“We are still willing to compete in that,” Smith said. “I hope we can. [Captain] Trevor [Immelman] has become a really good friend of mine over the last couple [of] years, him being on the broadcast team out there. But I hope we can get to Charlotte and represent Trevor and the Internationals.
“I think it was a business decision but like Marc said, there are so many positives to come out of this thing. For me, I haven’t been back in Australia for three years, as well.”
Smith spoke alongside world No.62 Leishman, who will be part of the Australian team in the LIV league. He admitted he had spoken at length with PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan after reports he had signed with LIV surfaced during The Open at St Andrews.
Leishman, more than Smith, is at risk of his ranking sliding quickly and putting his major qualification status at risk if the four governing bodies allow LIV golfers to play the game’s biggest events. He said “money was a factor” in his call to leave for LIV Golf.
“I think as far as the LIV Tour and the PGA Tour goes, I’m not going bad to say about the PGA Tour,” Leishman said. “I think what they are doing is great. I’ve made a decision for my best interests, but I think the competition that LIV is providing is going to be really good for everything.
“It’s not like this Tour wants to take over or anything like that. They can both exist.
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“I think any big decision you make in life there’s a potential to get criticism, and with that, I mean, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. There is no right or wrong to their opinion and they have their opinion for their own reasons.
“As much as they are entitled to that, we are entitled to make a decision that’s in our best interests. So you deal with that criticism the best you can and try and block it out to be honest.”
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