Aussie golf star Cameron Smith confirms LIV Golf defection was a 'business decision'

Australian golf star Cameron Smith’s defection to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series was confirmed overnight, per a statement via Twitter.

The league tweeted: “Welcome to LIV Cameron Smith.”

Welcome to LIV Cameron Smith 👋#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/XhZeAyneyg

— LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) August 30, 2022

The Open champion’s signing to the rebel competition is reportedly set to earn him more than $100 million.

To Smith’s credit, the golfer has admitted that a whole lot of cash was definitely a deciding factor in joining the league. 

Speaking to Golf Digest, he said: “[Money] was definitely a factor in making that decision, I won’t ignore that or say that wasn’t a reason.

“It was obviously a business decision for one and an offer I couldn’t ignore.”

Cameron Smith is currently ranked number two on the PGA Tour and signals the biggest blow to the golf league.

The mullet-sporting Aussie will make his debut in Boston this week in the fourth event of the league’s debut season.

He was one of six players announced as new signings to the league, with Cameron Tringale, Joaquin Niemann, Harold Varner II, Marc Leishman and Anirban Lahiri joining the Aussie. 

Despite money obviously being a massive factor in his decision, Smith claims it wasn’t the ‘biggest reason’ why he chose to make the jump over. 

Cameron Smith is a massive loss. Even the most pro-PGA Tour supporters can't sugarcoat it. He's second in the OWGR, won The Open and The Players. Terrific player. Popular, too. Also the guy who explained, "Whenever you guys need to know anything, it'll be said by me." It wasn't.

— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) August 30, 2022

He added: “The biggest thing for me joining is [LIV’s] schedule is really appealing. I’ll be able to spend more time at home in Australia and maybe have an event down there, as well. I haven’t been able to do that, and to get that part of my life back was really appealing.”

The move means that Smith will no longer be able to participate in PGA Tour events with all LIV members suspended indefinitely.

However, he may still be eligible to play in the Australian Open in December with the event co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, according to Sydney Morning Herald. 

There is even a likelihood of an Australian LIV Golf event in 2023, with Golf Digest reporting that an event in Sydney in slated for late April. 

Smith says the prospect of himself and Marc Leishman playing on home turf would make it ‘appealing’ for LIV to hold an event there.