The Herald and The Age spoke to a number of sources who mentioned Smith was sure to see out the PGA Tour season, the place he might usurp Masters conqueror Scottie Scheffler as world No.1. He’s additionally more likely to play September’s Presidents Cup, wherein he can be requested to spearhead the Worldwide staff towards the likes of Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Jordan Spieth for the US.
By then, his worth to Norman and the Saudis may be even larger than what it’s now, as laborious as it’s to imagine as he sips out of the Claret Jug. He might actually write his personal cheque, and make it one larger than Mickelson and Johnson, maybe solely bettered by former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, who’s being courted with an eye-watering sum given his recognition in Asia.
Hideki Matsuyama is a goal for Greg Norman’s LIV Golf.Credit score:Getty
Whereas naturally, the main target has been on Smith’s potential defection to the Saudi circuit, countrymen Adam Scott and Marc Leishman loiter within the LIV shadows. Each recognise the impression a full-schedule tour has on their younger households and Scott, particularly, shares an in depth relationship with Norman.
Leishman is managed by the identical firm as Smith, whereas two-time Australian Open winner Matt Jones was the highest-profile Australian to leap to LIV, taking part in their inaugural occasion exterior London in June. The PGA Tour’s elbows-out-at-the-buffet schedule, which incorporates occasions jammed into latter months of the yr when the restricted Australian summer season is afforded a window, has rankled many inside the native business.
Norman appears hellbent on bringing a LIV occasion to Australia, most likely Sydney, and as laborious as it’s to conceive, it could attraction to Smith and co who’re hardly ever afforded the possibility to play for top-tier cash in elite firm at dwelling.
Even final month, Smith advised Australian Golf Digest he hoped his dwelling nation was sorted with tournaments in golf’s civil battle. Norman appears extra more likely to come to the desk than PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan.
‘What’s the asking worth? US$100 million? US$200 million? Extra?’
On Friday, Smith mentioned he’s all however confirmed to play within the Australian Open and Australian PGA on the finish of the yr, to remain for Christmas and “simply have a extremely good time”. He has not performed in Australia because the Presidents Cup in 2019.
Will probably be a homecoming not seen since Scott introduced the inexperienced jacket again in 2013. Even when he does soar to LIV, native officers are assured he would be capable of play because the Open and PGA are co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, who’re but to indefinitely ban gamers for signing on Norman’s dotted line.
Norman says LIV Golf is a closed store for subsequent yr, but it surely’s incomprehensible to suppose if Smith, Scott and Leishman needed to leap, there wouldn’t be room.
Maybe of much more significance, is LIV Golf receiving world rankings factors. They don’t have it but, and as his gamers hold dropping positions the longer there isn’t a settlement, they are going to jeopardise their positions within the 4 majors (though Smith now has a five-year exemption in all as a serious winner).
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“In that place the place Cam is now, he’s in an excellent place,” Smith’s former Presidents Cup captain Ernie Els mentioned. “He’s getting into his prime. He’s 28. He’s received time now to win majors and I wouldn’t wish to put that beneath any hazard of not taking place.
“I’d keep precisely the place I’m, do what I do, and the cash’s there. It’s already there. The best way he’s taking part in, you realize, the extent of golf he’s at, and that he would possibly quit, so I’d keep precisely the place I’m in my lane and try to win majors.”
Smith did the rounds of Australian breakfast tv on Friday, and answered questions concerning the copious quantities of alcohol squeezed into the Claret Jug, his dad staying dwelling as an alternative of being at St Andrews, and, in fact, his mullet.
However there was no inquisition about his pockets, and the shekels The Shark needs to supply.
“I put on maroon on the final day,” Smith advised Right now of his penchant for his state’s colors within the closing spherical of any match. “I like my state and I like my nation and I really feel the Queenslanders have this dig deep perspective.”
So how far will Norman must dig earlier than his fellow Queenslander’s quantity is up?
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