‘Unfair’ if LIV player can’t play in majors

Open champion Cameron Smith maintains it will be “unfair” if LIV Golf players are not allowed to play in golf majors.

The Australian world number two switched from the PGA Tour to Saudi-backed LIV earlier this week.

LIV players were allowed to compete at the 2022 US Open and the Open but there is no guarantee they will be allowed in majors going forward.

“To the fans of major championship golf, it may be a little bit unfair on them,” Smith said.

“I think majors is about having the best guys in the best field on the best golf courses. Hopefully we can sort that out,” he said.

Players need to get ranking points in order to participate at majors which LIV athletes are not receiving.

Smith, will make his LIV debut at the LIV Golf Invitational Boston.

Australia’s Cameron Smith and his caddie Sam Pinfold (L) pose with the Claret Jug.
Photo: AFP / GLYN KIRK

“To have 48 of the best guys around the world playing and not to get world ranking points, I think is perhaps a little bit unfair.”

Smith’s compatriot Marc Leishman said the majors could be without top players such as Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Sergio Garcia – all of whom play for LIV.

“As far as the majors and all that go, I think it could potentially hurt them having some guys potentially miss out because they are not offered world ranking points here,” Leishman said.

“As a golf fan that’s hard for the top tournaments, but hopefully it sorts itself out.”

Meanwhile, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson is “praying” he can still play at the event after making the move to LIV.

“It’s a weird situation, being a Masters champion,” Watson said. “Augusta, right now, we can play in it, and I’m hoping, and praying, that they make the right decisions and past champions [can play].

“If they tell me that I can’t go, being a past champion, then I don’t want to be there anyway because that’s just the wrong way to look at it.”

Nine-time major winner Gary Player has said LIV players should not expect to play in majors after leaving the PGA Tour or DP World Tour to take part in the lucrative series.

“Look, I don’t blame players for going on the LIV Tour,” the 86-year-old told BBC 5 Live.

Gary Player
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

“If you are going to join the LIV Tour, don’t make a big fuss about it! Everybody’s making such a big fuss! Let them go! If they want to go, they’re going. But the PGA Tour is still the tour of the world. This is where you can realise and fulfil your dreams, and be a champion,” said Player.

“You’re not going to stop them from going, and you don’t have to worry about them going either. Because there’s so many wonderful young guys to fulfil the vacuum – you’ve still got Tiger Woods, you’ve got Rory Mcllory. You’ve got Jon Rahm. You’ve got dozens of wonderful players on the regular tour. What is all the fuss about!? Let them go.

“But when they go, they’ve declared war on the PGA Tour. They must not expect to play Ryder Cup, and Presidents Cup, play in the majors and all those things. You can’t have your cake and eat it. That’s the bed you’ve chosen, that’s the bed you’ve got to lie in.”

-BBC