Cameron Smith's move to LIV Golf was confirmed earlier today, and the Australian world no. 2 will make his debut on the Saudi-backed Tour in this weekend's event in Boston.
Also joining him, are newcomers Jaoquin Niemann, Marc Leishman, Harold Varner III, and Cameron Tringale.
Smith is the biggest asset LIV Golf have acquired since Dustin Johnson joined the tour, as he has been one of the top three golfers in the world over the last year, is the current Open champion, and is still just 29 years of age.
World no. 19 Joaquin Niemann is also a top acquisition at just 23-years-old, while Leishman, Varner III, and Tingale are ranked at 62, 46, and 55 respectively.
Cameron Smith To LIV Golf
1 August 2021; Cameron Smith of Australia plays his tee shot on the fourth hole during round 4 of the men's individual stroke play at the Kasumigaseki Country Club during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games in Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
READ HERE: LIV Golf Players Finally Find Tour Willing To Let Them Play
Despite these significant losses, the PGA Tour were able to stem the bleeding by keeping hold of Cameron Young and Hideki Matsuyama, both of whom were strongly rumoured to be joining LIV Golf.
Matsuyama was the 2021 Masters champion and is one of Japan's top athletes, while the 25-year-old Cameron Young is one of the game's rising stars and the heavy favourite to win the PGA Tour Rookier of the Year award.
Crucially, Young noted that the recent changes announced for next season's PGA Tour, to combat the LIV Golf threat, were a significant factor in his choice to stay.
“I mean, frankly, I have decided to stay. So, I don’t know, it’s a really difficult situation, because it’s not really anything anyone wanted to happen. I think it wasn’t meant to be this hostile between the two.”
“Obviously it’s the elephant in the room for everyone. Frankly, throughout the whole process with [LIV Golf], I was very interested. I think they have a bunch of good ideas and are doing some cool stuff.
"With some of the changes coming [to the PGA Tour], that’s kind of what really helped me decide to kind of stay and pursue those goals that I have for myself like making a Presidents Cup team and a Ryder Cup team and winning a major, when all of that is just uncertain if you go. That’s a tough place for me because, you know, I’m very young and there are a lot of factors.”
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