Greg Norman has opened up on the main points behind Cam Smith’s mega-money transfer to LIV Golf, because the Saudi-backed sequence heads to their homeland Australia subsequent week. Smith grew to become arguably the most important identify to hitch LIV, having been ranked world No.2 on the time of signing.

The Saudi change got here later than a lot of his fellow LIV stars, with Smith signing on the dotted line partway by means of the breakaway circuit’s maiden season. The Aussie was fairly the coup for Norman and co., not solely on account of his rating, but in addition as a result of he had lately been topped Open champion.

Just weeks after the well-known St Andrews victory, the 29-year-old made the controversial transfer. One facet that aided the change was his Australian connections with LIV boss Norman. Since then, Smith has been made captain of the all-Aussie group Rippers GC.

The overriding issue for a lot of becoming a member of the Saudi-funded sequence is the eye-watering monetary incentives on supply, and Norman has claimed Smith and co have the prospect to rack up large quantities of cash. “Generational wealth is there to be had,” Norman stated per news.com.au.

“We are giving them the opportunity to look into the future instead of month-by-month, year-by-year, on the PGA Tour and where they see my schedule is like ‘I‘m going to play this, 23 or 24 tournaments, oh, that same old grind again’. Now these captains like Cam are working out how to maximise their value through generational wealth. We see it there.”

Smith joined a star-studded roster, with the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka already aboard the LIV rollercoaster. Norman nevertheless admitted the signing of his fellow Aussie was the ‘best’ second of the sequence’ inaugural 12 months. He added: "When I started talking to Cam, I didn’t want to push it.

"These guys have gotten to seek out their very own means, understanding what's on the market. To get from the supply, to signing it, to get to that time, you’ve bought to undergo quite a bit. It’s no completely different to after I signed on as CEO. So after I did the presentation to Cam I sat again and let it go and I did not push it in any respect.

“We had a couple of conversations. And then when the time came, he was ready. He found the way he found the way down that path of the journey he wanted to do. When he came on board. It was like ‘oh my gosh’, the best thing that happened to us to be honest with you.”