Report: More jump to LIV
Smith among sextet defecting
Multiple sources reported Saturday more confirmed defections to Saudi-funded LIV Golf from the PGA Tour, including world No. 2 and reigning Open Championship winner Cameron Smith, to come after the conclusion of the Tour Championship.
Smith, fellow Australian Marc Leishman, Harold Varner III, Joaquin Niemann, Anirban Lahiri, and Cameron Tringale are all expected to play in LIV’s event at The International in Bolton from Sept. 2-4, with Mito Pereira — the leader at this year’s PGA Championship until a finalhole double bogey — considering jumping to the circuit “at some point in the future.”
Both Smith and Neimann would likely forfeit their places on the International Team in next month’s Presidents Cup should they jump, given the event is sanctioned by the PGA Tour.
Smith’s move to LIV has been talked about since he won the claret jug at St. Andrews in July, with reports he will receive some $100 million to become the highest ranked player to make the move.
LIV has joined the antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour in an amended complaint in which four players have removed their names.
That leaves seven players, most notably Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau, along with LIV Golf as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. The four who withdrew their names are Carlos Ortiz, Abraham Ancer, Pat Perez, and Jason Kokrak.
The amended complaint was filed Friday afternoon in the US District Court in Northern California. Three players still on the lawsuit — Matt Jones, Talor Gooch, and Hudson Swafford — previously sought a temporary restraining order to play in the FedEx Cup playoffs.
The judge denied their request two weeks ago.
The lawsuit claims the PGA Tour has used monopoly power to try to squash competition and has unfairly suspended players.
Greg Norman, the CEO of LIV Golf, has said the league would fully support the players in any legal action they pursued. LIV Golf, backed by the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund, now is directly involved.
In the amended complaint, LIV Golf argues that without a favorable ruling, its “ability to maintain a meaningful competitive presence in the markets will be destroyed.”
LIV Golf alleges the PGA Tour’s restraints forced it to raise its costs to sign players and kept it from recruiting others who fear the threat of being punished. It also claims the tour forced LIV Golf to delay its launch for 2022 and have a smaller schedule in its first year.
LIV Golf has offered several big names signing fees that are reported to be worth $150 million or more, in addition to the $25 million in prize money at each event. LIV Golf has staged three tournaments.
LPGA — In Ottawa, Hye-Jin Choi shot a 5-under-par 66 to join fellow South Korean rookie Narin An atop the leaderboard in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.
Choi matched second-round leader An at 16-under 197 at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club.
US Senior Women’s Open — Laura Davies shot a 5-under 68 for a share of the third-round lead with Helen Alfredsson in Kettering, Ohio.
Davies, the 58-year-old English star who won the inaugural event in 2018 at Chicago Golf Club, eagled the par-5 16th and had three birdies in a bogey-free round. She matched Aldredsson at 4-under 215 on NCR Country Club’s South Course.
DP World — A Saturday that started early for Thriston Lawrence by completing the four holes from his weather-affected second round ended with him leading by three shots after three rounds of the European Masters in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
PGA Champions — Scott Dunlap birdied five of the final six holes for a 9-under 63 and the secondround lead in The Ally Challenge in Grand Blanc, Mich. Fred Funk shot a 75 a day after bettering his age with a 65. He was tied for 26th at 4 under.
US Senior Amateur — Miles McConnell of Tampa shot a 3-under-par 68 to grab a one-shot lead after the first of two days of stroke play qualifying at The Kittansett Club in Marion. The top 64 in the 156-player field advance to match play, which begins Monday. Donald Foberg of Pembroke carded a 74 and is tied for 22nd.