A phone call shortly after his British Open triumph played a huge role in convincing Cameron Smith to turn his back on the PGA Tour in favour of LIV Golf – and $140million.
The man on the other end of the line? Greg Norman.
The Great White Shark has singlehandedly led LIV’s pursuit of the game’s top talents, with the financial support of the competition’s Saudi Arabian backers.
A phone call from Greg Norman convinced Cameron Smith to ditch the PGA Tour for LIV Golf
But in Smith, Norman spotted an opportunity to prise away one of PGA’s top-performing stars at the peak of his powers.
‘Well done Smithy, you’ve joined the club,’ Norman told Australia’s new major winner, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. ‘I’ve always believed in you.’
The Aussie legend then laid out a flawless pitch to Smith, and the wheels were set in motion for one of the sport’s biggest deals.
The Great White Shark contacted the Queenslander after he won the British Open last month
The press swiftly picked up on the links between Smith and golf’s controversial new competition, with reports suggesting that the Queenslander had been offered a mind-boggling $140m to jump ship.
After weeks of speculation, the sport’s worst kept secret was confirmed on Tuesday night, with Smith announced as a new signing for the Saud-backed tournament – their biggest acquisition to date.
His team insisted the switch was a ‘business decision’ and despite receiving widespread criticism from fans, Smith says that while money was ‘a factor’, the scheduling at LIV Golf is what truly enticed him.
Smith has joined the Saudi-backed competition in a reported $140million deal
‘(Money) was definitely a factor in making that decision, I won’t ignore that,’ Smith said.
‘The biggest thing for me is (LIV’s) schedule is really appealing. I’ll be able to spend more time at home in Australia and maybe have an event down there.’
Smith joins a host of other top names to defect, including Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, as well as European Ryder Cup veterans Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Paul Casey and Sergio Garcia.