So what if the OWGR has not approved LIV Golf yet? At least the PGA of America has recognized the league as one of the legitimate ones under it. On September 19, 2024, the PGA of America announced that the breakaway circuit golfers were now eligible to play in the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup through the point list or be a captain’s pick. One thing was checked off the LIV golfers’ list as they got the green light from the PGA of America. But do you know the 54 golfers play events like the Ryder Cup every week? Well, that’s what Cameron Smith says.
The Aussie pro’s team, Ripper GC, won the LIV Golf Team Championship in Dallas after carding 11 under 277 (counting all four players’ score), three strokes ahead of 2022 Team Champions, 4Aces GC. As always, the celebration was top-notch and the players soon headed for the post-win press conference. There, Smith was asked that even though he has many impeccable titles under his belt, like winning The Open or the PLAYERS Championship 2022, how did it feel to win the Team Championship on LIV? Smith agreed that he had been in many nerve-racking situations but this win feels different from winning individually. He said, “When you’re playing for some other guys, there’s really no feeling like it.”
Additionally, the Aussie golfer compared the LIV Golf team events to the Ryder Cup and added, “I think that’s what events like the Ryder Cup do so well, because you genuinely want to win for the other guys.” Smith further explained that in team events, he wants to play better for the other guys, which is a rare feeling in golf as usual events are individualistic. He even relayed that playing for a team makes him, or anyone for that matter, a better golfer. The 1-time major winner expressed, “When you’re out there and times are tough, you’re digging for these guys every week, and it’s a pretty cool feeling to have.”
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USA Today via Reuters Oct 28, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA; Cameron Smith plays his shot off the 11th tee during the first round of the season finale of the LIV Golf series at Trump National Doral. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Thus, Smith probably likes LIV Golf better than the PGA Tour because here he can play individually and for a team, which he cannot do at the PGA Tour or the Ryder Cup as he is not European. He could have had a chance of playing in the Presidents Cup this week, but since the PGA Tour sanctions the event, Smith and other LIV Golf pros couldn’t be part of Team USA or International. But this is just one event that the Ripper GC will miss.
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The team from Land Down Under has an extensive schedule prepared for the next few months while they plan the celebration for winning the LIV Golf Team Championship in Dallas.
Camerons Smith’s teammate reveals the future plans for Rippers
It was a work from all four team members that awarded them a celebration like no other, the beautiful black LIV Golf trophy and the check of $14 million to take home from the Maridoe Golf Club. It was the first season-ending Team Championship victory for Cameron Smith’s team and as big as it is, the celebration will not stop soon. Talking to LIV Golf on-site reporter, Su Ann Heng, Marc Leishman revealed that there will be a grand celebration before Christmas.
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Lucas Herbert was over cloud nine as he shared his excitement for heading back to Australia to play more events and hopefully win them too. There are two upcoming events in Australia in November and December, the Australia PGA Championship and ISPS HANDA Australia Open.
Then, the team will be in Adelaide in February 2025 for another LIV Golf event. As the schedule was just getting exciting, Herbert humorously said, “It’s going to be a hell of a lot of fun. There might be some sore heads over the next 4 months, I think.” The four have ended their 2024 on a good note and will now be preparing to face each other in the upcoming events and eye the prestigious titles.