Cameron Smith has come under fresh criticism about his decision to join the rebel LIV golf tour, with golf legend Gary Player speculating that the Australian had been poorly advised about his decision.
Smith, alongside fellow Australian Marc Leishman, were announced as the newest LIV Golf defectors on Tuesday night.
It had previously been reported the offer to lure Smith was around $143 million.
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Speaking on BBC Radio 5 in England, the nine-time major winner said that while he understood the move for players at the end of their career, it made no sense for Smith.
Smith’s switch was major news for the sport given the world No.2 will be the highest-ranked player to defect from the long-standing and powerful PGA Tour to side with the Saudi-backed rebel league, which is headed up by Australian icon Greg Norman.
“Here’s a young man I really thought was going to be a superstar,” Player said.
“Now what sort of future does he have? Will he be able to realise this great dream of being a champion? I don’t know.
“I don’t blame [Henrik] Stenson for going. He had no money, so he had to go. But this is a potential superstar. I think his advisors have given him the wrong advice.”
The 86-year-old went on to say that he wouldn’t trade his nine major wins for a billion dollars, and that there was no chance that LIV could compete with the PGA long term.
“How can you ever be a champion playing a tour with 54 holes and no cut?” he said.
“What sort of tour is that? 54 holes, no cut, a team event nobody understands. It’s a tour for people who don’t have confidence in their future. They don’t have the confidence they can be winners.
“It’s never going to compare to the regular tour. No chance.”
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