championship, at Suncorp Stadium, in Brisbane, Tuesday, November 25, 2025. BRISBANE QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxAUSxNZLxPNGxFIJxVANxSOLxTGA Copyright: xDARRENxENGLANDx 20251125123929065633
GOLF AUSTRALIAN PGA, Golf Herren PREVIEW, Golfer Cam Smith is seen talking to the media ahead of the 2025 Australian PGA Championship, at Suncorp Stadium, in Brisbane, Tuesday, November 25, 2025. BRISBANE QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxAUSxNZLxPNGxFIJxVANxSOLxTGA Copyright: xDARRENxENGLANDx 20251125123929065633
This year's boot camp has introduced a four-day team competition against the coaches, with players chasing a collective score target. Smith confirmed the format worked well enough to become a permanent fixture.
Cam Smith also spoke about why boot camps are crucial for LIV Golf teams. "Without doing those things, you just don't. If you don't do it, you get left in the dust," he said.
But how does Smith maintain team standards while respecting individual approaches?
Marc Leishman Sets the Pace for the LIV Golf Team’s Success
Smith credited teammate Marc Leishman, nicknamed "Herby," as the driving force behind Ripper GC's work ethic. The veteran's commitment sets the standard for the entire roster.
"He revs everyone up a little bit. He's probably the hardest worker on the team," Smith said of Leishman's range presence and dedication to improvement.
That accountability extends beyond practice. Smith revealed Leishman recently tested 25 different golf balls searching for marginal gains. Smith admitted he'd never go that far himself, calling himself not "a massive tinkerer."
The captain has stuck with cavity-back irons for 15 years, dating back to Titleist's AP2 model. He's now playing T100s and only tinkers with longer irons where equipment changes might help.
You can read more at Club Golf!
Written by
Sneha Abraham
Edited by
Sagnik Bagchi