Cameron Smith Confirmed For Saudi International
The World No.3 has committed to the upcoming Saudi International on the Asian Tour
Cameron Smith has been confirmed for the Saudi International, taking place once again on the Asian Tour between 2-5th February at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.
The Aussie joined LIV Golf for a reported $100m+ fee in August after the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Playoffs, and has been suspended by the US-based circuit ever since amid golf's civil war.
It means the current World No.3 has only been able to earn world ranking points away from the PGA Tour due to LIV's ongoing struggles to gain OWGR sanctioning. Smith will be the headline name in a field that will also feature defending champion Harold Varner III and the top 30 players from the Asian Tour, in what is the tour's flagship event.
"More big-name players set to be confirmed in the coming weeks," the tournament has said, with two-time Saudi International winner and LIV star Dustin Johnson likely to feature. Other big names who may well tee it up could be Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Ian Poulter and a host of other LIV Golf players.
Since the event's inception in 2019, all three winners - Dustin Johnson (2019 and 2021), Graeme McDowell (2020) and Harold Varner (2022) - have gone on to join LIV Golf.
““The Saudi International regularly has one of the biggest line-ups of the season," Smith said.
"It’s always good to play in a world-class field, I am looking forward to taking on some familiar faces and also competing with the best that the Asian Tour has to offer. I had a great experience at the Royal Greens last year and hopefully I can take it to the next level this year.”
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Smith had an outstanding year in 2022, winning his maiden Major title at the 150th Open as well as other victories at the Players Championship, Sentry Tournament of Champions and Australian PGA Championship. He also won the LIV Golf Chicago Invitational at Rich Harvest Farms in his second LIV Golf appearance.
A number of LIV players will likely use the Saudi International as a tune up for the LIV Golf League that gets underway on the 24th February at Mexico's El Camaleon Golf Club, former host of the PGA Tour's World Wide Technology Championship.
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
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