Earlier this year, the Claret Jug winner changed allegiances and left the PGA Tour for Greg Norman’s LIV Golf. The reason given was down to playing in a new schedule that is condensed into a smaller period of time which prioritizes golf worldwide.
Speaking at the sixth LIV Golf event in Bangkok, the Australian told ABC Grandstand that “I think for me, I’m just really excited to have the opportunity to play around the world again.”
WHAT IS LIV GOLF?
Smith then went on to add: “It’s (PGA Tour schedule) brutal, to be honest. (But with LIV) having a smaller schedule condensed down into a small period of time, I think we’ll be quite busy there for four or five months but I’ve been able to have some time off and really develop the game.”
However, there is still the overhanging problem of LIV players being banned from Major championships. This is something that is weighing on the 29-year-olds mind, with Smith claiming that he would be ‘heartbroken’ if a Master’s ban was forced upon him, as the Augusta National Board deliberate the inclusion of LIV players.
According to a lawsuit originally filed by 11 former PGA Tour players back in August, Augusta National threatened to uninvite LIV golfers from next year’s event if they left the PGA Tour which obviously wouldn’t bode well for Smith.
Smith became the first golfer in Masters history to shoot four rounds in the 60s back in 2020
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Previously, the Australian would have been exempt to play in all four Majors due to his win at St Andrews in July, but the change of allegiance is a cause of concern for the recently crowned LIV winner.
“I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to get back there. It’s a place that I love and I’ve got a pretty good record around there too. It would be heartbreaking if I couldn’t get back there.”
Smith has indeed got an incredible record around Augusta where he has achieved four T10’s in just six outings – his best finish coming in November’s Masters back in 2020, which saw him finish runner-up behind eventual winner, Dustin Johnson.
It hasn’t…
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