About three weeks ago, Cam Smith won the Open Championship at St. Andrews. But rather than celebrating the milestone victory consisting of Cam Smith’s first Major and the 150th Open, all at the Old Course, the media quickly pivoted to the never-ending talk of the town: LIV Golf.
Quickly after raising the Claret Jug, Smith was pounded with questions concerning LIV and if rumors were true that he’d be defecting from the Pga Tour. And while nothing is official, it seems just a matter of time until something is announced.
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During an interview with Australian RSN radio, Australian golfer Cameron Percy stated that countrymen Cameron Smith (current World No. 2) and Marc Leishman (current World No. 56) have both signed contracts to join LIV.
While nothing is official yet, Percy definitely stated that “they’re gone.”
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In all likelihood, neither Smith nor Leishman will announce something until they are eliminated from or after the Fedex Cup Playoffs, which start this weekend with the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship being played at TPC Southwind in Memphis.
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The timing is particularly important given the recent lawsuit commenced by numerous LIV golfers, including Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford, and Matt Jones, against the PGA TOUR in an effort to enjoin the suspension that is currently baring them from competing in the Fedex Cup Playoffs. Indeed, the PGA TOUR only responded yesterday and, in a less than amicable manner, accused the golfers of “fabricating an emergency” with the last-minute request for the court’s assistance. The hearing on the request is scheduled for today, August 9, at 1 pm (PST).
Rather than getting caught up in the courtroom kerfuffle, Smith, Leishman, and Adam Scott—another Australian that Percy said is interested and had first spoken with LIV about joining back in 2017—are looking to lay low until they announce (and suffer the consequences of such decision) on their own terms.
The FedEx Cup Playoffs conclude in about a month’s time—August 28th at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia—so an official announcement could be made sometime over the next few weeks in advance of the start of the 2022-23 PGA TOUR season approximately two weeks later with the Fortinet Championship at Silverado Resort and Spa (North Course), Napa, California (Sept. 12th to 18th).
Cover Image Via NY Post
