Cam Smith: Merger Talk With PGA Tour Is a Frequent Topic at LIV Golf Captains’ Meetings

Cameron Smith, fresh off a LIV team championship victory with his Rippers group, is stacking his schedule with events on the Australian PGA Tour in the hopes of boosting his Official World Golf Ranking, which dropped from No. 2 to below 100 after leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf in late 2022.

While he looks to boost his status, Smith said that the ongoing talks between PGA Tour Enterprises and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) – the financial backers of LIV Golf – is a frequent topic among LIV’s captains.

Cam Smith and Ripper GC win the 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/v3H2CsqeOm

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) September 22, 2024

Smith told Fox Sports in Australia:

“I don’t like to get caught up in that side of the game, but judging from what we’ve heard and what has been happening that everyone is aware of is kind of a step in the right direction and hopefully they can keep that ball rolling. It’s a really big process that everyone underestimates how big it was going to be. It’s taking some time, but I feel like there are some positive things happening.”

Smith pointed to PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan playing together in last week’s DP World Tour pro-am event as a sign that things are progressing.

Rory McIlroy also said earlier this month that he expects a deal to be done by the end of the year.

Smith is currently suspended from play on the PGA Tour and wasn’t able to participate in the 2022 or 2024 Presidents Cup events. The Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship events later this year are co-sanctioned by the DPWT, and he will be participating in those.

Cover Image via Golf Digest