Cam Smith joins rebel golf tour
Australia’s Cameron Smith has joined the rebel golf circuit LIV Golf.
The world No.2 and reigning British Open champion confirmed the long-suspected move with an official announcement from the Saudi-backed organisation.
Compatriot Marc Leishman has also signed up to the new body which has driven a wedge through the golf fraternity.
They bring the number of Australians on board with LIV to eight with Marc Jones the next biggest name of the octet.
Australian LIV CEO Greg Norman revealed earlier this month the circuit is looking to hold an event in Australia in 2023 and have been scouting potential venues.
“The biggest thing for me joining is [LIV’s] schedule is really appealing,” Smith said.
“I’ll be able to spend more time at home in Australia and maybe have an event down there, as well. I haven’t been able to do that, and to get that part of my life back was really appealing.”
However, he admitted the financial rewards were also tempting – Smith is reported to have received a $US100 million ($A145m) signing-on fee.
“[That] was definitely a factor in making that decision, I won’t ignore that or say that wasn’t a reason,” Smith said. “It was obviously a business decision for one and an offer I couldn’t ignore.”
Smith and Leishman are among six players joining the circuit in time for its fourth event, at The International course in Boston, Massachusetts, teeing off on September 2-4.
The other four are Chile’s world No.19 Joaquin Niemann, India’s highest-ranked player Anirban Lahiri, and Americans Harold Varner III and Cameron Tringale.
“LIV Golf is showing the world that our truly global league is attracting the world’s best players and will grow the game into the future for the next generation,” Norman said.
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Smith, 29 from Brisbane, is the first current top-10 player to join LIV. He has had a stellar season winning the Players Championship as well as the Open and was also tied for third at The Masters.
Both Smith and Leishman are still eligible for the Australian PGA and Australian Open but will not be considered for next month’s President’s Cup.
The $A36m Boston event features a 48-man field playing 54 holes. Other Australians in the field besides Smith, Leishman and Jones are current Australian PGA champion Jediah Morgan and South Australian Wade Ormsby.
– AAP
