Team captain Cam Smith has diffused suggestions fellow Aussie Matt Jones will be dropped this year’s LIV Golf No. 1 team – the all-Aussie Rippers.
The LIV side Smith, Marc Lieshman, Lucas Herbert and Smith reigned supreme some 10 weeks ago in Dallas.
However, the Texas-based Jones has not enjoyed the best of LIV Golf ‘individual’ seasons finishing 42nd in the 2022 season and 37th a year ago while he’s currently lying 42nd heading into this week’s PIF Saudi International.
Jone’s best LIV result, and his only top-10 was 7th two years ago in Tuscon.
However Smith buried any talk of Jones being replaced saying: “No, we shut down that rumour as Jonesy will be playing in the team next season.
“There’s rumours everywhere out here (smiling)”.
That aide, you would be forgiven in thinking Smith is running on the smell of an oily rag.
The 2022 Open Champion is contesting his fifth event in six weeks – four in Australia and this week’s LIV Golf/Asian Tour PIF Saudia International here in Riyadh.
After leading his LIV to victory in the States, Smith finished T3rd on November 3rd in the Queensland PGA, a share of second a week later in the New Souht Wales (NSW) PGA, was then beaten in his beloved Brisbane by two shots in winning a fourth Queensland PGA and then ended T39th in last week’s Australian Open.
“I feel there’s obviously enough in the tank for this week and then it’s some time off”, he said.
“I had about four to five weeks off after our win in Dallas which was nice but then I kept myself intune by hitting balls and some physical training.
“Actually, I feel okay though the last two days has been pretty hopeless what with all the travelling.
“Mentally, in this being my fifth event in six weeks I probably not there at the moment but my body feels good, so that’s a good sign.
“Also, the game’s still there and while I hit a few putts that probably should have gone in and other than that it was pretty solid out there.
Smith had led the second round of the NSW Open before Crushers team-mate Herbert cruised to victory though is was in Brisbane a week later that Smith said hurt the most.
“If I had my time again, I would like to play final the round at Royal Queensland again as that’s one that I let get away”, he said.
In fact, it was former Cam Smith Scholarship winner Elvis Smiley forging his way to success in just a 12th event as a pro.
And Smith was asked did he manage to catch-up with Smylie in the following week’s Australian Open
“Yes, we bumped into each other in Melbourne but we really didn’t spend time chatting about anything”, said Smith.
“He’s a good kid and he’s going to enjoy a really bright future.
“It was nice that he spoke about the scholarship but it would have been nicer (smiling) if he hadn’t of beaten me.
“Then that’s what is good about the game that situations like that do occur but let’s hope that’s a last one for me (laughing)”.
Smith’s opening Riyadh round of a bogey-free four-under 67 had him sharing 16th place and just three shots off the lead in the $5m event.
And the golfer with the famed ‘Mullet’ hair style is among some 40 LIV golfers teeing-up in this week’s season-ending Asian Tour event.
“It’s a great field this week and it actually fields more like a LIV field though it’s Asian Tour”, he said.
