The winner of the 150th edition of The Open, Cameron Smith, will make his first start of 2023 at Saudi International on Thursday, while he still occupies 4th place in the world rankings but risks falling in the rankings following his departure for the dissident circuit LIV Golf.
Don’t panic this week for LIV players, indeed the Saudi Internationalfinanced by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund (PIF) like the rebel circuit of Greg Normanaccount for theAsian Tour and should be not too badly endowed in number of world points thanks to the presence of players not yet undervalued in the world ranking.
I was close to becoming number 1, I wanted to check that box
Cameron Smith
But for Australian Cam Smith, number 2 last year and very close to becoming number 1 before deciding to leave PGA Tourjust after the play-offs of the FedEx Cupthe fall is programmed.
Jon Rahm also criticized the OWGR
Other top players, gone before him to LIFE Golfhave already plunged dizzily and things are not going to get any better.
Indeed the new world ranking calculation systemalso highly criticized by Jon Rahm remained faithful to the PGA Tour, still does not integrate the circuit of exhibition tournaments whose the schedule was unveiled a few days ago.
“I try not to take it badly, because as soon as I play a tournament it’s to win it, whether there are points to take or not, against six or eight guys who will have the same objective. and with whom we will have to fight said Cameron Smith before leaving Saudi International.
“But it hurts, that’s for sure. I was very close to becoming number 1, I wanted to tick that box, but the more it goes the more I feel that this ranking is becoming obsolete”added the winner of The Open last July in St Andrews.
Majors as a lifeline
In addition to the Asian Tour tournaments and until further notice those of the DP World Tour LIV players will mainly have to bet on the major events to maintain a world ranking in relation to their level of play.
In effect le Masters and The Open have announced that they do not want to change their selection criteria.
Photo: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images Asiapac via AFP
