Former Australian Open winner Cameron Davis has become the big beneficiary of Cameron Smith’s $140 million defection to LIV Golf, earning a surprise spot on the decimated International team for the Presidents Cup.
The Sydneysider, who has one PGA Tour win to his name, earned a call-up from Trevor Immelman as one of his six captain’s picks for the event at Quail Hollow in North Carolina later this month against the might of the United States.
World No.67 Davis will join 10-time Presidents Cup player Adam Scott as the only Australians on the 12-man team to take on the Americans, led by world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth.
The PGA Tour has banned golfers who have switched to Greg Norman’s controversial Saudi-backed series, which has caused enormous headaches for first-time captain Immelman.
World No.2 Smith was expected to spearhead the International charge as the highest-ranked player and one of eight automatic qualifiers.
But Immelman was forced to look elsewhere when Smith, Chile’s Joaquin Niemann (world No.19) and Marc Leishman (62) — strongly favoured for a captain’s pick — signing with LIV Golf last week.
Cameron Davis is a surprise pick for the Presidents Cup.Credit:Getty
It opened the door for Davis, who was elevated above higher-ranked countryman Lucas Herbert (53) and New Zealander Ryan Fox (47) for his Presidents Cup debut.
Mexico’s Abraham Ancer and South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen, almost guaranteed selections for the Charlotte event, had previously jumped ship to LIV.
Scott and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama will be the leaders of an International team which will include Davis, Taylor Pendrith, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, KH Lee, Sungjae Im, Tom Kim, Corey Conners, Mito Pereira, Si Woo Kim and Sebastian Munoz.
The International side has only won one Presidents Cup and led into the final day of singles at Royal Melbourne in 2019 before being overpowered by the Tiger Woods-led Americans.
The PGA Tour has announced the Presidents Cup will return to Melbourne in 2028.
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