Golf icon Gary Player has been left bewildered and disappointed by Cameron Smith’s decision to join LIV Golf, saying the Australian has cost himself a place in history where the 29-year-old could have emerged as a “superstar”.
Smith put weeks of rumors to bed on Tuesday, as the Open champion officially joined the LIV Golf after being linked to the rebel-series ever since lifting the Claret Jug.
The softly-spoken Australian was lured over to the first-year event on the back of a sign-on bonus worth an estimated $AU140 million.
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Smith said he simply “couldn’t ignore” the offer and described his move as a “business decision” while also recognizing the luxury that 54-hole competitions provided.
“The biggest thing for me is joining [LIV’s] schedule is really appealing,” he said Golf Digest.
“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.”
He will take to the tee in Boston for LIV’s third event on Friday (local time) alongside compatriot Marc Leishman.
But Player, who won nine majors, said Smith has cost himself a shot at history by joining the rebel tour.
“Here’s a young man I really thought was going to be a superstar,” Player said on BBC Radio 5 in England.
“Now what kind of future does he have? Will he be able to realize this great dream of being a champion? I don’t know.
“I don’t blame [Henrik] Stenson for going. He had no money, so he had to go. But this is a potential superstar. I think his advisors have given him the wrong advice.”
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Player slammed the 54-hole event tournament and said the Greg Norman-run competition would never compare to what the PGA Tour offers.
“How can you ever be a champion playing a tour with 54 holes and no cut?” he said.
“What kind of tour is that? 54 holes, no cut, a team event nobody understands. It’s a tour for people who don’t have confidence in their future. They don’t have the confidence they can be winners.
“It’s never going to compare to the regular tour. No chance.”
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