World No.2 Cameron Smith is LIV’s highest ranked signing or the year
All the warnings, the top-level meeting headed by Tiger Woods and everything else are still not working for the PGA Tour. All its methods to stop players from jumping ship are failing as last week, LIV Golf announced six new signees, including the World No. 2, British Open champion, Cameron Smith of Australia.
WE HAVE A THREE WAY TIE AT THE TOP
This Cam Smith birdie puts him at -15 with Lee Westwood and Dustin Johnson with two to play.#LIVGolf #LIVGolfBoston pic.twitter.com/Pi9pk4EIq8
— LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) September 4, 2022
The Australian is joined by World No.19 Joaquin Niemann, No.46 Harold Varner III, No.55 Cameron Tringale, No.62 Marc Leishman and No.92 Anirban Lahiri, who finished runner-up to Smith in this year’s Players Championship, the PGA Tour’s US$20 million flagship event.
Welcome to LIV @anirbangolf #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/Z7viqmMp30
— LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) August 30, 2022
Welcome to LIV @CamTringale #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/y9SKafAgP9
— LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) August 30, 2022
Welcome to LIV @marcleish #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/UptLBN7zO9
— LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) August 30, 2022
CEO of LIV Golf, Greg Norman, said: “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. The best and the brightest continue to embrace the excitement and energy of LIV Golf and what we’re building: a tangible league for team golf that will connect with new audiences all over the globe. We can’t wait to tee off this week at The International and deliver another memorable event experience for fans.”
All six new signings teed up last week in Boston, a field that included 12 Major champions and four former World No.1 players. The field also has 14 nationalities with 20 players having claimed 10 or more professional wins.
While golfers who jumped from the PGA Tour to LIV have been suspended from competing on the American circuit, European Tour bylaws prevent such long-term punishments. DP World Tour officials did initially penalise and suspend members who left for LIV for three summer events, but a U.K. arbiter temporarily lifted the suspensions pending a full legal review that is set for February 2023.
Given the ruling, LIV golfers who are eligible to compete in DP World Tour events have been allowed to play, although only a handful have done so. Poulter and Laurie Canter were two in the field at last week’s Omega European Masters. However, with $8 million in total prize money available at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, London, plus valuable World Ranking points, the number of LIV players competing at Wentworth is expected to be higher.
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Photo – USA Today