Newsmaker of the Month: Cameron Smith
[getty images: Charles Laberge/LIV Golf ]
Off-season signings are rarely within golf’s realm, but Cam Smith’s confirmation that he would be joining LIV Golf sent shockwaves to rival anything witnessed within the AFL and NRL.
Rumours that gathered momentum after Smith’s transcendent triumph at The Open at St Andrews became reality when the world No.2 announced just days after the Tour Championship that he would be effectively leaving the PGA Tour.
The sign-on fee was reported to be in the vicinity of $140 million, Smith telling Australian Golf Digest’s Evin Priest that ultimately his decision came down to far more than just money.
“The biggest thing for me joining is [LIV’s] schedule is really appealing,” said Smith, who along with great mate Marc Leishman also confirmed his appearance in the two showpiece events of the Australian summer of golf. “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 significance of Smith’s signing became apparent in his first event as a member of the all-Australian Punch GC.
With good mate Marc Leishman also making the move across, Smith thrilled fans in Boston on his way to a fourth-place finish, a shot out of the playoff won by Dustin Johnson.
“The competition here is fantastic. It’s loud and it feels like the course has a heartbeat. I love that and I can’t wait to keep going.”
Headiners
Minjee Lee: The US Women’s Open champion was rewarded for her remarkable consistency across the LPGA season’s five Majors by receiving the Rolex Major Annika Award.
Jeffrey Guan: The Sydney phenomenon continued his ascent into the elite of amateur golf with a commanding four-stroke win at the American Junior Golf Association Junior Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Florida. His three-round total of 16-under shattered the previous tournament record by six strokes. Guan was also selected in the International team for the Junior Presidents Cup.
Asia-Pacific Amateur: Talent-laden Australian teams have been named to contest the Asia-Pacific Amateur and Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in Thailand from November 3-6. The men’s team consists of Connor McKinney, Hayden Hopewell, Harrison Crowe, Karl Vilips, Jeffrey Guan, Joshua Greer and Lukas Michel with Kirsten Rudgeley, Kelsey Bennett, Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, Caitlin Peirce, Justice Bosio and 15-year-old sensation Sarah Hammett selected in the women’s team.
Hannah Green: The 2019 Women’s PGA champion announced she will play in the historic ISPS Handa Australian Open at Victoria and Kingston Heath golf clubs in December.
Four Nations Cup: The Australian team of Matthew Guyatt (Gailes GC), Murray Lott (Victoria Park), Jamie Hook (Pacific Dunes) and T.J. King (Mount Coolum) finished second at the inaugural Four Nations Cup in South Africa.
William Bowen and Rachel Lee: Bowen (Royal Queensland) and Lee (Avondale) claimed the 2022 Queensland Amateur crowns at Coolangatta-Tweed Heads Golf Club.
James Marchesani: Playing on his home course, Marchesani finished on top as he, Blake Collyer, Tom Power Horan, Kyle Michel, John Lyras, Linus Yip and Lachlan Barker advanced to the second stage of DP World Tour Qualifying School at Rosebud Country Club.
He did what?
Queenslander Anthony Quayle qualified for the Korn Ferry Tour Finals without playing a single event on US soil. A top-15 finish at The Open and the suspension of players who had committed to LIV Golf provided an unexpected last-minute pathway for Quayle to push for a PGA Tour card in 2023. The 2022 Queensland PGA champion failed to fire in the three events but can play his way onto the Korn Ferry Tour at Q-School in December.
$809,923
That’s what a sand save at the 72nd hole of the BMW Championship was worth to Adam Scott. Needing to get up-and-down from the left bunker to qualify for the FedEx Cup finale at East Lake a week later, Scott played one of the great bunker shots of his life to leave a mere tap-in for par and a spot at the lucrative Tour Championship.
