Open champion Cameron Smith has become the first member of world golf's top 10 to join the controversial LIV tour.
Key points:
- Cameron Smith is the highest-ranked player to join LIV Golf
- LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman lauded the latest signings as a victory
- LIV Golf is backed by the Saudi government's Public Investment Fund
The announcement was made on Tuesday night by the organisation, which is led by Australian great Greg Norman and backed by the Saudi government's Public Investment Fund.
The 29-year-old Australian, who has been linked to LIV Golf for months, will make his debut in the controversial series at the September 2-4 event being held at The International Golf Club outside Boston.
Smith told Golf Digest that his decision to join the breakaway tour was partially down to the financial benefits, even if he did not confirm reports he signed on for a figure in the vicinity of $145 million.
"[That] was definitely a factor in making that decision, I won't ignore that or say that wasn't a reason," Smith told Golf Digest.
"It was obviously a business decision for one and an offer I couldn't ignore."
He also said lifestyle factors played a part.
"The biggest thing for me joining is [LIV's] schedule is really appealing," Smith said.
"I'll be able to spend more time at home in Australia and maybe have an event down there, as well."
Smith first faced a series of questions after raising the Claret Jug at the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews, and bristled when he was asked in his press conference if he was joining LIV Golf.
"I just won the British Open and you're asking about that, I think that's pretty, not that good," Smith said at the time, before adding that his "team" worries about those details.
Loading...Smith's signing was announced alongside fellow Australian Marc Leishman, American golfers Harold Varner III and Cameron Tringale, rising Chilean star Joaquin Niemann and India's Anirban Lahiri.
Norman, who is CEO of LIV Golf, lauded the signings as a big day for the upstart league.
"LIV Golf is showing the world that our truly global league is attracting the world's best players and will grow the game into the future for the next generation," he said in a statement.
"The best and the brightest continue to embrace the excitement and energy of LIV Golf and what we're building: a tangible league for team golf that will connect with new audiences all over the globe."
Aside from winning his first major at The Open, Smith also won The Players Championship and recorded a top-five finish at The Masters.
As a result of his defection Smith will no longer be considered eligible to represent the international team at next month's President's Cup at Quail Hollow.
The same goes for Leishman, who has enjoyed a distinguished career, with six PGA Tour victories, and a second-placed finish at the 2015 Open, behind South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen.
Smith joins fellow major winners Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Charl Schwartzel and Oosthuizen in joining the rebel tour, which has caused fractured relationships between those who have joined, the PGA Tour and those loyal to the PGA.
While some of golf's biggest names have joined the the Saudi-backed league, claims of sportswashing from the Saudi government remain, and the likes of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have remained steadfastly loyal to the PGA Tour and advocated for other players to do the same.
Woods reportedly turned down an offer from Norman that was in the ballpark of $1 billion.