Australia’s leading golfer Cameron Smith says the world rankings are becoming less relevant, given LIV tournaments don’t count and Australia’s two golf majors contribute very little to the Official World Golf Rankings.
Smith was catapulted from sixth to second in the world after his win at The Open Championship in July, but has since slipped to third despite performing well at five LIV events and winning the Australian PGA Championship last weekend.
Cameron Smith says the official World Golf Rankings are becoming “more and more irrelevant”. Credit:Getty Images
LIV events are not eligible for world ranking points, while the PGA Championship win was worth 10 points, which is dwarfed in comparison to the 92 points he won at St Andrews. For further comparison, world No.129 Justin Suh received 19 points for winning the Korn Ferry Tour Championship in September.
This week’s Australian Open, which will be played Thursday and Friday at Victoria Golf Club and Kingston Heath, and continued Saturday and Sunday at Victoria, will be worth similar to last week’s PGA Championships.
“It’s a shame that a big event like the PGA and the Open get so little points, especially for us Aussie guys who don’t really get an opportunity, especially the guys coming up, don’t really get an opportunity to win a lot of points,” Smith said.
“As a young professional, those points mean quite a bit.
“I know in myself that I’m right up there.
“I’m still third on the list somehow, but as time goes on I think those rankings become more and more irrelevant, especially with not getting world ranking points in those LIV events.
“I feel like I’m playing some really, really solid golf and yeah, it’s a bit of a pain in the bum.”
Despite the PGA – and some golf fans – taking a dim view of the LIV rebel tour, Smith said he has received a warm reception in Australia, avoiding criticism from spectators at last weekend’s Royal Queensland event.
Cameron Smith practising at Kingston Heath ahead of the start of the Australian Open.Credit:Getty Images
Smith has been the face of golf this summer, and will be the headline act at this week’s Australian Open – which will feature men and women – and will be back in Australia in April for an Adelaide LIV event.
“It’s all been positive down here, I haven’t copped too much [flak],” Smith said.
“I think the keyboard warriors are really the only ones to worry about, to be honest. Everyone down here loves it. The guys I think genuinely just want to see good golf and hopefully, we give them that out here in Melbourne.”
Smith’s best finish at an Australian Open came in 2016 at Royal Sydney, when he lost in a playoff to Jordan Speith.
Smith said he was desperate to tick Australia’s most prestigious tournament off his
“That one hurt a little bit [in 2016],” he said.
“I think it would have been my first win as a pro. That would have been a pretty neat one to win, but yeah. I’ve been close a few times and haven’t quite got it done, so no better week to win one in Melbourne.”
