Australian golf legend Ian Baker-Finch has urged new Open champion Cameron Smith to ignore overtures from Greg Norman’s LIV Golf tour, despite expectations he’ll be offered something in the region of $150 million to defect.
Smith, now ranked second in the world after claiming his maiden major title at St Andrews, is one of a host of big names being linked with a move to LIV, a list that includes fellow Australians Marc Leishman and Adam Scott.
Smith’s victory ensures the Queenslander will be eligible for the Open Championship until he turns 60, while he’s exempt into the US Masters, US Open and PGA Championship for the next five years.
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Those exemptions mean he doesn’t need to worry about his world ranking falling below the cut-off point for automatic entry into the majors, a potential sticking point for some given LIV tournaments do not currently attract rankings points.
Speaking to 3AW’s Sportsday program, Baker-Finch, the 1991 Open champion, said Smith can secure his legacy by rejecting LIV.
“I know that they’re talking to him, I hope he doesn’t (switch) because I think he can leave a great legacy by winning major championships and becoming the best player in the world,” he said.
“I don’t think he needs the money, I don’t think it’s something he should do. It’s his decision, he’ll be a $100 million (AUD $147 million) guy or more if he did go.
“Does he want to win more majors or does he want the money? I’m hoping that he stays and leaves a great legacy.”
The PGA Tour has already suspended players such as Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson who have switched to LIV.
Baker-Finch conceded that there’s scope for LIV to exist alongside the PGA Tour, but admitted he doesn’t know how the situation will unfold in the coming months.
“I wish I had a crystal ball. There’s room for it, I just wish it wasn’t so combative, I wish it wasn’t ruining the ecosystem as we know it,” he explained.
“If you want to have a 48-man field, play 54 holes in a shotgun start and have great team competition and lots of gambling for the wealthy people around the world, I understand that, but don’t bad-mouth the other tours that have made you millions of dollars.
“The guy that leads the tour over there this year will win $30 million (AUD $44 million), how can you complain about that?”
Baker-Finch acknowledged the lure of LIV riches was hard to ignore for players who are coming to the end of their time at the top, but said Smith, at age 28, still has much to achieve.
“I think Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy and a lot of those guys that still compete and play well in majors and want to win majors and want to leave a legacy, they’re the guys I’d be following,” he said.
“The young guys are missing out. You’re not going to be a better player by going and playing 54-hole exhibition matches and getting paid 150-grand (AUD $220,000) to finish last.
“I understand the over-40s, the guys that can’t beat the young guys anymore, that have already had a great career, they’re doing it for their families. I get it, I totally understand it. I just hate the way they’re saying the other tours aren’t doing a great job, because they are.”
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