New LIV Golf recruit and current world number two Cameron Smith believes it’s a little unfair that the latest Saudi league event in Boston will have no world ranking points on the line.
The Australian became the best ranked LIV Golf when confirming his move alongside the likes of Marc Leishman and Harold Varner III earlier this week but despite a much-improved field for this week’s LIV event, there’ll be no world ranking points on offer.
The 54-hole no cut affair has been labelled an exhibition in some quarters but Smith claims the quality of field should be reflected in the awarding of OWGR points.
“I think it’s really a shame that we are not getting World Ranking points out here,” Smith said.
“To have 48 of the best, you know, guys around the world playing, and not to get World Ranking points, I think is perhaps a little bit unfair.
“It’s still super competitive out here. I just really think it’s a little bit unfair.”
Unlike Leishman and Varner III, Smith’s victory at The Open Championship at St Andrews in July has secured him a ten-year exemption into The Open, plus exemptions into the other three Majors for the next five years. However, Smith hopes non-exempt LIV players will soon be able to play their way into men’s golf’s big four events too, at least if the Majors are to remain the acid test of golf.
“I hope that these World Ranking points will sort themselves out before my exemption is up,” Smith added.
“I think to the fans of major championship golf, it may be a little bit unfair on them. I think majors is about having the best guys in the best field on the best golf courses. You know, hopefully we can sort that out.”
Smith confirmed that he’s yet to hand in his PGA Tour resignation, perhaps hoping that compromise could be reached between golf’s warring tours. Yet Smith was also steadfast in believing he’s made the right call; the Brisbane boy convinced that LIV Golf is the game’s future.
“My life has definitely changed over the last, you know, couple of months after the British Open,” he said.
“I’ve had a few phone calls with players. I sat down with Jay [Monahan – PGA Tour Commissioner]. We had a good conversation. It has been a little bit different.
“But this for me was the right decision. I think this is the future of golf. I think it’s been the same for a very, very long time, and it [golf] needs to be stirred up a little bit.”
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