The golf world is buzzing with speculation after Open champion Cameron Smith’s non-denial when asked if he was joining the LIV Golf Invitational Series, coupled with Greg Norman promising enough new recruits this week that LIV has “closed shop” on the 2023 roster.
Smith, whose historic victory Sunday at St. Andrews was followed by a testy exchange on his future plans, appears set by all reports to be the headliner this week when the startup league announces the latest defectors from the PGA Tour.
Smith was annoyed by a question about rumors he was jumping to the Saudi-financed league after winning his first major championship. He shot 64 Sunday to edge Cameron Young by one stroke.
“I just won the British Open, and you’re asking about that,” he bristled. “I think that’s pretty not that good. I don’t know, mate. My team around me worries about all that stuff. I’m here to win golf tournaments.”
The last time a major champion acted indignant when asked about speculation surrounding LIV was at the U.S. Open when Brooks Koepka accused journalists of “throwing a black cloud on the U.S. Open” as he was preparing to leave the PGA Tour.
Three days following another disappointing showing in a major, Koepka bailed and joined LIV. This came a few months after he labeled those who joined LIV as sellouts and said he would not chase the money.
Smith’s game, unlike Koepka’s and most of the Tour players who have defected, is on the rise. He jumped to No. 2 in this week’s world rankings. Although he certainly would be the hottest golfer to join LIV this week, he is not expected to be alone.
LIV could add up to six names, according to multiple reports, including five ranked in the top 100 in the world.
Besides Smith, those strongly linked to LIV include No. 14 Hideki Matsuyama, No. 39 Adam Scott, No. 57 Marc Leishman, No. 84 Bubba Watson and No. 171 Henrik Stenson.
Matsuyama (2021), Watson (2014, 2012) and Scott (2013) are former Masters champions. Leishman was Smith’s Australian Olympic teammate and Stenson is the current European Ryder Cup captain. He will be stripped of that title if he joins LIV.
Norman, the last Aussie to win the Open before Smith, is reportedly attempting to put together an all-Australian team that would include Smith, Scott, Leishman and one of the other Aussies who joined LIV. That list includes Matt Jones, Jed Morgan, Wade Ormsby and Blake Windred. Jones has two PGA Tour titles, including the 2021…
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