Open Champion Cameron Smith Joins LIV Golf Series, Releases Statement at Press Conference

Australian golfer Cameron Percy said this week that it was a closed deal, with reports appearing Wednesday morning (AEST) confirming the news.

Watch Kayo’s Fox Sports live coverage of the USPGA Tour. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

according to uk telegraph, Smith signed a contract worth more than A$140 million and will play at the LIV event in Boston. World No. 2 will be the highest-ranked player to leave the PGA.

Smith was asked about his involvement with LIV during a press conference Tuesday ahead of the FedEx Cup playoffs. The 28-year-old said he had “no comment” on reports of his defection and also clipped Percy for saying he made a bomb move.

“As you know, my goal here is to win the FedEx Cup Playoffs. That’s all I’m here for,” Smith said. “If I have anything to say about the PGA Tour or LIV, it comes from Cameron Smith, not Cameron Percy.

“I am a person who keeps my word. If you have any questions, I am always available.”

Asked a follow-up question, Smith added: Like I said, I’m here to play the FedEx Cup Playoffs. That was my focus for the last half of the week.

“Like I said, it will come from me, not Cameron Percy.”

According to sports reporter Matt Infield, Smith said “thank you guys” and walked out of the press conference when asked another follow-up question about LIV.

Telegraph Australian legend Greg Norman, who spearheaded the LIV revolution, reports he had previously spoken to Smith. He won the Open and held the coveted Claret Jug aloft last month.

A historic win would certainly help boost his asking price, and Australia’s Acerbic response to journalist when asked about plans to join LIV Following his victory at St Andrews.

“I just won the British Open, you ask about that? I don’t think it’s pretty good,” Smith said at the time.

Pushing his plan further, Smith added: My team around me worries about all of that. I’m here to win golf tournaments. ”

Smith’s lack of denial has sparked rumors that he’s already well on his way to LIV – and it seems he’s made up his mind.

talk RSNMore On the radio this week, Percy revealed that Smith and fellow Australian star Marc Leishman had attended a Saudi-backed golf tournament, and the PGA Tour had been forming the Rebel Tour for years. He claimed to have known that

“Unfortunately they are gone,” he said.

“I had a long conversation with[2013 Masters Champion]Adam Scott and he was very interesting about it.

“He said he met with them (LIV) in 2017[and]they were ready to do all this. I knew it for a while.

“The more I research, the more I find that some people don’t care, and some people have a good conscience and do.

“The bottom line is, ‘They executed 80 people this week and cut off their heads.’ They’re not the nicest people in the world.

“Are you overlooking that and thinking, ‘Oh, I’m rich, so I don’t care’? It’s hard, really.”

Australia’s Matt Jones and Americans Tara Gooch and Hudson Swafford argue they are independent contractors while the PGA considers them potentially punishable members. was among 11 LIV golf players to file antitrust lawsuits against the PGA for barring them from playing at LIV golf events. for violating the rules of the organization;

The legal battle may take years to resolve, but this year’s PGA playoff title fight will be decided by the end of next week’s BMW Championship and the Tour Championship in Atlanta two weeks later.

“Now I’m part of it,” said Scotty Schaeffler, the reigning Masters champion and world number one.

“The guys are leaving. There’s another tour going on and they’re suing us, so there’s a lot going on.”

“I’m not going to talk about people going to LIV or the speculation about it. If that’s what they want, that’s what they want.

“My dream has never been to maximize financial returns. The PGA Tour is where I want to play, and where the best golfers in the world play.”

Schaeffler said the LIV-PGA dispute remains a locker room topic.

“There’s a fair amount of debate just because it’s a decision that changes people’s lives,” he said.

“If you go on another tour and break the rules on the tour, yeah, we understand that we are independent contractors, but at the same time, there are certain rules that you must follow as a member. There is an organization.

“Let’s see how it goes. All that stuff will be shaken up in due time. It’s definitely a topic of discussion about who’s going, etc. Who knows.

With AFP

first published as Open Champion Cameron Smith Joins LIV Golf Series